Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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The present invention relates to novel contra-
ceptive means and more specifically to a vaginal tampon
impregnated with contraceptive composition.
In addition to the mechanical contraceptive
means of the vaginal or intra-uterine type, different
temporary contraceptive means are known which make use
of spermicidal compositions in the form of creams or
gels conditioned in distributing tubes or in capsules.
With such a conditioning, a convenient application of
the gel or the cream is frequently difficult or
unsatisfactory, and in any case, the thus applied
spermicidal composition is submitted to an excessive
solubility affecting considerably the efficiency
thereof. On the other hand, with such a conditioning, the
application of the spermicidal medium, which is achieved
by the finger, may induce risks of contamination, when
the conditioning in the form of capsules additionally
raises problems of storage in hermetic cells.
A general feature of the present invention is
to avoid and overcome the foregoing difficulties by the
provision of contraceptive means of a compact configura-
tion including a spermicidal composition impregnating an
improved cellular support which permits an easy and
efficient insertion in the body while ensuring a
progressive, durable and controlled releasing of the
spermicidal composition so as to combine in an improved
manner the effects of both mechanical and spermicidal
contraceptive means.
According to one aspect of the invention,
there is broadly claimed herein a vaginal contraceptive
tampon, comprising a synthetic sponge member made of a
cellular material having semi-open cells and impregnated
with a compound of a spermicidal composition and of a
delaying medium having gelifying properties when
moistened; the semi-open cells providing only sinuous
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intricate internal communication paths among the cells
and to exterior, thereby lowering emission of the com-
pound when gelified and acting to delay releasing action
of the delaying medium and due to which the sponge
member, if compressed in a not-mois-tened condition
remains more durably compressed yet rapidly swells when
moistened, all in comparison with the same sponge member
if made of open cell foam.
According to a further aspect of the invention,
there is broadly claimed herein a method of manufacturing
a vaginal contraceptive tampon, comprising a synthetic
sponge member made of a cellular material having semi-open
cells and impregnated with a compound of a spermicidal
composition and of delaying medium having gelifying
properties when moistened, said method comprising the
steps of form shaping and sterilizing said sponge member,
preparing the gelifying compound of said spermicidal
composition and of said sterilized delaying medium,
impregnating the sterilized sponge member with said
compound, drying the impregnated sponge member in a
drying process, and compressing said impregnated and
dried sponge member.
According to a preferred feature of the
invention, a string in the form of a loop is provided
for easy removal of the tampon.
In another preferred form of the invention,
the tampon is normally presented in a compressed
configuration, the impregnation compound therein being
in a dried state.
The vaginal tampon or sponge of a cellular
material having semi-open cells impregnated with a com-
pound of a spermicidal agent and of a delaying medium
adapted to form a gel when being moistened provides for
a vaginal application which is simple to manufacture,
store and handle, which can be easily inserted within
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the body wherein, under the effect of the internal
secretions, realizes an immediate swelling for a
convenient adaptation to the geometry of the vagina and
for occulting the cervix of the uterus while providing
for an immediate but continuous, progressive and
durable releasing of the spermicide agent so as to
submit the ejaculated spermatozoldes to a mechanical
barrier and to a continuous bio-chemical action
resulting in an improved efficiency of the tampon.
Still according to another aspect of the
invention, there is claimed herein a vaginal tampon
comprising a sponge member out of a cellular material and
an extracting means, said extracting means consisting in
a non-wicking string in the form of a closed loop, the
binding knot of which is embedded within the bulk of
said sponge member, whereby a substantial portion of
said closed loop extends outwardly from said sponge
member.
Still another feature of the present invention
is to provide an applicator means for housing the
impregnated tampon with a view of moistening same and
easy insertion thereof.
The aforesaid features and others will become
apparent ~
- 2a -
.
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from the roilowing description made in reference with the accompa~
nying draw-ngs, wherein :
~igure 1 is a perspective view of a tampon in accordance
with the irs:ention, and
Figure 2 is a perspective view of an applicator for a
tampon in accordance with the invention.
PREFERRED EMBODIME~TS OF THE I~VENTION
There is known in Figure 1 a tampon according to
the present invention, which is generally designated by reference
lo 1 and comprises a body 2 out of a cellular material, having semi-
open cells ~nd preferably including essentially semi-open cells,
which is impregnated with a compound of a spermicidal composition
and of a delaying medium having gelifying properties when moistenea
and, optionally, of additives authorized in pharmaceutics and
including for instance antiseptic agents . The body or sponge member
2 is made out of a plastic material compatible with the body and
- more particularly with the vaginal mucus and includes pores having
dimensions comprised between about .5mm and 1 mm .
The sponge member 2 is conferred an anatomic shape so
as to be conveniently received within the vagina adjacent the
uterus cervix without the tendency of occupying an off-set position
so as not to inconvenience the woman or the penis of the partner
during copulation. Preferably, the sponge member 2 has a spherical
shape or pseudo-spherical shape with an intermediate cylindrical
portion but, practically, for manufacturing purposes, the sponge
member, as illustrated in Figure 1, has advantageously the form of
a thick cylinder having a height close to the diameter D in the
expanded con_iguration of the tampon, said diameter D being comprised
between about 4 cm and 4,5 cm, In a specific embodiment of the
invention, the tampon 1 is normally presented in a compressed confi-
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guration which makes easier its insertion within the vagina, moiste-
ning and impregnation thereof by the vaginal secretions causing same
to rapidly fully expand after location within the vagina.
