US4013063A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Implant for reversibly preventing conception
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-04-14
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Granted: 1977-03-22
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Expires: 1995-04-14
Abstract
Abstract An implant to be situated in a vas deferens for reversibly preventing conception. A pair of open-ended tubular structures respectively have inner end regions adjacent but spaced from each other and fluid-tightly joined with a housing having an interior space through which fluid can flow between the pair of tubular structures. Within the housing are a plurality of fine particles capable of responding to magnetic forces. A permanent magnet is provided for attracting the particles to a conception-preventing position where the particles form a body of sufficient density to retain sperm while of insufficient density to prevent the sperm-carrying fluid from flowing through the body and through the tubular structures.
Inventors
- 👤 Louis Bucalo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 23:03
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F6/00; A61F6/20; A61F6/22; A61F6/24; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/206; Y10T137/218; Y10T137/2191
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
321 words
In an implant for reversibly preventing conception, a pair of elongated open-ended tubular means spaced from each other and respectively having inner ends directed toward and outer ends directed away from each other, an intermediate housing means fluid-tightly connected with said pair of tubular means at the regions of said inner ends thereof for defining between said pair of tubular means a space with which both of said tubular means communicate and through which fluid can flow between said pair of tubular means, said housing means having in its interior a particulate means made up of a plurality of fine particles of a material which responds to magnetic forces, said housing means accommodating said particulate means in said housing means for movement between a conception-preventing position in a path of fluid flow between said pair of tubular means and a conception-enabling position out of the path of flow between said pair of tubular means through the interior of said housing means, each of said tubular means carrying at its inner end region a barrier means for permitting fluid to flow through said inner end region of each tubular means while preventing the particles from flowing in any appreciable numbers therethrough, and a permanent magnet means located adjacent said housing means for attracting said particles to said conception-preventing position with a magnetic force urging said particles against each other sufficiently to form from said particles a body having a density sufficiently great to prevent sperm from flowing through said body in numbers sufficient for conception while still permitting fluid in which sperm are normally suspended to flow past the particles, whereby a fluid which normally carries sperm will flow through both of the tubular means while sperm will be retained by said particles when they are in said conception-preventing position, while when the particles are in said conception-enabling position, free flow of fluid with sperm therein is provided when conception is desired.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
321 words
In an implant for reversibly preventing conception, a pair of elongated open-ended tubular means spaced from each other and respectively having inner ends directed toward and outer ends directed away from each other, an intermediate housing means fluid-tightly connected with said pair of tubular means at the regions of said inner ends thereof for defining between said pair of tubular means a space with which both of said tubular means communicate and through which fluid can flow between said pair of tubular means, said housing means having in its interior a particulate means made up of a plurality of fine particles of a material which responds to magnetic forces, said housing means accommodating said particulate means in said housing means for movement between a conception-preventing position in a path of fluid flow between said pair of tubular means and a conception-enabling position out of the path of flow between said pair of tubular means through the interior of said housing means, each of said tubular means carrying at its inner end region a barrier means for permitting fluid to flow through said inner end region of each tubular means while preventing the particles from flowing in any appreciable numbers therethrough, and a permanent magnet means located adjacent said housing means for attracting said particles to said conception-preventing position with a magnetic force urging said particles against each other sufficiently to form from said particles a body having a density sufficiently great to prevent sperm from flowing through said body in numbers sufficient for conception while still permitting fluid in which sperm are normally suspended to flow past the particles, whereby a fluid which normally carries sperm will flow through both of the tubular means while sperm will be retained by said particles when they are in said conception-preventing position, while when the particles are in said conception-enabling position, free flow of fluid with sperm therein is provided when conception is desired.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The combination of claim 1 and wherein said permanent magnet means is situated at said housing means around the inner end region of that one of said tubular means which is located downstream with respect to the flow of fluid from the other of said tubular means toward said one tubular means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
The combination of claim 2 and wherein said other tubular means which is the upstream tubular means extends at its inner end region into the interior of said housing means through a substantial distance, and said housing means surrounding the part of said upstream tubular means which is situated in the interior of said housing means while being spaced therefrom to an extent sufficient for accommodating said particles when conception is desired.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination of claim 1 and wherein each of said tubular means includes an inner tubular member and an outer tissue-ingrowth means surrounding and engaging said inner tubular member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination of claim 4 and wherein each of said inner tubular members extends outwardly beyond said tissue ingrowth means through a substantial distance and is flexible.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination of claim 4 and wherein each of said tissue ingrowth means carries at an outer end region thereof beyond which said inner tubular member extends a plurality of barbs for engaging tissue at the exterior of a vas deferens.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination of claim 6 and wherein the tissue ingrowth means is a wire winding and said barbs form part of a structure which is swaged to said tissue ingrowth means to be joined therewith.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The combination of claim 4 and wherein the tissue ingrowth means of each tubular means extends inwardly beyond the tubular member thereof and defines the inner end region of each tubular means, each tissue ingrowth means where it extends inwardly beyond the tubular member of each tubular means surrounding and carrying said barrier means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
The combination of claim 8 and wherein each barrier means has the form of a block of filamentary material which has been compressed to an extent sufficient to provide in the interior of the block spaces large enough to permit fluid to flow but too small to receive said particles.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The combination of claim 9 and wherein the filamentary material is gold.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination of claim 4 and wherein the tissue ingrowth means of each tubular means includes a wire winding.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination of claim 11 and wherein the wire winding is made of gold.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination of claim 1 and wherein said housing means projects radially beyond said permanent magnet.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination of claim 1 and wherein the particles are made of a material which cannot become permanently magnetized so that they can be situated in said conception-enabling position by a magnet stronger than said permanent magnet.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination of claim 1 and wherein a second permanent magnet means is situated at the exterior of said housing surrounding the other of said tubular means at said inner end region thereof for magnetically holding said particles in said conception-enabling position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-03-21 | 1980-09-20 | 1981-03-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-03-21 | 1984-09-20 | 1985-03-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-03-21 | 1988-09-20 | 1989-03-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |