SINGLE-USE INSTRUMENT TO PREPARE AND SAFELY PLACE AN INTRA-UTERINE DEVICE
20230127093 · 2023-04-27
Inventors
Cpc classification
International classification
Abstract
An instrument (10) to downfold an intrauterine device (30), comprising a base (20) with a delatcher (26); a navigator (50) having an aligner plug (51A), a slot (56); an open converger (40) having a flange (45), a covered channel (41); a driver assembly (60) having a bidirectional carrier (61), a graduated tube (71), and a latching rod (81); and a gated support (90) having a leafy arm (91) and a downward fork (94) forming an inverted “U” gate (95) having sloped edges (97) with end points (96), at the other end, a holder (92) having an elongated grip (93) on either side; wherein a lower end (37) of the stem (33) of IUD (30) sits on a conical seat (82) having two resting points (83) on the latching rod (81), while a knot (38) of the string (31) sits in the knot room (84) on the latching rod (81).
Claims
01. An instrument (10) to downfold an intrauterine device (30) having identical arms (34), a stem (33) and a string (31), the instrument (10) comprising: a base (20) having a floor (22) with a delatcher (26), an outside of the base (20) having a collar (29); a navigator (50) having an aligner plug (51A), two mirror symmetrical fences (52) along an entire length of the navigator (50), joining together at the operator end (6), thereby forming a slot (56) with a divergence (55); an open converger (40) having a flange (45), a covered channel (41) commencing with a circular opening (41a) and transitioning to a funneling opening (41b) symmetrical about an imaginary orthogonal plane passing through a line X-X′, the funneling opening (41b) diverging to two dome shaped openings (43), a reversibly collapsible projections pair (44), an alignment socket (51B); a driver assembly (60) having a bidirectional carrier (61), a graduated tube (71), and a latching rod (81); and a gated support (90) having a leafy arm (91) and a downward fork (94) forming an inverted “U” gate (95) having sloped edges (97) with end points (96), at the other end, a holder (92) having an elongated grip (93) on either side; wherein the reversibly collapsible projections pair (44) of the open converger (40) press-fits against corresponding receptacles (25) of the base (20), inserting the aligner plug (51A) of the navigator (50) in the alignment socket (51B) of the open converger (40), a lower end (37) of the stem (33) of IUD (30) sits on a conical seat (82) having two resting points (83) on the latching rod (81), while a knot (38) of the string (31) sits in a knot room (84) on the latching rod (81).
02. The instrument (10) to downfold an intrauterine device (30) as claimed in claim 01, wherein the floor (22) of base (20) has two walls (21), the floor (22) narrowing towards an IUD end (5), widening again to form a platform (23), and converging to a supporting zone (24) having at least a receptacle (25), till the IUD end (5).
03. The instrument (10) to downfold an intrauterine device (30) as claimed in claim 01, wherein the base (20) has a weakening combination (19) comprising a pair of weakening notches (19a) and at least a depleted zone (19b) on the platform (23) of the base (20), wherein a human force (Fbr) breaks the floor (22) from the weakening notches (19a), separating a part of the base (20) carrying the open converger (40).
04. The instrument (10) to downfold an intrauterine device (30) as claimed in claim 01, wherein the base (20) has a string management arrangement (80) comprising at least one outpoint (87) and one inpoint (88) on the floor (22) of the base (20), the string (31) exits from the outpoint (87) and re-enters from the inpoint (88), the outpoint (87) is at a trim length (46) while the inpoint (88) is at a conservative length (47), a scale (48) provided alongside.
05. The instrument (10) to downfold an intrauterine device (30) as claimed in claim 01, wherein the covered channel (41) of the open converger (40) has an additional room (42) towards an upper side.
06. The instrument (10) to downfold an intrauterine device (30) as claimed in claim 01, wherein the bidirectional carrier (61) has a push zone (62) and a pullback zone (63), separated by a cliff (64) on an upper side (66), a tube receptacle (65) on a lower side (68) and a pair of locking teeth (67) with a back face (70) integrated to an open end of the tube receptacle (65), the upper side (66) and the lower side (68) joined by an interfacing wall (69) between a bottom side of the push zone (62)+the pullback zone (63) and an upper side (66) of the tube receptacle (65), forming travel ways (69A) on either side of the interfacing wall (69).
07. The instrument (10) to downfold an intrauterine device (30) as claimed in claim 01, wherein the graduated tube (71) has a plurality of sounding markings (72).
