Patent ID: 6423039
Filing Date: 2002-07-23
Classification: A61D,A61K

Abstract:
An intra vaginal device for insertion into a vaginal cavity of an animal selected from the group consisting of cattle, sheep, deer and goats, retainable therein over a period of time within a range of from 7 to 12 days and then to be withdrawable therefrom to allow the onset of oestrus, said device comprising:a matrix of a cured silicone rubber material including greater than 5% by weight progesterone to a weight of the matrix and defining an exterior surface of at least 75 cm2 contactable upon insertion in the vagina of an animal by biological fluids of the animal, a total progesterone load being from 1 to 1.5 grams within said matrix, said exterior surface being at least substantially all available for progesterone release and said exterior surface having said progesterone load having a thickness of less than 1 millimeter, and said matrix, upon vaginal insertion in an animal, achieving and then maintaining, for at least seven days, a minimum progesterone blood plasma level of 2 nanograms per milliliter of plasma of the animal and after seven days from insertion having a residual load in the matrix of less than 65% by weight of the total progesterone load at insertion.