Patent ID: 6183436
Filing Date: 2001-02-06
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
An article for packing a body cavity, comprising:a sheath of smooth, supple polymeric film formed to provide a containment portion with a closed posterior end portion and an anterior end entrance aperture spaced therefrom, said anterior end entrance aperture being defined by structure that lies substantially in a transverse plane and has an inherent peripheral dimension that is substantially smaller than the inherent peripheral dimension of any cross sectional element taken along the length of said containment portion between said anterior end entrance aperture and posterior end portion and lying in a plane parallel to said transverse plane; a dry, elongate tampon dimensioned and configured to be loosely disposed entirely within said containment portion of said sheath, and comprised of an absorbent material that is expansible, when wetted, from a dry, stable, compressed state to an expanded state, said dry tampon being compressed to a stable shape and size in two directions that are perpendicular to one another and also to the length dimension of said tampon; and a retrieval element extending from adjacent said anterior end of said sheath and operatively attached for effecting withdrawal of said tampon from a body cavity containing the same, said retrieval element being constructed to extend from the containing body cavity when said article is in place therewith.