METHOD FOR FABRICATING INTRA-UTERINE CONTRACEPTIVES AND A PRODUCT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE METHOD

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of fabricating intra-uterine contraceptives, the said contraceptives comprising an elongated component (2), a contraceptive coating (3) placed around the elongated component (2) and a crosswise component (1) attached essentially by its middle point to one end of the elongated component (2). The elongated component (2) essentially of equal diameter throughout its length and the crosswise component (1) lateral to the elongated component (2) and attached to it by its midpoint are formed into a single contiguous piece. A separate contraceptive coating (3) is placed over the elongated component (2) via its unobstructed end, whereafter a sleeve (4) is then attached to support the contraceptive coating (3).

Description: Met h od for fabricating intra-uterine contraceptives and a product in accordance with the method. This invention relates to a method for fabricating intra- uterine contraceptives. Currently there are two kinds of copper-plastic spirals. One kind is formed of a contiguous shaft component and of a late¬ rally outward extending crosswise component. The spiral com¬ ponent consists of copper wire wound around the elongated shaft component. The said method of fabrication is disadvan¬ tageous because the spiral component has to be separately wound over the shaft component. In addition, the copper wire spiral in the known solutions has been wound around the entire elongated shaft component in which cases, as is known, the copper around the base of the elongated shaft component does not possess an effective influence. The other kind of copper-plastic spirals have been designed to be such that their copper wire spiral extends only as far as the shaft component's upper half. This kind of a contraceptive is constructed in such a manner that the shaft component and the crosswise component are separate. The lower part of the shaft component is thicker than the upper part around which the copper wire spiral has been placed prior to assembling the contraceptive. In this way, the lower part of the shaft component and the union between the shaft component and the crosswise component hold the copper wire spiral in place. The latter kind of spiral is described in the FI patent publica¬ tion 59719. One disadvantage of the contraceptive in accordance with the said FI patent publication is that there is a connection between the shaft component and the crosswise component which, on the one hand, is difficult to implement and, on the other hand, may be susceptible to strain owing to its thin- ness. The arched locking component constitutes a protrusion which may be a cause of pain in the uterus. The design in accordance with the second implementation in the FI publica¬ tion is intended to remedy this. The said solution does. however, make the crosswise component more complex in form. It is also known to design a contra hook for holding the copper spiral on the shaft. The fabrication of a contra hook is difficult and if other than copper spiral is used as a contraceptive coating, eg. hormonal substance, this soft coating will harm because of the elastic hooks. In order to change the length of the coating the whole contraceptive should be made to conform with the length of the coating. The purpose of this invention is to provide an improvement to the above said disadvantages. This improvement is characteri¬ zed in the main by attaching a sleeve to support the contra¬ ceptive coating. The one advantage of the invention is that it eliminates the need for the head required for the snap-on union between the crosswise component and the shaft component. As a result of this, the external diameter of the elongated component can be reduced, thereby enabling the diameter of the copper wire to be increased. Further, if the length of the coating should be changed, only the length of the sleeve is necessary to chan¬ ge. No mechanical loading to the coating is generated by the hooks. We shall now go on to describe the invention with references being made to the accompanying drawing, of which: Fig. 1 is a side view of the elongated component and the crosswise oriented component. Fig. 2 is a side view like Fig. 1, but with the spiral inclu¬ ded; Fig. 3 is side view like Fig. 1, but with a sleeve included on the elongated- and crosswise components, the said sleeve having a hole bored into it for the purpose of attaching the sleeve to the elongated component. With reference to Fig. 1, we shall now go on to describe the invention. In Fig. 1, 1 is the crosswise component, 2 is the elongated lengthwise component. In accordance with the meth¬ od, the lengthwise and crosswise components, the said com- 5 ponents constituting a contiguous piece, are fabricated first. The crosswise component formed to be curved at both ends. The contiguous piece is formed in such a manner as to eliminate the occurrence of any sharp points or edges. 10 Fig. 2 shows the copper wire spiral, indicated by reference number 3, which is attached around the upper part of the lengthwise component. This spiral has been made into a spi¬ ral- like structure by means known to craftsmen. The thick¬ ness of the copper wire is that commonly used; e.g. 0.5 mm. 15 Fig. 3 shows the contraceptive over whose elongated lower part a sleeve has been placed in such a manner that the said sleeve supports the copper wire spiral 3. The sleeve 4 has been provided with a hole 5 burnt through it for a string 6. 