Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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NIPPLE EVERSION DEVICE
This invention relates to a nipple eversion device for the correction of inverted
nipples.
Inverted nipples is a disorder that affects man,v women and is due to short
lactiferous ducts preventing projection of the nipple. For many years, surgery provided
the only treatment for this condition which. although alleviating the problem, caused
irreparable damage to the breast. This has lead to the emergence of non-surgicalsuction devices for the correction of inverted nipples that can be used by the patient
outside hospital.
0 GB 2 240 924 describes a nipple everter in which a container is placed over
the periphery of the inverted nipple. In operation~ the volume of the container is first
decreased b,v collapsing the side walls of the container, expelling air forrn the
container. and then allowed to increase bacli to its original size. This creates a partial
vacuum in the container that draws the inverted nipple into the container. However.
the volume of air expelled from the container, and so the size of the partial vacuum.
is difficult for the user to control, and the bulky external forrn of the device does not
facilitate the continuous use of the device bv office workers and women who prefer
thin clothing.
GB 2 262 233 discloses a nipple eversion device that offers greater control
2 ~ over the magnitude of the partial vacuum. The device comprises a nipple mould that
is held against the nipple areola complex of the breast. Air is drawn from the mould
using a svringe connected to the wall of the mould. Although offering greater user
control over the partial vacuum created in the mould, the device IS again bul~ and
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requires the use of an accessory to create the vacuum~ which does not facilitatediscreet use of the device. It is also difficult for the user to draw air from the mould
whilst maintaining an even pressure on the mould to ensure that the necessary vacuum
seal is created between the mould and the breast.
It is an object of at least the preferred embodiments of the present invention
to provide a nipple eversion device that is self-contained and does not require the use
of a valve mech~ni~m. syringe or any other accessory to create and sustain a
controllable partial vacuum within the device.
It is a further object of the preferred forms of the present invention to provide
0 a nipple eversion device that has a compact design and a more natural appearance, and
which is economical in production.
Accordingly, the present invention provides in one aspect a nipple eversion
~ device comprising a container having a first portion with an open end shaped to be
placed over the nipp~e areola complex and to form a seal therewith, a second portion
of the container moveable relative to the first portion to increase the volume of the
container and create a partial vacuum therein~ and means for locating said portions
relative to each other and m~int~ining the increased volume whereby to evert thenipple by suction thereon.
Preferably, the first portion comprises a cylinder and the second portion
2 0 comprises a piston disposed therein.
In one preferred embodiment, the locating means may comprise at least one
resilient member disposed in said containe} and biassed so as to force said second
portion into location with said first portion. The at least one resilient member may be
disposed either between said open end and said second portion or between the end
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wall of said first portion opposite to said open end and said second portion. The bore
of the first portion may be profiled such that one end of the resilient member contacts
said bore. the other end of said resilient member contacting said second portion.
Preferably, the at least one resilient member is a helical spring.
The present invention provides in a second aspect a nipple eversion device
comprising a container having a first portion with an open end shaped to be placed
over the nipple areola complex and to form a seal therewith, a second portion of the
container moveable relative to the first portion to increase the volume of the container
and create a partial vacuum therein. and locating means on said portions engageable
to locate said portions relative to each other and ms~int~in the increased volume
whereby to evert the nipple by suction thereon.
The locating means may comprise a profiled peripheral part of the second
portion and a conformingly-profiled part of a bore of the first portion. Preferably, one
profiled part is convex in axial cross-section and the other is concave. By "axial cross-
section" we mean a section in a plane cont~ining the axis of the bore. An end wall
of said first portion opposite to the open end may also be open and of reduced internal
diameter to form the conformingly profiled part.
The end wall of said first portion opposite to said open end may also be open
to enable the second portion to be moved relative to the first portion by applying a
force thereon.
The end of the device remote from the open end of the first portion may be of
generally convex shape. Thus preferentially wherein the first and second portion are
located relative to each other~ they form a continuous blended convex surface.
The second portion of the container may include manually operable means for
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moving the second portion relative to the first portion. and which is configured so as
not to project from the external shape of the device when in use, and which preferabl~
comprises a thread or ribbon for pulling the second portion of the container.
