Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
An instrument for the insertion into the uterus of a flexible contraceptive device including a first transverse arm and a second arm coplanar with said first arm and dependent therefrom, said insertion instrument comprising a tubular barrel having an insertion end, stop means on said barrel for engaging the cervical os, said stop means being located at a distance from the anterior end of said insertion end corresponding to a predetermined depth of insertion of said insertion end in the uterus, said barrel having diametrically opposed axially extending apertures therein located posteriorly of said stop means for receiving said intrauterine device with the first arm thereof extending through said apertures transversely of said barrel and said second arm extending from its point of connection with said first arm through one of said apertures and into said barrel with the major portion thereof extending axially within said barrel towards the posterior portion thereof, means on said barrel adjacent said apertures for folding said first arm into said barrel adjacent said second arm and substantially parallel thereto and a plunger telescopically inserted in the posterior portion of said barrel and having a free end operably engageable with said second arm, said plunger being slidable in said barrel to move the folded intrauterine device from its position adjacent said apertures through said barrel insertion end for depositing said device at a predetermined location in the uterus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
233 words
An instrument for the insertion into the uterus of a flexible contraceptive device including a first transverse arm and a second arm coplanar with said first arm and dependent therefrom, said insertion instrument comprising a tubular barrel having an insertion end, stop means on said barrel for engaging the cervical os, said stop means being located at a distance from the anterior end of said insertion end corresponding to a predetermined depth of insertion of said insertion end in the uterus, said barrel having diametrically opposed axially extending apertures therein located posteriorly of said stop means for receiving said intrauterine device with the first arm thereof extending through said apertures transversely of said barrel and said second arm extending from its point of connection with said first arm through one of said apertures and into said barrel with the major portion thereof extending axially within said barrel towards the posterior portion thereof, means on said barrel adjacent said apertures for folding said first arm into said barrel adjacent said second arm and substantially parallel thereto and a plunger telescopically inserted in the posterior portion of said barrel and having a free end operably engageable with said second arm, said plunger being slidable in said barrel to move the folded intrauterine device from its position adjacent said apertures through said barrel insertion end for depositing said device at a predetermined location in the uterus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
131 words
An instrument as in claim 1 wherein said folding means comprises a crossbar pivotally mounted on said barrel and selectively rotatable from a position transverse to said barrel to a position substantially in axial alignment therewith, said crossbar having first and second depending abutment means thereon located on opposite sides of said barrel, said first abutment means being positioned to engage said first arm adjacent a first end thereof and said second abutment means being positioned to operably engage a second end of said first arm on the barrel side remote from said first end, whereby rotation of said crossbar from said transverse position to said axially aligned position urges said abutment means into engagement with said intrauterine device and folds said first arm into said barrel adjacent said second arm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
An instrument as in claim 2 including means for locking said crossbar in said axially aligned position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
An instrument as in claim 3 wherein said locking means holds said crossbar in said aligned position against the bias of said first arm and includes a pair of operably engageable protuberances respectively positioned on said barrel and sAid crossbar.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
An instrument as in claim 1 wherein said plunger includes a finger-press portion on the end thereof remote from said intrauterine device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
An instrument as in claim 1 wherein said plunger is generally cruciform in cross-section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
An instrument as in claim 1 including a thumb rest formed on the surface of said barrel adjacent the posterior portion thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
An instrument as in claim 1 wherein said insertion end of said barrel is curved to generally conform to the curvature of the uterine cavity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
An instrument as in claim 8 including a thumb rest formed on the surface of said barrel adjacent the posterior portion thereof, said thumb rest being located on the side of said barrel towards which said insertion end is curved to provide an external indication to the operator of said instrument of the position of said insertion end in the uterus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
An instrument as in claim 1 wherein said stop means is removably mounted on said barrel and is positionable adjacent said insertion end at selected distances from the anterior end of said insertion end to selectively vary the depth of insertion of said insertion end in the uterus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
An instrument as in claim 1 wherein said barrel has a plurality of recesses therein at varying distances from the anterior end of said insertion end and said stop means is removably mounted on said barrel and includes means for selectively frictionally engaging said recesses to selectively vary the position of said stop means whereby the predetermined depth of insertion of said insertion end in the uterus may be varied.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
77 words
An instrument as in claim 11 wherein said stop means comprises a generally semi-cylindrical member having an abutment surface at one end thereof and said recess engagement means posteriorly located at the other end thereof, said semicylindrical member having an axial length selected to position said abutment means forwardly of the most anterior of said recesses when said engaging means is located in the most posterior of said recesses, whereby surrounding uterine and vaginal tissues are protected.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
An instrument as in claim 12 wherein said recesses are generally annular and said recess engaging means comprises a generally semi-cylindrical flange.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
95 words
An instrument as in claim 1 wherein said barrel has an elongated axially extending slot along substantially the entire length thereof and said plunger has an auxiliary stop member extending through said slot, said auxiliary stop member being moved into engagement with the cervical os adjacent said stop means as said plunger moves said intrauterine device from adjacent said apertures, whereby further urging of said plunger towards said insertion end causes said barrel and insertion end to move rearwardly with respect to said plunger, thereby freeing said insertion device and depositing it in the uterus.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
An instrument as in claim 14 including oppositely extending fingerpieces on said barrel adjacent the posterior end thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
131 words
An instrument as in claim 14 wherein said folding means comprises a crossbar pivotally mounted on said barrel and selectively rotatable from a position transverse to said barrel to a position substantially in axial alignment therewith, said crossbar having first and second depending abutment means thereon located on opposite sides of said barrel, said first abutment means being positioned to engage a first end of said first arm and said second abutment means being positioned to operably engage a second end of said first arm on the barrel side thereof remote from said first end, whereby rotation of said crossbar from said transverse position to said axially aligned position urges said abutment means into engagement with said intrauterine device and folds said first arm into said barrel adjacent said second arm.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
