Abstract: A disposable IUD/IUS inserter is for use in conjunction with a hysteroscope, or blindly, including an inner part which has a flexible metal inner tube, between 1 and 2 mm in diameter. The inner tube has a front end portion including a stylet, the stylet being less than 1 mm in diameter, and the stylet being provided with a stylet tip. The IUD/IUS inserter is further provided with a handle at a rear end of the inner tube, a handle unlocking mechanism for positioning of an IUD or IUS, a release mechanism for releasing of a tail of the IUD/IUS, and an outer tube sized to allow passage through a hysteroscope working channel, the handle unlocking mechanism being connected to the outer tube.

Abstract: In a first aspect, the current invention concerns a method for fabricating an intrauterine device (IUD), said method comprising the step of providing a coaxial rod comprising an outer polymeric layer and a polymeric core, and further comprising the step of cutting from said rod at least one rod segment having a predetermined length, whereby, simultaneously to cutting said rod segment from said rod, the rod end portions thereby formed are compressed into dome-shaped end portions, in such a way that, at said dome-shaped end portions, said polymeric core is at least partly enclosed by said outer polymeric layer. In a second aspect, the current invention concerns a device for cutting a rod segment from a rod.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hysteroscopic technique and specific instrument, applicator or device inserter, to insert a frameless, anchored device for intrauterine and intratubal delivery of bioactive substances for long-acting contraception and gynecological treatment. This is realized by the invention of a specially designed inserter allowing the passage through the narrow working channel of a specially designed hysteroscope for the precise insertion of an anchoring means, a non-biodegradable or biodegradable anchoring knot, or a hook, under direct vision in the fundal wall of the uterus, and to which a biological active component is attached which consists of a copper, copper-silver or another metallic ion-releasing agent, or a drug-eluting system for the release of a hormone or hormone-antagonist or other substance, active in the uterus as well as in the oviducts, and which can be hand-fixed to the hysteroscope by means of a thumbpiece fixed to the inserter tube to allow safe and controlled insertion.

Abstract: A new and improved hybrid “framed-frameless” copper-releasing contraceptive device (IUD) which is a combination of a plastic retention arm of reduced dimensions to adapt to uterine cavities of smaller size, particularly regarding their transverse width at the fundal level of the uterus, and whose retention arm has a centrally located extension of varying length to be connected with hollow copper tubes which functions as the frameless stem of the IUD, and which consists of loosely connected hollow tubes, threaded on a length of suture, or a thin plastic or metallic stem, or a thin polymeric drug eluting stem, allowing release of copper ions, from the outside and from the inside of the tubes, in the uterine cavity thereby enhancing the contraceptive effect, and of which the bottom tube, is crimped onto the lower end of the stem, including a separate metallic ion-releasing fiber, holding all copper tubes together.

Abstract: The invention relates to an anchoring device specifically for the retention of bioactive substances in the immediate post-Cesarean section uterus for contraception. The invention includes a dual anchoring device, preferably a permanent anchoring knot, provided with a noose, for insertion in the top of the uterus with an inserter, and which is kept in place during the involution phase of the uterus by a supplementary means of temporary fixation, to overcome the risk of IUD/IUS dislodgment from the soft uterine wall. The anchoring device includes a biodegradable suture, consolidated with the permanent anchoring knot, for its temporary fixation to the serosa of the uterus. The anchoring knot can be easily removed from the uterus at any time after its insertion in the uterine wall and fixation to the serosa due to the fast biodegrading time of the suture.

Abstract: A new and improved hybrid “framed-frameless” copper-releasing contraceptive device (IUD) which is a combination of a plastic retention arm of reduced dimensions to adapt to uterine cavities of smaller size, particularly regarding their transverse width at the fundal level of the uterus, and whose retention arm has a centrally located extension of varying length to be connected with hollow copper tubes which functions as the frameless stem of the IUD, and which consists of loosely connected hollow tubes, threaded on a length of suture, or a thin plastic or metallic stem, or a thin polymeric drug eluting stem, allowing release of copper ions, from the outside and from the inside of the tubes, in the uterine cavity thereby enhancing the contraceptive effect, and of which the bottom tube, is crimped onto the lower end of the stem, including a separate metallic ion-releasing fiber, holding all copper tubes together.