Preferably, the open end of the first portion of the container is of frusto-conical
or other flared form so as to provide a tapering sealing surface.
Advantageously, the volume of the container when said portions are engaged
is of the order of that of the everted nipple.
The invention will now be described merely by way of example with reference
to the accompanying drawings in which:-
0 Figures l (a) and 1 (b) show cross-sections of the nipple eversion device
according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
Figures 2(a) and 2(b) show cross-sections of the nipple eversion device
according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
Figures 3(a) and 3(b) are a cross-section of the nipple eversion device
according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
Figures 4(a) and 4(b) show first and second examples respectively of the
locking mechanism of the third embodiment of the present invention.
Figure S shows a cross-section of the nipple eversion device according to a
fourth embodiment of the present invention with the portions of the container inlocked engagement.
Figure 1 shows a cross-section though the nipple eversion device according to
a first embodiment of the present invention. The device comprises a container having
a first portion 12 and a second portion 14. The first portion forms a cylinder and the
second portion a piston disposed therein. The piston 14 is moveable relative to the
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cylinder 1 ~' and has a grooved sealing surface 1~ similar to that of the piston in a 1 Occ
or 20cc syringe.
The cylinder 12 is open at its bottom end 16. The end 16 is shaped, preferably
in a frustro-conical shape or other flared form, so that it can be placed over the nipple
areola complex, and to form a seal therewith. As sho~n in Figure 1, the top end 18
opposite to the end 16 has a rounded shoulder so as to be of a generally convex shape~
and this end 18 is also open.
The piston is formed with an upper portion 20, a first intermediate portion '2,
discs 24, 26, a second intermediate portion 27 and a lower portion 28. The
0 intermediate portions 22. 27 are preferably made from material with a hardness greater
than that of the material of the discs 24, 26, and have a diameter which is less than
that of the bore of the cylinder so that there is no frictional engagement between the
outer periphery of the intermediate portions 22. 27 and the bore of the cylinder as the
piston moves relative to the cylinder. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, a piston
ring ~0 is disposed between the discs, although this ring may be replaced by an O-ring
or such like. The outer surfaces of the end 18 of the cylinder and the domed upper
portion 20 form a continuous blended convex surface.
The container further includes means for locating the piston in a relativel~v
immovable position in the cylinder. In the embodiments of the in-ention sho~n inFigures 1 to 2, the locating means comprises at least one resilient member disposed
in the container and biassed so as to force the piston into the relatively immovable
position.
In a first embodiment of the invention~ shown in Figure 1, a single such
resilient member ,2 is disposed between the top end 18 of the cylinder 12 and the
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piston 14. In this preferred embodiment, the resilient member is a helical tension
spring. The external diameter of the spring is less than the maximum diameter of the
bore of the cylinder, whilst the internal diameter of the spring is greater than the
ma~imum e~ternal diameter of either the upper portion 20 or the intermediate portion
s 22 of the piston 14 so that the spring circumscribes these portions of the piston 14.
As shown in Figure 1, a groove or housing 34 may be provided on the lower surface
of the shoulder 36 of the top end 18 of the cylinder to which the upper end of the
resilient member 32 is attached. The lower end of the spring 3' abuts the upper
surface of the intermediate portion 22 of the piston.
The relaxed length of the spring 32 is chosen to be less than the length of the
wall 38 of housing 34 of the cylinder. Therefore, as shown in Figure l(b), with no
manual force acting on the spring the spring is never fully relaxed and so the upper
surface of first intermediate portion 2 is held in a relatively immovable engagement
with the inner wall 38 of housing 34.
The user may move the piston towards the open end of the cylinder against the
force of the spring by pushing on the upper surface of the upper portion 20 of the
piston~ for example by using finger or thumb, thereby increasing the separation
between the ends of the spring 32, as shown in Figure l(a). The spring is chosen so
that when the lower surface of the second intermediate portion 27 abuts the profiled
bottom end 40 of the bore of the cylinder~ the spring is not deformed beyond itselastic limit. When the manual force is removed, the spring rela~es, pulling the piston
towards the open end 18 of the cylinder.
