Abstract:
A device for introducing an object into a vagina includes finger mounting means whereby the device is mountable on a user&#39;s finger, and a holder which protrudes from the finger mounting means and which is insertable into a user&#39;s vagina, the holder being configured to hold an object whilst being inserted into the user&#39;s vagina and then release the object once positioned inside the vagina.

Description:
[0001]     This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/486,841 filed Feb. 13, 2004, which is a U.S. National Phase of PCT/IB02/03287 filed Aug. 16, 2002, which claims priority to South Africa application number 2001/6784 filed Aug. 16, 2001. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     THIS INVENTION relates to a device for introducing an object into a vagina.  
         [0003]     The Inventor is aware of two methods of inserting a tampon into a vagina. In the first method, the user manipulates the tampon by hand and effectively pushes it into her vagina making use of her finger. One disadvantage with this method is that in order to insert the tampon to a sufficient depth, at least a portion of a user&#39;s finger must be inserted into the vagina. Naturally, this is unhygienic and undesirable.  
         [0004]     The problem is partially overcome by the second method which includes using a paper or plastic applicator comprising an outer tube in which a tampon is mounted and an inner tube which is slidable inside the outer tube and functions as a plunger to displace the tampon from the inner tube once the inner tube has been inserted into the vagina.  
         [0005]     However, this method suffers from the disadvantage that the applicator is of a hard and non-pliable material so that there is little or no bend or give during insertion of the device into a vagina. This rigidity makes vaginal insertions more difficult and painful. Often women do not know that the vagina is angled upwards from its opening and that it is not horizontal. After inserting a leading end of the applicator through the vaginal opening in the horizontal direction, the leading end collides with the back wall of the vagina, which is painful and causes the user to think that the applicator has reached the limit of the vagina. The user then deposits the tampon in the vagina at too shallow a depth leading to discomfort.  
         [0006]     Further, both methods suffer from the disadvantage that during insertion, a leading end of the tampon is exposed. This results in moisture being absorbed increasing friction between vaginal wall and tampon and so making vaginal insertion more difficult and possibly resulting in malpresentation (incorrect alignment) of the tampon in the vagina. The latter may cause pain or “loss” of the tampon in the vagina.  
         [0007]     It is an object of this invention to provide means which the Inventor believes will at least alleviate at least some of these problems.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0008]     According to the invention there is provided a device for introducing an object into a vagina which device includes  
         [0009]     finger mounting means whereby the device is mountable on a user&#39;s finger; and  
         [0010]     a holder which protrudes from the finger mounting means and which is insertable into a user&#39;s vagina, the holder being configured to hold an object whilst being inserted into the user&#39;s vagina and then release the object once positioned inside the vagina.  
         [0011]     The Inventor believes the device will find application particularly for use in the digital vaginal insertion of tampons. However, the Inventor believes the device will be suitable, with or without modification, for the insertion of other objects such as ovules, suppositories and the like.  
         [0012]     The device may include an elongate body, the finger mounting means being in the form of a socket extending longitudinally inwardly from an operatively trailing end of the body within which socket at least an end portion of a user&#39;s finger is snugly receivable. A nail receiving recess may lead from the socket. The nail receiving recess serves both to accommodate a user&#39;s finger nail and to orientate the device relative to a user&#39;s finger.  
         [0013]     Naturally, the configuration of the holder will depend on the configuration of the object being inserted.  
         [0014]     When the object being inserted is a tampon, the holder may include a cradle within which a tampon is receivable, the cradle being configured such that when a tampon is inserted in the cradle, at least part of the tampon intermediate its ends is exposed.  
         [0015]     A leading end of the holder which forms a leading end of the body may be configured to cover a leading end of the tampon. In addition, the leading end of the body may be generally domed to facilitate insertion thereof into a vagina. The leading end of the body may have the general shape or may incorporate at least some of the design features of a glans penis. Thus, the leading end of the body may have a rounded point which flares back like the corona of a glans penis and which in use lifts the opposing vaginal wall when the body is inserted in a vagina by a wedging action.  
         [0016]     The leading end of the body may be split and formed of a flexible material to permit the passage of a tampon therethrough when the device is withdrawn from a user&#39;s vagina permitting a tampon to remain in position in the vagina.  