20 The purpose in burning the hole is also to provide a lasting connection between the elongated component 2 and the sleeve 4 as a result of the melting and recooling of plastic in both the sleeve 4 and the elongated component 2. 25 The attaching of the sleeve to the elongated component 2 can be implemented, for instance, by means of a snap-on union, ultra-sonic treatment, heat treatment, etc. An advantageous way of joining sleeve 4 and the elongated component 2 is, however, by burning the above mentioned hole 5 into the slee- 30 ve. The spiral is fabricated in accordance with the following stages: A) An uniform piece, comprising an elongated component and a 35 component oriented crosswise to the elongated component and joined to one end of it and possessing symmetrically curved ends, is fabricated. B) A ready-to-use copper wire spiral is placed over the elon- gated component via the unobstructed other end of the elonga¬ ted component fabricated in the previous stage. C) A sleeve is inserted to provide support for the copper wire spiral via the same end as the spiral. A hole is then burnt through that end of the sleeve which is opposite the end in contact with the spiral for the purpose of slipping a string into the hole and to fasten the sleeve firmly over the elongated component. It is also possible to make such a hole through the sleeve as will also pass through the elongated component. When this is done, it may be that these components are attached to one another only by means of the string. The copper wire spiral can be replaced by other materials with contraceptive properties such as enzymes or other mate¬ rials made of other substances. In the case of enzymes, the contraceptive substance may, for example, be tubular or rod¬ like in form when fabricated. We have described the invention with reference being made to only one of its advantageous implementation examples. It is, nevertheless, clear to a craftsman in the particular line of industry that the method in accordance with the invention can be implemented in the fabrication of contraceptives differing in outward shape, such as T-shaped spirals. All modifications within the inventive idea defined by the patent claims are, naturally, possible.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A method of fabricating intra-uterine contraceptives, the said contraceptives comprising an elongated component (2), a contraceptive coating (3) placed around the elongated com¬ ponent (2) and a crosswise component (1) attached essentially by its middle point to one end of the elongated component (2) , and that the elongated component (2) essentially of equal diameter throughout its length and the crosswise com- ponent (1) lateral to the elongated component (2) and at¬ tached to it by its midpoint are formed into a single uniform piece and that a separate contraceptive coating (3) is placed over the elongated component (2) via its unobstructed end, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a sleeve (4) is then attached to support the contraceptive coating (3) . 2. A method in accordance with patent claim 1, c h a r a c - t e r i z e d in that the connection between the sleeve (4) and the elongated component (2) is achieved by burning a hole (5) into the sleeve (4), following which burning a part of the elongated component (2) and a part of the sleeve (4) melt and on cooling form a firm connection. 3. A method in accordance with patent claims 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the connection between the sleeve (4) and the elongated component (2) is provided by ultra-sonic treatment, heat treatment, friction or some other known method. 4. A method in accordance with patent claim 1, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the connection between the sleeve (4) and the elongated component (2) is ensured by inserting a block, string (6) or a rivet in the hole (5) formed in the sleeve (4) . 5. A method in accordance with one of the above patent claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the contraceptive coating (3) may be replaced by a copper wire spiral, hormon. or entsyme, or like substance having the same purpose. 6. A product in accordance with the method in accordance with patent claim 1 for the purpose of being used as an intra- uterine contraceptive, the said product comprising an elonga¬ ted component (2), a crosswise component (1), a contraceptive coating (3), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that it also comp¬ rises a sleeve (4) for the purpose of supporting the contra¬ ceptive coating. 7. A product in accordance with patent claim 6, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the external diameter of the sleeve (4) is essentially the same as the external diameter of the coontraceptive coating (3) and that inside diameter is essen- tially the same or slightly larger than the inside diameter of the contraceptive coating (3) .

Inventors: AARNIO ARI, HEINONEN KEIJO, AARNIO, ARI, HEINONEN, KEIJO
Applicants: KMS MYYNTI
Application year: 1991
Main classification: A61F6
IPC codes: A61F6