In operation, the user pushes the piston do~n into the cylinder~ decreasing the
volume of the container. The end 16 forms a seal over the nipple areola comple~; and
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the manual force acting on the piston is released. whereby the spring pulls the piston
towards the end 18 of the container, increasing the volume of the container. This
~' creates a partial vacuum in the container. At the top of the cylinder the piston abuts
the lower end of the side wall 38 of the housing 3~ whereby the force still being
exerted by the spring on the piston acts to substantially lock the piston at the end of
the c linder. This maintains the increased volume of the container, and so the partial
~acuum therein so that with continued use of the device the nipple is e~erted and
sucked into the container.
In a second embodiment of the present invention, shovvn in Figure ~. a single
0 resilient member 50 is disposed between the open end 16 of the cylinder 1~ and the
piston 14. In this preferred embodiment. the resilient member is a helical compression
spring. Similar to the spring 3~ used in the first embodiment, the external diarneter
of the spring is less than the maximum diameter of the bore of the cylinder. whilst the
internal diameter of the spring is greater than the maximum external diameter of the
lower portion ~8 of the piston 1~. As shown in Figure 7~ the lower end of the spring
50 is attached to the profiled bottom end. or shoulder. 40 of the open end 16 of the
cylinder. Side walls, similar to side walls 38 in the first embodiment. may be pro-ided
on shoulders 40. to retain the end of the spring. The upper end of the spring 50 abuts
the lower surface of the second intermediate portion ~7 of the piston.
2 o The relaxed length of the spring 50 is chosen to be greater than the length of
the cylinder. Therefore. as shown in Figure '(b). with no manual force acting on the
spring the spring is never fully relaxed and so the upper surface of the first
intermediate portion ~'~ is held in a relatively immovable engagement with the lower
surface of the shoulder of the top end of the cylinder.
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Operation of the device of the second embodiment of the present invention is
similar to that of the first embodiment. The user pushes the piston down into the
cylinder. decreasing the volume of the container as shown in Figure 2 (a). The end e
16 forms a seal over the nipple areola complex and the manual force acting on the
piston is released~ whereb~ the spring pushes the piston towards the end 18 of the
container, increasing the volume of the container. This creates a partial vacuum in the
container. At the top of the cylinder the piston abuts the lower end of the side wall 38
of the housing 34. whereby the force still being exerted by the spring on the piston
acts to substantially lock the piston at the end of the cylinder. This m~int~in.s the
increased volume of the container, and so the partial vacuum therein, so that with
continued use of the device the nipple is everted and sucked into the container.In each of the embodiments shown in Figures I and ', the helical springs may
be plastics-coated.
If so desired,-the first and second embodiments of the present invention may
be combined, i.e. a first resilient member may be disposed between the top end 18 of
the cylinder and the piston 14 and a second resilient member may be disposed between
the open end 16 of the cylinder and the piston 14.
One advantage of each of the above embodiments is that operation of the
device may be performed using onlv a single hand; the container may be held
2 o comfortably in the hand to form the seal over the nipple areola complex and a finger
or thumb of the same hand may be used to depress the piston.
A third embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 3. In this
embodiment. the piston may be locked in a relatively immo~able position in the
container b~ locating means on the piston that engage with locating means on the
-
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cylinder. The locating means of the piston comprises a profiled peripheral part of the
piston, and the locating means of the cylinder comprises a conformingly-profiledsection.
As shown in Figure 3(b), the profiled peripheral part of the piston is an outer
rim 80 of the intermediate portion '~'~ of the piston. A section of the end 18 of the
cylinder has a reduced internal diameter, and the bore of this section defines the
conformingly profiled section 8~ of the cylinder. Either the part 80 or the part 8~ is
convex in axial cross-section. the other part being concave. These alternatives are
shown in expanded section in Figures 4(a) and ~(b).
In a fourth embodiment of the invention, the profiled part of the piston is the
periphery of the upper portion ~0 of the piston. which is enlarged to have a domed
shape as shown in Figure ~. In this embodiment. the convexity and width of the end
18 of the container is increased to define a conca~ e portion 8'' profiled to
accommodate the profiled part of the piston.
