FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This disclosure generally relates to the field of fertility devices, and in particular, an intravaginal fertility device for collecting and presenting ejaculate closer to the cervix.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
According to the National Institutes of Health, fifteen percent of couples are unable to get pregnant after twelve months of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. There are many potential reasons for reduced fecundity; one third of the cases involve male infertility, another third female infertility, with the balance involving both. Conventional therapies for fertility problems typically include medication or surgery. Both of these categories of therapies can pose health risks. Fertility medications may have undesirable side-effects and can be expensive. Surgical treatments may be seen as too invasive and risky; other treatments, such as assistive reproductive technology, may also present a level of invasiveness and expense that puts it out of reach of many couples searching for fertility assistance.
Others have proposed various intravaginal devices to provide less invasive and expensive fertility treatments. These devices include artificial insemination, cervical cap, and intravaginal plug devices. Artificial insemination devices require collection and subsequent introduction of semen to the vaginal canal and cervix by mechanical methods, such as the use of a catheter with a plunger or syringe. See, e.g., U.S. Patent Application No. 2011/0087065; 2015/0196324. Existing cervical cap devices for improving fertility also require collection of semen prior to insertion of the cap, which stays in place at the cervix for up to six hours. But collection and handling of semen can be complicated and difficult, and must be carried out in a manner that will not damage the semen. Intravaginal plugs, such as that proposed in U.S. Publication No. 2005/0028824, while less complicated and easier to use than artificial insemination and cervical cap devices, are designed to keep the ejaculate from exiting the vaginal canal; however, these devices are not specifically designed to place the ejaculate in contact with the cervix and uterus, and any such contact is incidental to their use.
What is needed is a method and apparatus for improving the potential for pregnancy without the invasive and complex procedures currently proposed or available.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention solves the above problems with an intravaginal device comprised of rigid and elastically-deformable portions that is inserted into the vaginal canal after intercourse. In one embodiment, the device has a rigid longitudinal shaft attached to a round, concave end cup; after intercourse, the device is inserted into the vagina and moved gently up the vaginal canal toward the cervix. As it moved, the end cup of the device makes contact with the walls of the vaginal canal to collect and present ejaculate including semen to the os of the cervix. The device is left in the vagina for up to twenty minutes, then removed using the rigid shaft.
In another embodiment of the present invention similar to the above described embodiment, the device is formed using an elastically-deformable material over a rigid shaft or spine. The elastically-deformable material forms a concave cup and the end for collection and presentation of ejaculate to the os of the cervix in a manner similar to that described above in the first embodiment.
In another embodiment of the present invention, an expandable end cup is attached to a longitudinal shaft which is movably positioned in a rigid plastic shell. The shell and cap of the device is inserted into the vagina. The shaft is then moved longitudinally, causing the end cap to exit the shell, and expand to contact the walls of the vaginal canal. As the expanded cap is moved by the shaft toward the cervix, the cap collects ejaculate from the walls of the vaginal canal and presents it to the os of the cervix.
In yet another embodiment, the end cap of the device detaches from the shaft. When assembled into the unit prior to use, the cap is folded so as to create a smaller profile, thereby easier to insert into the entrance of the vagina. After insertion into the vagina, the cap unfolds to its full diameter, which allows the sides of the cap to contact the walls of the vaginal canal, collect ejaculate and present it to the os of the cervix. Then the shaft can be separated from the cap and removed from the vagina. After an amount of time has passed, the cap can be removed from the vagina via a wire connected to the cap.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention in three views.
FIG. 2 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 1 in section view.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the use of the embodiment in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention in three views.
FIG. 5 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 4 in section view.
FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention in three views
FIG. 7 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 6 in section view.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the use of the embodiment in FIG. 6.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the use of the embodiment in FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the invention in three views. As shown in FIG. 1, the device has a rigid shaft 110 terminating with a larger diameter concave end cup 120. The end cup is an elastically deformable material such that it can form to the shape of the walls of the vaginal canal. FIG. 2 show additional details of the device according to a first embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the end cap has a concave section 210 at the end to facilitate the collection of ejaculate.
FIG. 3 illustrates the use of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. After intercourse resulting in ejaculation, the cup end of the device is inserted into the vaginal opening and slid into a positions at the os of the cervix. As the device travels through the vaginal canal, the sides of the end cup 120 collect ejaculate present in the vaginal canal and present it to the cervix. The end cup 120 remains in the vicinity of the cervix for a prescribed amount of time, for example between ten minutes to several hours. After the time has passed, the device is removed by pulling the rigid shaft 110 until the end cap 120 clears the vaginal opening.
FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a second embodiment of the invention, similar to the embodiment discussed in connection with FIG. 1. The key difference between the two embodiment is that the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is manufactured and assembled differently. As shown in FIG. 5, the device is comprised of a rigid shaft piece 510 and is covered with an elastically deformable material 520. The concave end cap 530 is formed using the deformable materials 520. Use of the device illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 is the same as described above for the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 shows the device of the third embodiment prior to use. The device of FIG. 6 includes a shaft 610 and end cap 620, as well as a shell 630. The shaft 610 and shell 630 are made of rigid material; the end cap 620 is made of elastically deformable materials. The shaft protrudes through a hole in the shell 630 and connects to the end cap 620. When assembled prior to use, the wall of the end cap is compressed by the shell so as to present a small profile to the vaginal entrance. FIG. 7 illustrates the difference in profiles before and after actuation of the shaft 610. The top view 710 of FIG. 7 shows the device prior to insertion into the vaginal opening. The bottom view 720 shows the device after insertion into the vaginal opening and after actuation of the shaft. As can be seen in the top view 710, the overall device diameter is smaller than the diameter of the device when the shaft is actuated, owing to the expansion of the cap material after it clears the lip of the shell. In this way, the device diameter is smaller when it is inserted into the vaginal open, yet the end cap expands to effectively contact the vaginal walls to collect ejaculate.
FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate the use of the device according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Similar to the first and second embodiments, the device of FIGS. 6 is inserted into the vaginal opening after intercourse and ejaculation. FIG. 8 shows the device after insertion into the vaginal opening. As shown in FIG. 8, the shell 630 of the device is placed in the vaginal opening and remains positioned there throughout use. Once the shell is seated into the vaginal opening, the shaft is actuated to deploy the end cap to its fullest diameter and move the end cap to the vicinity of the cervix. After deployment, the end cap 620 contacts the walls of the vaginal canal to collect ejaculate and present it to the os of the cervix, as shown in FIG. 9. The device remains in this position for the prescribed amount of time, between ten minutes and several hours.
FIG. 10 illustrates a device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The device of FIG. 10 has similar features to the other embodiments already discussed. The device has a shaft assembly 1010, a cap 1020, a shell 1030, and a wirelocker 1040. In this embodiment, the cup 1020 is designed to fold to present a smaller profile to the vaginal opening, and also to detach from the shaft 1010 and shell 1030 assembly. As shown in FIG. 11, the shaft assembly is comprised of two shaft halves, 1010a and 1010b. The cup 1020 is connected to the wirelocker 1040 by a wire-like linkage 1110 such as a length of wire or string. The wirelocker 1040 locks onto a locking feature 1120 on one side of the two-piece shaft 1010a, holding the cup 1020 in position at the end of the shaft assembly 1010 as shown in FIG. 10.
FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate the procedure for inserting the device according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 11 into the vaginal canal and placing the cap in proximity to the cervix. The top view 1210 of FIG. 12 shows the initial position of the device upon insertion into the vaginal opening, where dotted line 1240 indicates the exterior surface of the vaginal opening. As mentioned above, the end cup 1020 is folded by the shaft halves 1010a and 1010b to present a smaller profile to the vaginal opening. View 1210f shows the folded cap 1020 in the end of the shaft when the shaft is fully retracted into shell 1030 during insertion.
Once inserted and seated into the vaginal opening, the shaft is actuated in the direction of the vaginal canal as shown in the middle view 1220 of FIG. 12. As can be seen in the middle view 1220, as the shaft is longitudinally actuated through the shell, the two shaft halves allow the cup 1020 to expand to its full diameter and contact the walls of the vaginal canal. Continuing the procedure, the shaft is further actuated longitudinally until the cap reaches the os of the cervix as shown in bottom view 1230 of FIG. 12. As the cap travels through the vaginal canal, it contacts the walls of the vaginal canal collecting ejaculate and presenting it to the cervix.
FIG. 13 illustrated the procedure for detaching and deploying the end cap onto the cervix. In the top view 1310 of FIG. 13, the shaft of the device has been extended to reach the cervix. Wirelocker 1040 is shown at the external end of the shaft in the locked position, securing the end cup to the device. Middle view 1320 illustrated unlocking of the end cap by rotating the wirelocker 1040 to free it from the locking feature 1120. As shown in the bottom view of FIG. 13, once the wirelocker is removed from the locking feature 1120, it is free to pass through the shaft assembly 1010, detaching the end cap from the device. At this point, the shaft 1010 and shell 1030 assembly is removed from the vagina, leaving the end cap in the vicinity of the cervix. After the prescribed amount of time passes, the cap is removed using the wirelocker 1040 and wire-like linkage 1110.
Patent Application
20180014854
