Cervical dilator

Claim 1

A cervical dilator sized, shaped and adapted to occlude the length of the cervical canal, comprising: (a) a base that permits pressure to be exerted against it without any major changes in its shape and dimensions and is made of a shape and dimension retaining material for imparting structural support to the dilator; (b) a laminate surrounding the base, said laminate adapted to absorb fluid and swell, and formed of a first lamina consisting of an absorbent material selected from the group consisting of porous and fibrous materials in contact with the base, which material is capable of imbibing an external fluid into the dilator and is in laminar arrangement with a second lamina formed of a different material consisting of a swellable hydrophilic material positioned distant from the base; (c) a wall surrounding the laminate, said wall formed of a low modulus elastomeric material that expands in response to pressure applied by the laminate; and wherein, (d) when, the dilator is positioned in a cervical canal, the laminate imbibes fluid and swells with inward expansion restricted by the base, and concurrently applies outwardly an expanding pressure on the elastomeric wall, which wall then expands and exerts pressure against the cervical membrane, thereby dilating the canal over a period of time.