Abstract: A multipurpose, multicomponent or multisegmented drug intrauterine T-shaped delivery system or device, of which both the stem and the transverse arm of the device are drug eluting compartments which are active in the uterus and/or the cervical canal. The drugs may be different and/or have different concentration and releasing characteristics. The stem is preferably provided with a dome-shaped extremity. The stem and/or the transverse arm consist of ethylene vinyl acetate which contains a level of vinyl acetate monomer lower than 0.5% w/w.

Abstract: An intrauterine device (IUD) for delivering bioactive substances in the uterine cavity includes a plastic frame affixed to a drug delivery compartment. The frame retains the IUD in the uterine cavity and prevents displacement and expulsion. The frame is shaped like the letter “omega” having two resilient arms which possess latero-lateral memory. The extremities of the arms are provided by a short side-arm which forms an angle with the rest of the arm. These prominent plastic parts facilitate the upward rotation of the arms during removal of the intrauterine device. The drug delivery compartment has an element at its upper extremity to determine the exact location of the IUD in the uterine cavity by ultrasound. The drug delivery compartment contains one or more drugs which are gradually released in the uterine cavity over extended periods of time.

Abstract: A frameless copper-releasing contraceptive IUD or a hormone-releasing contraceptive IUS, includes a suture thread (3), supporting the active component(s) and an anchor (5) to be inserted in the wall of the uterus with a specially designed applicator or inserter in order to secure the IUD/IUS in the uterine cavity. The anchor consists of a knot made at one end of the thread. A tiny metal tube (6), preferably of stainless steel, is threaded onto the thread and fixed immediately below or above the anchoring knot to make the anchor visible on ultrasound and/or x-ray. The anchoring knot may be provided with a tightly fitting ogival, bell or cone-shaped cap consisting of a biodegradable polymer. The active element (2) consists for example of a succession of threaded copper cylinders.

Abstract: An intrauterine device for delivering bioactive substances in the uterine cavity includes a plastic frame affixed to a drug delivery compartment. In use, the frame retains the IUD in the uterine cavity and prevents displacement and expulsion. The frame is shaped like the letter “omega” having two resilient arms which possess latero-lateral memory. The extremities of the arms are provided by a short side-arm which forms an angle with the rest of the arm. These prominent plastic parts facilitate the upward rotation of the arms during removal of the intrauterine device. Due to the resilience of the arms, the frame adapts to cavities of every size, maximizing tolerance. The drug delivery compartment has an element at its upper extremity to determine the exact location of the IUD in the uterine cavity by ultrasound. The drug delivery compartment contains one or more drugs which are gradually released in the uterine cavity over extended periods of time.

Abstract: A T-shaped intrauterine device includes a longitudinal branch constituting a body of the T, to the upper higher of which is connected a transversal stem constituting the arms of the T. The body of the T is made up of a fiber that releases an active substance. The fiber constituting the body of the T presents a transverse channel on its upper part. The arms are inserted by force into the channel to form two equal arms on opposite side of the body. The stem forming the arms presents a curved form so that a wedging force exercised by the body on the stem is such that the latter is usually held in the channel in a position where the arms are oriented downwards of the body, while it is allowed to pivot in the channel until the arms are oriented upwards of the body under the effect of constraint exercised on the arms at the time of the extraction from the womb by an extraction wire of the device.