         [0017]     The holder may define a seat or recess within which a trailing end of a tampon is receivable.  
         [0018]     The socket and the holder may be disposed angularly relative to one another. More particularly, a longitudinal axis of the socket and a longitudinal axis of the holder may be arranged at an obtuse angle relative to one another. The obtuse angle may be between 170° and 135°. Preferably, the obtuse angle is between 160° and 140°, and most preferably between 155° and 145°, and is thus selected to compensate for the angle of vaginal inclination.  
         [0019]     The device may include a flexible cover protruding from the trailing end of the body to cover the portion of a user&#39;s finger not inserted into the socket and the perineum and the area of the vulva which may come into contact with the user&#39;s other fingers.  
         [0020]     The socket will typically have a depth which is sufficient to accommodate at least an end portion of a user&#39;s finger, typically a middle finger, up to the first phalanx. Hence, the socket will typically have a depth of between 1.5 and 2.5 cm, typically 2 cm. Further, the socket will typically have lateral dimensions of about 1.5 cm.  
         [0021]     The holder will typically have a length of between 1.5 and 8 cm, typically 5.5 cm.  
         [0022]     The body will typically be formed as a moulding of a synthetic plastics material or polymeric material, such as silicone rubber, or thermoplastic material or paper having a suitable hardness. The desired rigidity of the body at various positions may be achieved by varying the thickness of the body. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0023]     The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.  
         [0024]     In the drawings,  
         [0025]      FIG. 1  shows a side view of a device in accordance with the invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 2  shows a front view of the device of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0027]      FIG. 3  shows a longitudinal sectional view of the device of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0028]      FIG. 4  shows a sectional elevation taken at IV-IV in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0029]      FIG. 5  shows a side view, similar to  FIG. 1 , of another device in accordance with the invention; and  
         [0030]      FIG. 6  shows a front view similar to  FIG. 2  of another device in accordance with the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS  
       [0031]     In FIGS.  1  to  4  of the drawings, reference numeral  10  refers generally to a device for introducing an object into a vagina in accordance with the invention.  
         [0032]     The device  10  includes an elongate body  12  having a trailing end  14  and a leading end  16 . A flexible cover or skirt  18  protrudes from a trailing end  14  of the body  12 .  
         [0033]     A socket  20  extends longitudinally inwardly from a trailing end  14  of the body  12 . The socket  20  is dimensioned such that an end portion of a user&#39;s finger, typically a middle finger, is snugly receivable therein such that the body  12  effectively forms an extension of the user&#39;s finger. A nail receiving recess  22  extends from the socket  20  to accommodate a user&#39;s finger nail. The nail receiving recess  22  also serves to orientate the body  12  relative to a user&#39;s finger as described in more detail herebelow.  
         [0034]     A lower part of the body is shaped to be similar to the shape of a lower part of a penis. The leading end  16  of the body  12  generally has the shape of a glans penis. As can best be seen in  FIG. 1  of the drawings, a bottom surface  24  of the leading end  16  is curved in side view to inhibit abrasion of the posterior vaginal wall in use. The leading end of the body thus has a rounded point which flares back like the corona of a glans penis which in use lifts and wedges the opposing vaginal walls apart when the body  12  is inserted into a vagina.  
         [0035]     The portion of the body  12  extending forwardly from the socket  20  forms a holder in the form of a cradle, generally indicated by reference numeral  26 . The cradle  26  defines a circular cylindrical recess  28  within which a tampon  30  is snugly receivable. A longitudinally extending upper portion of the body  12  is open such that a substantial portion of a tampon inserted into the recess  28  is exposed. The cradle  26  defines a seat  34  within which a trailing end portion of the tampon  30  is receivable.  
         [0036]     The leading end  16  of the body  12  is provided with a slit  36  ( FIG. 2 ). The slit permits a tampon to be released from the cradle  26  through the leading end of the body  12  as is described in more detail herebelow.  
         [0037]     As can clearly be seen in  FIG. 1  of the drawings, the nail receiving recess  22  and the recess  28  are disposed on opposite sides of the body  12  such that, in use, the recess  28  is on that side of the finger corresponding to the inner surface of the finger.  