To allow easy extraction of the tampon, there is further
provided an e~traction means 3 consisting in a non-wicking string
out of cotton or polyamide fibers According to a feature of the
invention, t-.e string 3 is in the form of a closed loop, the closing
knot being embedded within the bulk of the sponge member 2, whereby
a main portion of the loop extends outwardly from one end of the tam-
lo pon. In a preferred embodiment, the maximum sag Q of the free outer
portion of the loop is comprised between about 3 and 5 cm.
The cellular material of the sponge member 3 may be
made out of fibrine or of expanded polyethylene having a low or
medium molecular weight~ comprised between 15,000 and 35,000 and
totally devoid of residues of foaming agent In a preferred embodiment,
the sponge member 2 is made out of polyvinyle formal or polyvinilic
alcohol rendered insoluble with formol and rinsed. Said latter mate-
rials are advantageous in that they provide for sinuous intricate
internal communication paths between the semi-open cells in the
sponge, whereby lowering emission of the gelified active agents con-
tained in the tampon and adding to the delay releasing action of the
delaying medium, and in that, when compressed, the sponge member
retains durably its compressed configuration when not moistened, and
rapidly swells when moistenèd.
The spermicidal composition in the compound impregnating
the sponge member comprises steroidal or non-steroidal agent~, such
as benzethonium chloride or phenyl-mercury nitrate and includes
preferably alXylbenzalkonium. The delaying medium having a gelifying
action when moistened for time delaying releasing of the spermicidal
agent and prolongating the action thereof is advantageously a sterile
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gel of carbox ~etlyl cellulose stabilized by a conservator such as
methyl-parahydroxybenzoate.
The manufacture of the contraceptive tampon in accordance
with the in~ention is the f~ ing : The sponge member 2 is ~aped,
e.g. by molding the cellular material, sterilized in a sterilizer
with a sterilizing gas or a convenient irradiation, and the sterilized
sponge member is impregnated with the above mentioned compound by
immersing samQ within a solution of said compound, the impregnated
sponge member being slightly squeezed if necessary.The impregnated
sponge memeber is dried, for example lyophilized by being fro2en
lo and sublimated The sponge member with its dried impregnating com-
pound may be ulteriorly compressed for easy direct insertion within
the vagina
The thus realized tampon is imputrescible to the orga-
nic secretions, is heat- and cold-proof by reason of its dried
condition, is not resorbable , neutral and compatible with the
tissues of the vaginal mucus With respect to sa-d latter, the tampon
does not show any adhering tendency and its flexibility when expanded
makes its practically imperceivable by the woman or her partner
The tampon in its dry and eventually pre-compressed
condition may be stored or momentarily inserted within the applicator
illustrated in Figure 2. Said applicator 5 comprises a cylindrical
housing tube 6 wherein the sponge member 2 is arranged in a compressed
condition and a pushing tube 7, the housing tube 6 further advanta-
geously comprising holes or openings 8 formed within its lateral
wall. It is thus possible, with such an applicator, to prealably
dip the housing cylindrr~l tube 6 containing the tampon 2 within
water for moistening same and achieving a pre-expansion of the
cellular material of the sponge member 2, the sponge member 2,
the introduction and setting of the tampon being made in a conven-
tional manner, whereby the thus initiated swelling thereof makes same
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quasi immediately efficient, independently of theamount of the internàl secretions of the woman. The
tampon is thus operative less than one minute af-ter its
insertion, its contraceptive action being prolongated over
a period of at least 5 hours.
For clarification purposes, it is believed
useful to add the following comments.
The word pores used namely in page 3, line
17, above, is meant to designate the cells and not the
communication orifices between the cells which are much
smaller. In fact, the expression acellular material
having semi-open cells (page 1, line 32) in fact means
a cellular material having almost completely closed
cells.
As is known, reference is in fact made to
fissures in the wall of the cells which is very soft in
humid medium, fissures that tend to open or spread out,
for most of them only under the pressure exerted on the
sponge when the tip of the male organ hits the bottom
of the vagina. It must be specified, at this time, that
formalpolyvinylic, material that constitutes the sponge,
is a material well known under the trade name IVALON.
From the above remarks, it follows that when
copulation has reached this point, a pressure is exerted
on the sponge, pressure which determines the ejection
out of this sponge of a certain quantity of gel which
spreads over the adjacent walls of the vagina under the
form of a film having a molecular thickness. This film
will thereafter be re-absorbed by the sponge as soon as
the latter will no longer be subjected to the pressure
resulting from copulation, meaning that almost of the
product will remain available for the next copulation.
These considerations do not however eliminate
a certain natural diffusion effect of the spermicide gel
on the intra-vaginal wall as soon as the sponge is put
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into place since the cells are not quite completely
closed and that, in practice, certain of them remain
slightly open thus allowing slow seeping of the gel.
Although the present invention has been
disclosed with reference to preferred embodiments, other
embodiments and modifications may be contemplated without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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