Patent Application
20230099175
The present invention generally relates to menstrual collection devices, specifically menstrual discs.
A person who menstruates will typically use a tampon or pad to absorb catamenial fluids. Alternatives to tampons and pads exist to collect catamenial fluids such as menstrual cups and/or menstrual discs. Menstrual cups and menstrual discs have been in use and have been known as is described further in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,891,761 to Goddard, 1,996,242 to Hagedorn, 2,089,113 to Chalmers, 5,827,248 to Crawford, and U.S. Design Pat. No. D323,212 to Crawford and U.S. Pat. No. D837,980. Such devices are commonly used as a replacement to other catamenial devices such as tampons and sanitary napkins.
The typical menstrual cup is a cup like device with a reservoir or catchment area and a rim designed to be inserted into the vaginal canal. Such devices are designed to catch menses. Goddard, Hagedorn, and Chalmers devices are worn in a lower region of the vaginal canal where there are more nerve endings. These menstrual cups form a vacuum seal with the vaginal wall that must be disrupted before the cup is removed.
An alternative class of menstrual cups as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,984 to Contente or Brazilian Patent Application No. 202019005049 to Azar. Similar to the menstrual cups of Goddard, Hagedorn, and Chalmers, the Contente and Azar devices are designed to be foldable such that they can be inserted into the vaginal canal and then expand once in position. However, both the Contente and Azar devices are designed to sit in the fornix, an anatomical region around the cervix at the top of the vaginal canal where there are fewer nerve endings. Often times this type of menstrual cup is referred to as a menstrual disc. Menstrual cups and discs are often difficult and uncomfortable to remove. Further, removal of the devices can pose health and safety issues as users have to insert their fingers into the vaginal canal. Because menstrual discs sit at the top of the vaginal canal, unlike menstrual cups, they are typically even more difficult to remove and sometimes users have to seek assistance from third parties and health care providers to assist with removal. Because of the high placement of a menstrual disc, individuals with loss of dexterity or grip strength may have even greater difficulty with removal. Menstrual discs may be constructed of materials that are single-use or from materials that are reusable.
Many of the above-mentioned menstrual devices often are designed to accommodate a wide range of users. As such, many fail to consider the various types of anatomy that may be encountered and thus such devices tend to be uncomfortable to many users and difficult to remove. Additionally, in an effort to improve use of such devices, removal methods have been tried which often do not work in the case of menstrual discs because they sit in the fornix, or which are designed in a manner that can cause irritation to delicate vaginal tissue, and therefore fail to appeal to the spectrum of users over time. Therefore, there is a need for an improved removal mechanism for menstrual cups and discs which overcomes one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art.
Many embodiments are directed to a menstrual disc that has a resilient, foldable, edged rim with an interior surface and an exterior surface and an upper and lower surface. The various surfaces of the rim act to define the cross-sectional shape of the rim. The menstrual disc has a catchment portion that is connected to the resilient, foldable, edged rim and is substantially disposed beneath the lower surface of the rim. The catchment portion has an interior sidewall and an exterior sidewall. The menstrual disc is also configured with a removal mechanism having at least one proximal end connected to the rim and a body portion extending outward from the at least one proximal end, wherein the body portion of the removal mechanism is substantially disposed below the lower surface of the resilient, foldable, edged rim and lateral to the exterior sidewall of the catchment portion.
In other embodiments, the removal mechanism is a filament.
In still other embodiments, the removal mechanism is a molded tab.
In yet other embodiments, the removal mechanism has at least two proximal ends wherein each of the at least two proximal ends are connected to the rim such that the body portion extends between the at least two proximal ends and forms a loop.
In still yet other embodiments, the proximal end(s) of the removal mechanism have a cross-sectional shape that is thinner than that of the body portion.
In other embodiments, the removal mechanism has a textured surface.
In still other embodiments, wherein the at least one proximal end is connected to the interior surface of the rim.
In yet other embodiments, the at least one proximal end is connected to the lower surface of the rim.
In still yet other embodiments, the removal mechanism is removably connected to the rim.
In other embodiments, at least a portion of the removal mechanism extends through a height of the cross-sectional shape of the rim at least once.
In still other embodiments, at least a portion of the removal mechanism extends through a height of the cross-sectional shape of the rim at least twice and forms a connection loop to the body portion of the removal mechanism.
In yet other embodiments, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the resilient, foldable, edged rim is selected from a group consisting of half-domed, triangular, and “U” shaped.
In still yet other embodiments, the cross-sectional shape of the resilient, foldable, edged rim has a leading edge such that the leading edge is chamfered in such a manner that the chamfer is an angled surface directed downward from the upper surface towards the lower surface and between the interior surface and the exterior surface.
In other embodiments, the removal mechanism is formed as part of the resiliently foldable rim in a single molding process.
In still other embodiments, the removal mechanism is molded within the resiliently foldable rim in a secondary molding process.
Additional embodiments and features are set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the specification or may be learned by the practice of the disclosure. A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the present disclosure may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification and the drawings, which forms a part of this disclosure.