In the third and fourth embodiments of the present invention, the piston is
pulled towards the end 18 of the cylinder using manually operable means 8~
specifically a thread or ribbon 8~ (best seen in Figure 3(b)). Being flexible~ the thread
8~ does not project from the external shape of the device.
In operation. the end 16 forms a seal over the nipple areola complex and the
piston is pulled towards the end 18 of the container~ increasing the volume of the
container. This creates a partial v acuum in the comainer. At the top of the cylinder the
locating means on the piston engage w-ith locating means on the cylinder to lock the
piston at the end of the c,vlinder. This m~int~ins the increased v olume of the container?
and so the partial vacuum therein, so that with continued use of the device the nipple
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is everted and sucked into the container
In the third embodiment, as the disc is pulled towards the end 18 of the
container, the upper portion ~0 passes through the end 18 of the casing without
coming into contact with the profiled part 8 ' of the cylinder. As the rim 80 engages
the profiled part 8~ of the cylinder, the edges of profiled part 8'' are deformed by the
rim until the two parts register with each other, as shown in Figures 3(b) and 4.
Operation of this device is a simple tvwo-handed operation; the container is
placed on the breast using one hand to form the seal over the nipple areola complex
and. holding the ribbon 84 between thurnb and forefinger of the other hand the piston
0 is pulled towards the end 18 of the container.
The extent of the profiling of the parts 80~8~ is exaggerated in the drawings:
the profiling need be sufficient only to locate the piston against the pressure
differential across it. Excessive profiling would make it difficult to move the parts
80,8~ into registry with each other, and also subsequently to disengage them
In each embodiment, the overall size of the device is chosen so that. with the
cylinder and piston engaged, the dimensions and volume of the container is of the
order of that of the everted nipple. The small size of the device offers a substantial
improvement over prior art nipple eversion devices in that the device may be
continuously and relatively inconspicuously uorn. Moreover. the shape of the device
2 o has a smooth and natural-looking external appearance~ to the advantage of u omen who
prefer thin clothing
In each embodiment of the present invention. the container is detached from
the nipple areola complex by pressing on the piston to allo~ air to enter the container.
thereby removing the partial vacuum and allowing the container to be easil~ removed.
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The device permits the user is able to accurately control the size of the partial
vacuum created in the container. The size of the partial vacuum required to evert the
nipple will vary between users. If too great a vacuum is created, the user may suffer
discomfort during operation and the nipple may be damaged. Conversely~ if the
vacuum is too small, insufficient eversion of the nipple may occur.
In the present invention, the magnitude of the partial vacuum created in the
container is controlled by the initial position of the piston in the cylinder prior to
sealing the device around the nipple areola comple~. For example, if the piston
initially lies at the bottom end 16 of the cylinder, the increase in the volume of the
container during operation is a maximum. A maximum partial vacuum, or maximum
negative pressure, is created in the container. Alternatively, if the piston initially lies
midway between the ends l 6 and l 8 of the cylinder, an intermediate negative pressure
will act on the nipple. To facilitate accurate initial positioning of the piston prior to
sealing the device around the nipple areola complex. the cylinder is made from atransparent plastic material and has graduated linear markings formed on its external
surface. similar to the markings on the barrel of a syringe. These markings can act as
reference points for the positioning of the piston by the user prior to sealing the device
around the nipple and for prescribing purposes.
There is thus no requirement for a val-e, s,vringe or any other accessory to
2 o create the partial vacuum in the device. The ease of operation of the device is greatly
enhanced o-er prior art nipple eversion devices.
The compact design of the nipple eversion device of the present in- ention not
only makes the device more practical for continuous daytime use b,v the user but also
makes the device economical to produce.
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Each feature disclosed in this specification (which term includes the claims)
and/or shown in the drawings may be incorporated in the invention independently of
other disclosed and/or illustrated features.
The text of the abstract filed herewith is repeated here as part of the
specification.
A nipple eversion device comprising a container having a first portion (1'')
with an open end shaped to be placed over the nipple areola complex and to form a
seal therewith. a second portion (1~) of the container moveable relative to the first
portion to increase the volume of the container and create a partial vacuum therein.
and means (~2; 50; 80~82) for locating said portions relative to each other and
m~int~inina the increased volume whereby to evert the nipple by suction thereon.
