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US4019498A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Device for control of female urinary incontinence

Assignee: University of Iowa Research Foundation
•
Filing: 1975-06-27
•
Granted: 1977-04-26
•
Expires: 1995-06-27
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Abstract

Abstract An improved vaginal device for females afflicted with urinary incontinence. The device consists of a molded, resilient cellular mass of plastic or rubber-like material formed in the general shape of a mushroom and dimensioned so that when inserted into the vagina, the head of the mushroom exerts an upward thrust against the anterior wall of the vagina of sufficient magnitude to block the flow of urine through the uretha, while the stem of the mushroom is posterially positioned in the vagina resting either against the prineal body or in the posterior fornix of the vagina. For ease of insertion, the cellular mushroom-shaped body is pre-compressed and inserted in a plastic sleeve or tubing which is then sealed to maintain the device in the compressed condition until it has been inserted in proper position in the vagina. Piercing of the wall of the tubing by a needle or a scalpel will then permit the introduction of air into the sponge-like cells of the device permitting it to expand and exert the desired pressure on the uretha.

Inventors

  • 👤 Charles E. Hawtrey
  • 👤 Paul Walter Vervais

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-22 23:56
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/0004; A61F2/0031; A61F2/005; A61F5/00; A61F5/48; A61F5/485; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/25

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 118 words
A device for insertion in the vagina to control incontinence comprising a solid mass of compressible cellular material having a major surface and a portion which extends to a selected distance away from said major surface, said device being of high enough compressibility and said distance being selected so that when said device is compressed and inserted in the vagina with said major surface contacting the anterior wall thereof and underlying a portion of the uretha, said portion firmly contacts the opposed wall of the vagina, and the device remains partially compressed between said anterior wall and said opposed wall with sufficient force to upwardly distend the contacted portion of the anterior vagina wall to close the uretha.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 118 words
A device for insertion in the vagina to control incontinence comprising a solid mass of compressible cellular material having a major surface and a portion which extends to a selected distance away from said major surface, said device being of high enough compressibility and said distance being selected so that when said device is compressed and inserted in the vagina with said major surface contacting the anterior wall thereof and underlying a portion of the uretha, said portion firmly contacts the opposed wall of the vagina, and the device remains partially compressed between said anterior wall and said opposed wall with sufficient force to upwardly distend the contacted portion of the anterior vagina wall to close the uretha.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 54 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said mass of cellular material has an enlarged head having a rounded surface and a stem portion of lesser diameter than said head, said rounded surface being said major surface and said stem portion being said portion which extends to a selected distance away from said major surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 24 words
The device of claim 2 wherein said mass is formed from open-celled resilient plastic material compressible by discharge of air from said open cells.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 38 words
The device of claim 3 plus an air impervious sealed envelope enclosing said cellular mass and holding same in said compressed condition until inserted in the vagina, whereby piercing of said envelope permits expansion of said cellular mass.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 13 words
The device of claim 2 wherein said mass of cellular material is mushroom-shaped.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 25 words
The device of claim 5 wherein said mushroom-shaped mass is formed from open-celled resilient plastic material compressible by discharge of air from said open cells.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 38 words
The device of claim 6 plus an air impervious sealed envelope enclosing said cellular mass and holding same in said compressed condition until inserted in the vagina, whereby piercing of said envelope permits expansion of said cellular mass.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3554184A Cited
US3646929A Cited
US3705575A Cited
US3780730A Cited
US3794029A Cited
US3902493A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1980-04-25 1980-10-25 1981-04-26 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1984-04-25 1984-10-25 1985-04-26 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1988-04-25 1988-10-25 1989-04-26 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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