EP0135283A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Disposable spermicide-releasing diaphragm
Assignee: Southern Research Institute
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Filing: 1984-07-12
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-07-12
Abstract
Abstract A disposable, spermicide-releasing intravaginal contraceptive barrier formed from a homogeneous blend mixture of a thermoplastic polymer, a water-soluble polymer and a spermicide which is released at a controlled rate sufficient to provide contraceptive action for a period of up to 48 hours and methods of making the same.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard L. Dunn
- 👤 Richard N. Terry
- 👤 Donald R. Cowsar
- 👤 Robert A. Casper
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 08:24
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F6/00; A61F6/06; A61F6/08; A61K; A61K9/00; A61K9/0012; A61K9/0034; A61K9/0036; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S424/00; Y10S424/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
56 words
A disposable, spermicide-releasing intravaginal contraceptive device comprising an imperforate, flexible barrier portion having resilient means at an outer periphery, said device including an incorporated spermicide whereby, when said device is positioned within the vagina, said spermicide is released into the vagina at a controlled rate to provide effective spermicidal action for a predetermined amount of time.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
56 words
A disposable, spermicide-releasing intravaginal contraceptive device comprising an imperforate, flexible barrier portion having resilient means at an outer periphery, said device including an incorporated spermicide whereby, when said device is positioned within the vagina, said spermicide is released into the vagina at a controlled rate to provide effective spermicidal action for a predetermined amount of time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device according to Claim 1 wherein the resilent means is a resilient ring portion connected to said outer periphery and said barrier portion is formed from a homogeneous blend of effective amounts of a thermoplastic elastomer and the spermicide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device as claimed in Claim 2 wherein said elastomer has an average Shore A hardness of from 40 to 90.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device as claimed in Claim 3 wherein said elastomer has a tensile strength of at least 1500 psi and a 100% modulus of at least 100 when loaded with said effective amounts of said spermicide and said polymer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device as claimed in Claim 2 wherein said elastomer is a polyurethane.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
17 words
A device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5 wherein said spermicide is Nonoxynol-9.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
23 words
A device as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein said homogeneous blend includes an effective amount of a water-soluble polymer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as claimed in Claim 7 wherein said polymer has a molecular weight ranging from 600 to 6,000.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device as claimed in Claim 7 wherein said polymer is polyethylene glycol.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
A device as claimed in Claim 7 wherein said effective amount of spermicide ranges from 3-30% by weight, said effective amount of water soluble polymer ranges up to 25% by weight and said effective amount of elastomer is 100% by weight minus the effective amounts of said spermicide and said polymer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device as claimed in either Claim 2 or Claim 7 wherein said ring portion is formed from said homogeneous blend.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said device is a vaginal diaphragm or a cervical cap.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
A disposable, spermicide-releasing intravaginal contraceptive device, comprising a barrier portion formed from a homogeneous blend of effective amounts of a thermoplastic, polyether-polyurethane elastomer, a spermicide and a water-soluble polymer having a molecular weight ranging from 600 to 6,000.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
A disposable, spermicide-releasing intravaginal contraceptive device, comprising a barrier portion formed from a homogeneous blend of effective amounts of a thermoplastic, polyether-polyurethane elastomer, a spermicide and a water-soluble polymer having a molecular weight ranging from 600 to 6,000.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for preventing conception, comprising the step of positioning within the vaginal cavity posterior to the introitus and adjacent to the cervical os, prior to coitus, a disposable, spermicide-releasing contraceptive barrier comprised of a homogeneous blend of effective amounts of a thermoplastic, polyether-polyurethane elastomer and a spermicide so that said spermicide diffuses from said barrier for a predetermined amount of time into the area adjacent to the cervical os to provide a spermicidal effect.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for preventing conception, comprising the step of positioning within the vaginal cavity posterior to the introitus and adjacent to the cervical os, prior to coitus, a disposable, spermicide-releasing contraceptive barrier comprised of a homogeneous blend of effective amounts of a thermoplastic, polyether-polyurethane elastomer and a spermicide so that said spermicide diffuses from said barrier for a predetermined amount of time into the area adjacent to the cervical os to provide a spermicidal effect.