Abstract: A T-shaped intrauterine device includes a longitudinal branch constituting a body of the T, to the upper higher of which is connected a transversal stem constituting the arms of the T. The body of the T is made up of a fibre that releases an active substance. The fibre constituting the body of the T presents a transverse channel on its upper part. The arms are inserted by force into the channel to form two equal arms on opposite side of the body. The stem forming the arms presents a curved form so that a wedging force exercised by the body on the stem is such that the latter is usually held in the channel in a position where the arms are oriented downwards of the body, while it is allowed to pivot in the channel until the arms are oriented upwards of the body under the effect of constraint exercised on the arms at the time of the extraction from the womb by an extraction wire of the device.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an intrauterine device comprising a support 41, and constituents 42, 43 releasing an active ingredient. In accordance with the invention, the active ingredient is constituted by copper with a surface area of 100 to 250 mm2 and by a steroid from the progesterone family with a release rate in the range 10% to 70% of the minimum release rate employed for the steroid concerned when it is used as a contraceptive active ingredient. With the device of the invention, contraceptive efficacy is very high and side effects are substantially reduced.

Abstract: The subject-matter of the invention is a method of retaining and operating an inserter of an intrauterine contraceptive device, and an inserter permitting the application of this method. To this end, the method which, in an inserter of an intrauterine contraceptive device comprising a sheath 4, a needle 1 housed in the sheath and firmly fixed to a thumb-piece 3, and an intrauterine contraceptive device 15, also housed in the sheath, pulled by the needle and provided with a pull thread 22, consists firstly in firmly fixing needle 1 in relation to sheath 4 and maintaining pull thread 22 in the tensioned state, then in releasing needle 1 and pull thread 22, and is characterised in that the release of needle 1 conjointly ensures the release of pull thread 22.

Abstract: An improved intra-uterine device which is a deformable element in the form of a plastic fibre (1) releasing a substance which is active into the uterine cavity, the fibre has several strands (3, 3') or loops (2) placed side by side and held together in one assembly zone (4) of reduced dimensions in relation to the length of the said strands or loops, and of an element for attaching it in the uterine cavity, the element being in the form of filament (5) carrying a securing element (6) for hooking to the tissue of the uterus, suitable for insertion with the aid of a needle, and integral with the the fibre. The device is applicable to the field of the intra-uterine contraceptive devices and of the devices for the treatment of the uterus.

Abstract: A device for fixing a contraceptive device to the wall of the uterus is disclosed. The fixing device consists of a thread (10) of non-biodegradable material, designed to be attached to the contraceptive device, and a retaining member (11) implantable in the tissue of the uterus; this retaining member (11) consists of a permanent element (12) of non-biodegradable material and a temporary element (13) of biodegradable material which temporarily confers on the retaining member (11) a greater resistance to pulling out than that of the permanent element (12) alone. The device according to the invention is to be used during the period immediately following confinement.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for the insertion and fixation of an intrauterine contraceptive devide (IUD) to the uterine fundus of a female in the immediate post-partum or post-abortal period. The device comprises a thread affixed to the IUD and to a retaining member, a needle for the insertion of the retaining member attached to the thread into the uterine muscle, a protecting member for the needle, a receiving member for the IUD, an actuating member for the needle, movable with respect to the protecting member, and a locking member for temporarily locking the actuating member to the protecting member. This device extends backwards to form a gripping member, while the retaining member loosely engages the needle and an element for achieving and maintaining a traction on the thread, ensuring the cooperation of the retaining member with the needle was long as the locking member and the protecting member are not disengaged and the IUD is not released from its receiving member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new and improved intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD), which includes a fixing device to the fundal part of the uterine cavity, attached to members made in a material active into the uterine cavity, said members being attached the one behind the others, in a non-rigid assembly. The members are hollow members, open at both end and arranged in a sequence to form a longitudinal passage allowing passing through of a needle, and the fixing device to the fundal part of the uterine cavity is a thread affixed to the assembly of hollow members, provided with a retaining device in the uterine tissue, adapted for insertion by means of a needle.

Abstract: A suprapublic instrument for drainage of the bladder inserted through the urethra, characterized in that it includes at least one curved needle having a sharp tip at its end and fitted with means for connecting it to a catheter, a catheter designed to act as a drain, and a sound or sleeve designed to be introduced into the ureter, so constructed that the needle and the catheter are able to pass through it.