         [0038]     In use, a tampon  30  is positioned in the recess  28  as shown in  FIG. 3  of the drawings. A retrieval string  38  attached to a trailing end of the tampon  30  is positioned such that it runs along the outside of the body  12  and cover  18 .  
         [0039]     A user&#39;s finger is inserted into the socket  20  with the finger nail  42  positioned in or in register with the nail receiving recess  22 .  
         [0040]     The user then inserts the body  12 , leading end  16  first, into her vagina. By virtue of the shape of the leading end  16 , the two sides of the leading end are urged towards one another as the body  12  is inserted thereby effectively closing the slit  36  and preventing the passage of the tampon  30  therethrough. In another embodiment, shown in  FIG. 6 , the two sides of a leading end  16  of a device  100  overlap to prevent the passage of a tampon therethrough during insertion of the device  100 .  
         [0041]     Once the body  12  has been fully inserted, the finger is twisted to dislodge the tampon  28  from the body which is then gently withdrawn from the user&#39;s vagina. By virtue of the fact that a substantial portion of the tampon  30  intermediate its ends is exposed, friction between the tampon and the vagina tends to retain the tampon  30  in position. The flexibility of the leading end  16  of the body  12  is selected such that as the body  12  is removed, the two sides of the leading end open up to permit the tampon  30  to pass therethrough and remain in the vagina in the desired position.  
         [0042]     The device  10 ,  100  can then either be washed for re-use or disposed of. In the case of a disposable device  10 ,  100 , it may be pre-packaged with a tampon  30  in position in the recess  28 .  
         [0043]     Reference is now made to  FIG. 5  of the drawings, in which reference numeral  50  refers generally to another device in accordance with the invention and, unless otherwise indicated, the same reference numerals used above are used to designate similar parts.  
         [0044]     The main difference between the device  50  and the device  10  is that, in the case of the device  50 , a longitudinal axis  52  of the socket  20  and a longitudinal axis  54  of the cradle  26  are disposed at an angle relative to one another. The angle is typically about 150°. This corresponds to the angle of inclination of the vagina of a standing woman relative to the horizontal and thereby facilitates correct alignment of the tampon for introduction into the vaginal introitus.  
         [0045]     The connection between the part of the body  12  in which the socket  20  is provided and the part of the body  12  defining the cradle is sufficiently flexible to permit the portion of the body  12  in which the socket  20  is provided to be displaced angularly so that the axes  52 ,  54  can be brought more-or-less into line to facilitate full insertion of the body  12 .  
         [0046]     This arrangement serves to indicate to the user the correct direction in which the body should be introduced through the introitus and the direction in which the straightened body should be displaced along the vaginal cavity.  
         [0047]     The Inventor believes that the device  10 ,  50  includes the following advantages:  
         [0048]     The length of the body  12  is not intimidating, but nonetheless provides effective depth of deposition of the tampon or other object into the vagina. The body  12  is of a relatively soft, elastic material which is less difficult and painful to insert than applicators of which the Inventor is aware. Further, the cross-section of the body  12  is easier and more comfortable to insert into a vagina. Friction against the back wall of the vagina is reduced due to the shape of the holder.  
         [0049]     Further, the glans penis like leading end  16  of the body  12  is easier and more comfortable to insert than the leading end portions of conventional devices. In addition, the shape of the leading end reduces the risk of micro-trauma on the vaginal wall and hence reduces the risk of infection.  
         [0050]     In addition, in the device  50 , the angle of the socket  20  relative to the holder  26  promotes easier introduction of the holder through the introitus and indicates the direction for its advancement up the vagina. There is a built-in correction for the directional inclination of the vaginal cavity, which causes less risk of injury and discomfort to the user. The holder can be inserted while the user is sitting or standing and the procedure is therefor much easier and more comfortable to accomplish physically and much less an affront to a female&#39;s dignity.  
         [0051]     In addition, the provision of the cover  18  avoids the user&#39;s hand coming into contact with vaginal discharge thereby improving hygiene and reducing the risk of transmission of diseases such as hepatitis and the like. The procedure is more pleasing aesthetically because it avoids contamination of the user&#39;s finger and nail by menstrual fluids or vaginal discharge.