08. The instrument (10) to downfold an intrauterine device (30) as claimed in claim 01, wherein the graduated tube (71) has at least an exit hole (73) and optionally an entry hole (74).
09. The instrument (10) to downfold an intrauterine device (30) as claimed in claim 01, wherein the latching rod (81), has a conical seat (82) having two resting points (83) and a knot room (84), reserved for the knot (38) of the string (31) of the IUD (30), a progressively increasing cylindrical portion, a first pair of seats (86A), again progressively increasing to a second pair of seats (86B), and a downward projection (85), the first pair of seats (86A) at a measure of length (89) with respect to the second pair of seats (86B).
10. The instrument (10) to downfold an intrauterine device (30) as claimed in claim 01, wherein the mirror symmetrical fences (52) of the navigator (50) have a user side (53) and a concealed side (54), the user side (53) having a flat runway (57) on either side of the slot (56), the concealed side (54) has a guide wall (58) on either side of the slot (56) and a plurality of complementary lockable windows (7B) all along an external edge of both mirror symmetrical fences (52), and wherein consequent to a slender shape of the navigator (50) the slot (56) can be widened temporarily.
11. The instrument (10) to downfold an intrauterine device (30) as claimed in claim 01, wherein assembling the instrument (10) comprises the steps of: Pressing the reversibly collapsible projections pair (44) of the open converger (40) against the corresponding receptacles (25) of the base (20), Inserting completely a non-graduated end of the graduated tube (71) in the tube receptacle (65) of the bidirectional carrier (61) till the back face (70) is reached, Inserting the latching rod (81) from its IUD end (5) in the graduated tube (71) through the open end of the tube receptacle (65) of the bidirectional carrier (61) till the pair of locking teeth (67) locks into the second pair of seats (86B) of the latching rod (81), Widening the slot (56) temporarily as the travel ways (69A) on either side of the interfacing wall (69) of the bidirectional carrier (61) engulfs the flat runway (57) on either side of the slot (56) of the navigator (50), Pulling back the bidirectional carrier (61) positioning it between the two guide walls (58), Inserting the string (31) of the IUD in the graduated tube (71) and taking the string out of the exit hole (73) of the graduated tube (71), Inserting the stem (33) of the IUD (30) through the divergence (55) of the navigator (50) into the graduated tube (71) till the lower end (37) of the stem (33) sits on the conical seat (82) having two resting points (83) on the latching rod (81), while the knot (38) of the string (31) may either sit in the knot room (84) on the delatching rod (81) or the knot (38) may remain suspended in the graduated tube (71), Taking out the string (31) from the outpoint (87) on the floor (22) of the base (20), Inserting the aligner plug (51A) of the navigator (50) in the alignment socket (51B) of the open converger (40), Pressing the mirror symmetrical fences (52) of the navigator (50) so as to engage the plurality of complementary lockable windows (7B) of the navigator (50) with the corresponding plurality of locking projections (7A) of the base (20), Inserting the string (31) in the inpoint (88) on the floor (22) of the base (20). Pressing the elongated grips (93) of the gated support (90) over the navigator (50) near the IUD end (5), the leafy arm (91) flexing upwards to a second position (91b), the end points (96) of the inverted “U” gate (95) sitting on the graduated tube (71) Sliding the gated support (90) towards the platform (23) of the base (20) till the elongated grip (93) is obstructed by the collar (29), the graduated tube (71) ends, allowing the sloped edges (97) to slide down an edge of the graduated tube (71), the leafy arm (91) to spring back and flex downwards to a first position (91a), the downward fork (94) forming the inverted “U” gate (95) surrounding the stem (33) of the IUD (30).