The description will be more fully understood with reference to the following figures, which are presented as exemplary embodiments of the invention and should not be construed as a complete recitation of the scope of the invention, wherein:
Turning now to the drawings, menstrual devices with removal mechanisms are provided. In accordance with many embodiments, menstrual discs may incorporate a removal mechanism that is connected to a portion of a rim element such that the removal mechanism does not negatively interact with the anatomy of a user. Various embodiments of a menstrual disc incorporate a tab or a pull mechanism that is connected to an inside or underside portion of the rim where the catchment portion of the device is disposed on the interior of the rim yet exterior to the pull mechanism. Some embodiments may incorporate a filament that is integrated into the rim.
Menstrual discs, as previously described, have been in use and are well known in the field of menstrual devices. However, known menstrual discs can have many disadvantages. The ease of insertion and removal can present certain difficulties that may lead users to resort to less ideal methods of collection. For example, known discs generally lack a function to aid in the removal. Most discs require the user to grasp a portion of the rim of the disc and pull remove the device. This traditional method of removal is often messy and can be uncomfortable for some users.
In some discs, removal devices have been integrated. However, the integration of such devices tend to pose a potential for discomfort during use. For example,
Note that a menstrual disc has a relatively robust resilient rim that opens around the cervix in the vaginal fornix. This is quite advantageous with regard to comfort as the fornix is relatively wide as compared to the main portion of the vaginal cavity. The robust nature of the rim keeps the disc secured and prevents fluids from leaking. A user is thus freed from the toxic shock danger of tampons and the clutter of sanitary napkins and may even engage in intercourse without leakage of menses. During insertion, the rim is folded but as it nears the fornix the rim expands into position. However, the comfort and fit of a conventional menstrual disc comes at a cost of a potentially difficult removal. The relatively robust rim of the menstrual disc needs to be deformed so that disc may fold and be retrieved from the vagina. Depending upon a woman’s anatomy, it may be difficult for a user to extend a finger sufficiently within the vagina to be able to deform the resilient rim and begin retrieval.
To aid in removal, it is known to attach a cord or lead to the rim as discussed with regard to
The use of a removal mechanism as illustrated herein can provide a number of advantages over other menstrual discs that can be difficult to remove. In accordance with numerous embodiments, the removal mechanism can take on any number of shapes, sizes, and be made of any type of material. Additionally, the removal mechanism can be placed in any desirable location such that it does not interfere with the vaginal walls of the user. In some embodiments, the removal mechanism, as illustrated in
Many embodiments of a menstrual disc may incorporate a removal tab that varies in size and shape. For example, numerous embodiments may have a removal tab that is connected to an inside portion of disc that changes in cross sectional dimension or may be made of a number of different materials.
Although many embodiments of a menstrual disc may incorporate a removal tab, numerous embodiments may incorporate alternative removal mechanisms. For example,
Similar to
Alternatively, various embodiments may incorporate a removal mechanism that can be installed or attached after the formation of the rim and/or catchment portion. For example,
The rim 600, in accordance with many embodiments, may be manufactured with one or more connection ports 604. The connection ports 604 can be a series of holes or a single hole located within the interior portion of the rim 600. The connection ports 604 can allow for any number of removal filaments and/or tabs 602 to be connected to the rim 600 through a number of connections means such as tying, subsequent bonding through molding, or any number of techniques. This can allow for the rim 600 to be more versatile such that any number of different removal mechanisms such as longer or textured can be used for any number of different users. The adaptability of a rim 600 to accommodate a number of different types of removal mechanisms 602 can be preferable in some embodiments where the manufacturing may not allow the two components to be co-molded or manufactured in sequence. Additionally, many embodiments may incorporate the use of different materials that are not compatible during the manufacturing process. Therefore, having a rim 600 with the ability to receive any type of removal mechanism can be preferable on various embodiments.
Although various embodiments illustrated herein describe a removal mechanism in the form of a tab or filament that is an elongated body extending below the bottom portion of the rim, numerous embodiments may utilize an alternative form of a removal mechanism that is similarly situated with respect to the rim. For example,
As has been described throughout, many embodiments can vary in composition of components and overall design to allow for increased comfort for the users. As such many embodiments may utilize a removal mechanism that has additional features that can improve the ability for the user to grip the mechanism. For example, some embodiments may have texturing or as described previously different cross-sectional designs that can help with the gripping of the mechanism. Additionally, it can be appreciated that menstrual discs may have different catchment designs to allow for increased comfort by allowing for longer use and or use during heavier cycles.
In addition to the numerous configurations between the various menstrual disc components, it can be appreciated that some embodiments of a menstrual disc with a removal mechanism may incorporate rims with one or more cross sectional designs. For example,
As can be inferred from the above discussion, the above-mentioned concepts can be implemented in a variety of arrangements in accordance with embodiments of the invention. Specifically, menstrual discs with a removal mechanism that does not interfere with the anatomical position of the disc when in use. Achieving such functionality, according to embodiments, involves the implementation of special arrangements/designs between subsystems described above, and their equivalents.
Accordingly, although the present invention has been described in certain specific aspects, many additional modifications and variations would be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is therefore to be understood that the present invention may be practiced otherwise than specifically described. Thus, embodiments of the present invention should be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.
This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/US2021/036226 filed Jun. 7, 2021, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Pat. Application No. 63/035,517 filed on Jun. 5, 2020, the disclosures of which are included herein by reference in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63035517 | Jun 2020 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/US2021/036226 | Jun 2021 | US |
| Child | 18061883 | US |
