page_title: Osmotic dilator
hierarchical_section_title: Osmotic dilator
caption_attribution_description: English: Osmotic dilators prior to being used. Dilapan-S (left). Laminaria (right)
context_page_description: Osmotic dilators are medical implements used to dilate the uterine cervix by swelling as they absorb fluid from surrounding tissue. They may be composed of natural or synthetic materials. A laminaria stick or tent is a thin rod made of the stems of dried Laminaria, a genus of kelp. Laminaria sticks can be generated from Laminaria japonica and Laminaria digitata. Synthetic osmotic dilators are commonly referred to by their brand names, such as Dilapan. Dilapan-S are composed of polyacrylonitrile, a plastic polymer. The hygroscopic nature of the polymer causes the dilator to absorb fluid and expand.
context_section_description: Osmotic dilators are medical implements used to dilate the uterine cervix by swelling as they absorb fluid from surrounding tissue. They may be composed of natural or synthetic materials. A laminaria stick or tent is a thin rod made of the stems of dried Laminaria, a genus of kelp.  Laminaria sticks can be generated from Laminaria japonica and Laminaria digitata. Synthetic osmotic dilators are commonly referred to by their brand names, such as Dilapan. Dilapan-S are composed of polyacrylonitrile, a plastic polymer. The hygroscopic nature of the polymer causes the dilator to absorb fluid and expand.
caption: Osmotic dilators prior to expansion. Dilapan-S (left). Laminaria (right)
exif: {"Image Make": "Apple", "Image Model": "iPhone 7", "Image XResolution": "72", "Image YResolution": "72", "Image ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Image Software": "12.3.1", "Image DateTime": "2019:08:27 17:46:07", "Image TileWidth": "512", "Image TileLength": "512", "Image ExifOffset": "206", "GPS GPSLatitudeRef": "N", "GPS GPSLatitude": "[41, 29, 113/2]", "GPS GPSLongitudeRef": "W", "GPS GPSLongitude": "[81, 34, 753/20]", "GPS GPSAltitudeRef": "0", "GPS GPSAltitude": "381803/1372", "GPS GPSTimeStamp": "[21, 46, 5]", "GPS GPSSpeedRef": "K", "GPS GPSSpeed": "2600453/4194279", "GPS GPSImgDirectionRef": "T", "GPS GPSImgDirection": "2833439/16384", "GPS GPSDestBearingRef": "T", "GPS GPSDestBearing": "2833439/16384", "GPS GPSDate": "2019:08:27", "GPS Tag 0x001F": "10", "Image GPSInfo": "1798", "EXIF ExposureTime": "1/515", "EXIF FNumber": "9/5", "EXIF ExposureProgram": "Program Normal", "EXIF ISOSpeedRatings": "20", "EXIF ExifVersion": "0221", "EXIF DateTimeOriginal": "2019:08:27 17:46:07", "EXIF DateTimeDigitized": "2019:08:27 17:46:07", "EXIF ComponentsConfiguration": "YCbCr", "EXIF ShutterSpeedValue": "69673/7735", "EXIF ApertureValue": "54823/32325", "EXIF BrightnessValue": "1950674/230849", "EXIF ExposureBiasValue": "0", "EXIF MeteringMode": "Pattern", "EXIF Flash": "Flash fired, compulsory flash mode", "EXIF FocalLength": "399/100", "EXIF SubjectArea": "[2015, 1511, 2217, 1330]", "EXIF SubSecTimeOriginal": "056", "EXIF SubSecTimeDigitized": "056", "EXIF FlashPixVersion": "0100", "EXIF ExifImageWidth": "1805", "EXIF ExifImageLength": "3772", "EXIF SensingMethod": "One-chip color area", "EXIF SceneType": "Directly Photographed", "EXIF ExposureMode": "Auto Exposure", "EXIF WhiteBalance": "Auto", "EXIF FocalLengthIn35mmFilm": "28", "EXIF SceneCaptureType": "Standard", "EXIF LensSpecification": "[4183519/1048501, 4183519/1048501, 9/5, 9/5]", "EXIF LensMake": "Apple", "EXIF LensModel": "iPhone 7 back camera 3.99mm f/1.8"}