12. The instrument (10) to downfold an intrauterine device (30) as claimed in claim 01, wherein a method to load the instrument (10) and configure to safely place the IUD (30) in uterus (100) comprises the steps of: a) Sounding a uterus of woman and determining a uterine depth (105), b) Sliding the bidirectional carrier (61) towards the IUD end (5) by medical service provider placing his or thumb on the push zone (62) and applying a forward force F.sub.f on the cliff (64), the graduated tube (71) along with the latching rod (81) pushing the lower end (37) of the stem (33) of the IUD (30), the inverted “U” gate (95) supporting the stem (33) from both sides and preventing a buckling of the stem (33) of the IUD (30), and the arms (34) of the IUD (30) folding down, c) Further sliding the bidirectional carrier (61) towards the IUD end (5) by medical service provider continuing placing his or her thumb on the push zone (62) and further applying the forward force F.sub.f on the cliff (64), the downward projection (85) of the latching rod (81) getting obstructed by the delatcher (26) on the base (20), resultantly the pair of locking teeth (67) of the bidirectional carrier (61) getting delatched from the second pair of seats (86B) and getting latched with the first pair of seats (86A) of the latching rod (81), the edge of the graduated tube (71) pushing up the sloped edges (97), lifting up of the inverted “U” gate (95), sliding of only the graduated tube (71) on the stem (33) by the measure of length (89), and engulfing a part of arms (34) of the IUD (30), d) Further sliding the bidirectional carrier (61) towards the IUD end (5) by medical service provider continuing placing his or thumb on the push zone (62) and further applying the forward force F.sub.f on the cliff (64), the graduated tube (71) along with the latching rod (81) push the lower end (37) of the stem (33) of the IUD (30) till the graduated tube (71) with a folded IUD (30c) emerges out from the flange (45) by the measure of the uterine depth (105), e) Trimming the string (31) in-between the outpoint (87) and the inpoint (88) of the instrument (10), f) Sliding backward the bidirectional carrier (61) towards the operator end (6) by the medical service provider placing his or her thumb on the pullback zone (63) and applying a backward force Fb on the cliff (64), pulling back the graduated tube (71) along with the latching rod (81) from over the stem (33) of the IUD (30), and g) Applying a force (Fbr) by thumb on the open converger (40), separating a part of the base (20) carrying the open converger (40), rendering the instrument (10) non-reusable irreversibly.
13. The instrument (10) to downfold an intrauterine device (30) as claimed in claim 12, wherein instrument (10) is configured for the sliding backward of the bidirectional carrier (61 after inserting the graduated tube (71) in the uterus (100) till the flange (45) touches the cervical os (101), releasing the IUD (30) in the uterus (100) with the arms (34) of the IUD (30) next to fundus (102).
14. The instrument (10) to downfold an intrauterine device (30) as claimed in claim 12, wherein the instrument (10) is configured for separating a part of the floor (22) by applying a force (Fbr) on the open converger (40) after withdrawing the instrument (10) from vaginal cavity of woman.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0060] The present invention of an instrument to load and insert a downfoldable intra-uterine device and process thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that the description explains the preferred embodiments and several ways are possible around the invention. Apropos, the description should not be construed to limit the invention in any way whatsoever. The terms and expressions which have been used here are merely for description and not for limitation. The term “preparing” and “loading” are used interchangeably.
[0061] It is to be particularly noted that a downfolding and an upfolding of a T-shaped IUD are entirely different processes and consequently, no prior art instrument, and NOT even the instrument as per present invention can be interchangeably used for upfolding and downfolding IUDs without major constructional differences.
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[0064] As shall be evident, the process of loading, inserting in uterus and safely releasing the IUD (30) is carried out by a single hand operation—carrying the instrument between fingers and thumb, and it is of great benefit to the medical service provider. An IUD end (5) and an operator end (6) signifies direction of the instrument (10) and all parts while describing features, sub-assembly, assembly and method of use.
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[0066] The floor (22) has a raised projection emerging from the floor (22) and termed as a delatcher (26), towards an operator end (6); a plurality of first guide fences (27) and an array of unidirectional gear tooth (28). The walls (21) have a plurality of locking projections (7A) all along an upper edge of both walls (21). An outside of the base (20) has a collar (29) towards the IUD end (5). A weakening combination (19) is provided to ensure single-use of the instrument (10). In the preferred embodiment, the weakening combination (19) comprises a pair of weakening notches (19a) and at least a depleted zone (19b) on the platform (23) of the base (20). A force (Fbr) consciously applyable by a medical service provider breaks the floor (22) from the weakening notches (19a), separating a part of the base (20) carrying the open converger (40), and render the instrument (10) non-reusable irreversibly. This inventive construction is indispensable in today's times of viral and bacterial contamination.
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[0102] The step (f) is performed after inserting the graduated tube (71) in the uterus (100) till the flange (45) touches the cervical os (101), thereby releasing the IUD (30) in the uterus (100) with the arms (34) of the IUD (30) next to fundus (102). Step (g) is performed after withdrawing the instrument (10) from vaginal cavity of woman.