198 words
An instrument for the insertion into the uterus of a flexible contraceptive device including a first transverse arm and a second arcuate arm coplanar with said first arm and depenDent from one end thereof, said insertion instrument comprising a tubular barrel having an insertion end and diametrically opposed axially extending apertures at an intermediate portion thereof through which said intrauterine device is received in said barrel with the first arm thereof extending through said apertures transversely of said barrel and said second arm extending from its point of connection with said first arm through one of said apertures and into said barrel with the major portion thereof extending axially within said barrel towards the posterior portion thereof, means on said barrel adjacent said apertures for folding said first arm into said barrel adjacent said second arm and substantially parallel thereto, and a plunger telescopically inserted in the posterior portion of said barrel and having a free end operably engageable with said second arm, said plunger being slidable in said barrel to move the folded intrauterine device from its position adjacent said apertures through said barrel insertion end for depositing said device at a predetermined location in the uterus.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
198 words
An instrument for the insertion into the uterus of a flexible contraceptive device including a first transverse arm and a second arcuate arm coplanar with said first arm and depenDent from one end thereof, said insertion instrument comprising a tubular barrel having an insertion end and diametrically opposed axially extending apertures at an intermediate portion thereof through which said intrauterine device is received in said barrel with the first arm thereof extending through said apertures transversely of said barrel and said second arm extending from its point of connection with said first arm through one of said apertures and into said barrel with the major portion thereof extending axially within said barrel towards the posterior portion thereof, means on said barrel adjacent said apertures for folding said first arm into said barrel adjacent said second arm and substantially parallel thereto, and a plunger telescopically inserted in the posterior portion of said barrel and having a free end operably engageable with said second arm, said plunger being slidable in said barrel to move the folded intrauterine device from its position adjacent said apertures through said barrel insertion end for depositing said device at a predetermined location in the uterus.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
130 words
An instrument as in claim 20 wherein said folding means comprises a crossbar pivotally mounted on said barrel and selectively rotatable from a position transverse to said barrel to a position substantially in axial alignment therewith, said crossbar having first and second depending abutment means thereon located on opposite sides of said barrel, said first abutment means being positioned to engage said second arm adjacent its point of connection with said first arm and said second abutment means being positioned to engage said first arm on the side thereof remote from said second arm, whereby rotation of said crossbar from said transverse position to said axially aligned position urges said abutment means into engagement with said intrauterine device and folds said first arm into said barrel adjacent said second arm.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
81 words
An instrument as in claim 21 wherein said second abutment means have a recess therein accommodating the point of connection of said second arm with said first arm, and an extension portion received in the adjacent aperture when said crossbar is in its axially aligned position, said extension portion having an inclined surface for engaging said point of connection as said intrauterine device is moved away from said apertures by said plunger to guide said point of connection into said barrel.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
An instrument as in claim 21 including means for locking said crossbar in said axially aligned position.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
An instrument as in claim 23 wherein said locking means holds said crossbar in said aligned position against the bias of said first arm and includes a pair of operably engageable protuberances respectively positioned on said barrel and said crossbar.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
An instrument as in claim 20 wherein said plunger is generally cruciform in cross-section.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
An instrument as in claim 20 wherein said insertion end of said barrel is curved to generally conform to the curvature of the uterine cavity.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
61 words
An instrument as in claim 26 including a thumb rest formed on the surface of said barrel adjacent the posterior portion thereof, said thumb rest being located on the side of said barrel towards which said insertion end is curved to provide an external indication to the operator of said instrument of the position of said insertion end in the uterus.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
An instrument as in claim 27 wherein said insertion end of said barrel has a smaller outside diameter than the remainder of said barrel.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
203 words
An instrument for the insertion into the uterus of an intrauterine device, which instrument comprises a tubular barrel receiving said intrauterine device and having an insertion end, stop means on said barrel for engaging the cervical os, said stop means having a groove therein and being located at a distance from the anterior end of said insertion end corresponding to a predetermined depth of insertion of said insertion end in the uterus, said barrel having an axially exteNding slot along substantially the entire length thereof and in axial alignment with said groove in said stop means, and a plunger slidably and telescopically inserted in the posterior portion of said barrel, said plunger having a free end operably engageable with said intrauterine device and an auxiliary stop member extending through said slot, said auxiliary stop member being located at the anterior end of said plunger and being moved within said slot and groove into engagement with the cervical os as said plunger moves said device toward said insertion end, whereby further urging of said plunger towards said insertion end causes said barrel and insertion end to move rearwardly with respect to said plunger thereby freeing said insertion device and depositing it in the uterus.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
203 words
An instrument for the insertion into the uterus of an intrauterine device, which instrument comprises a tubular barrel receiving said intrauterine device and having an insertion end, stop means on said barrel for engaging the cervical os, said stop means having a groove therein and being located at a distance from the anterior end of said insertion end corresponding to a predetermined depth of insertion of said insertion end in the uterus, said barrel having an axially exteNding slot along substantially the entire length thereof and in axial alignment with said groove in said stop means, and a plunger slidably and telescopically inserted in the posterior portion of said barrel, said plunger having a free end operably engageable with said intrauterine device and an auxiliary stop member extending through said slot, said auxiliary stop member being located at the anterior end of said plunger and being moved within said slot and groove into engagement with the cervical os as said plunger moves said device toward said insertion end, whereby further urging of said plunger towards said insertion end causes said barrel and insertion end to move rearwardly with respect to said plunger thereby freeing said insertion device and depositing it in the uterus.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
An instrument as in claim 26 including oppositely extending fingerpieces on said barrel adjacent the posterior end thereof.