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of manufacturing a disposable vaginal barrier which releases spermicide at a controlled rate, comprising the steps of: a) mixing together effective amounts of a thermoplastic elastomer and a spermicide to form a homogeneous blend; b) shaping said blend into a device having a thin film occluding the center thereof and a resilient rim about its outer periphery; and c) forming said film into a dome shape.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of manufacturing a disposable vaginal barrier which releases spermicide at a controlled rate, comprising the steps of: a) mixing together effective amounts of a thermoplastic elastomer and a spermicide to form a homogeneous blend; b) shaping said blend into a device having a thin film occluding the center thereof and a resilient rim about its outer periphery; and c) forming said film into a dome shape.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as claimed in Claim 15 wherein said elastomer is Estane 5714.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method as claimed in Claim 16 wherein said spermicide is Nonoxynol-9.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in Claim 15 wherein said blend further includes a water-soluble polymer having a molecular weight ranging from 600 to 6,000.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
86 words
An improvement in a method of fabricating vaginal diaphragms comprising the steps of positioning a thin sheet of thermoplastic elastomeric material elastomer over a circular ring formed by extrusion, deforming the sheet at elevated temperatures into a dome-shaped barrier and sealing said barrier to said ring to form said diaphragm, the improvement comprising: the step of fabricating said sheet from a homogeneous blend of effective amounts of a thermoplastic polyether-polyurethane elastomer, a spermicide and a water-soluble polymer having a molecular weight ranging from 600 to 6,000.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
86 words
An improvement in a method of fabricating vaginal diaphragms comprising the steps of positioning a thin sheet of thermoplastic elastomeric material elastomer over a circular ring formed by extrusion, deforming the sheet at elevated temperatures into a dome-shaped barrier and sealing said barrier to said ring to form said diaphragm, the improvement comprising: the step of fabricating said sheet from a homogeneous blend of effective amounts of a thermoplastic polyether-polyurethane elastomer, a spermicide and a water-soluble polymer having a molecular weight ranging from 600 to 6,000.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
51 words
An improvement as claimed in Claim 19 wherein said blend comprises from 3-30% by weight of Nonoxynol-9, up to 25X by weight of polyethylene glycol having an approximate molecular weight of 1450 and Estane 5714 in an amount equal to 100% by weight minus the amounts of Nonoxynol-9 and polyethylene glycol.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of fabricating a disposable, spermicide-releasing vaginal barrier, comprising the steps of: a) mixing together effective amounts of a thermoplastic polyether-polyurethane elastomer, a spermicide and a water-soluble polymer having a molecular weight ranging from 600 to 6,000 to form a mixture; b) injection molding said mixture at a temperature high enough to soften said mixture but low enough to prevent degradation of any of said elastomer, said spermicide or said polymer so as to form a prediaphragm; c) placing said prediaphragm in a mold of desired configuration for said barrier; d) softening said prediaphragm; e) deforming said prediaphragm within said mold to form said barrier; and f) removing said barrier from said mold.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of fabricating a disposable, spermicide-releasing vaginal barrier, comprising the steps of: a) mixing together effective amounts of a thermoplastic polyether-polyurethane elastomer, a spermicide and a water-soluble polymer having a molecular weight ranging from 600 to 6,000 to form a mixture; b) injection molding said mixture at a temperature high enough to soften said mixture but low enough to prevent degradation of any of said elastomer, said spermicide or said polymer so as to form a prediaphragm; c) placing said prediaphragm in a mold of desired configuration for said barrier; d) softening said prediaphragm; e) deforming said prediaphragm within said mold to form said barrier; and f) removing said barrier from said mold.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of fabricating a disposable, spermicide releasing vaginal diaphragm, comprising the steps of: a) mixing together effective amounts of a thermoplastic polyether-polyurethane elastomer, a spermicide and a water-soluble polymer having a molecular weight ranging from 600 to 6,000 to form a mixture; b) dipping a tube into said mixture a predetermined number of times, to form a film thereon, each successive time said tube being dipped to a more shallow depth within said mixture; c) drying said dipped tube between said dippings; d) removing said film from said tube; and e) drying said film.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of fabricating a disposable, spermicide releasing vaginal diaphragm, comprising the steps of: a) mixing together effective amounts of a thermoplastic polyether-polyurethane elastomer, a spermicide and a water-soluble polymer having a molecular weight ranging from 600 to 6,000 to form a mixture; b) dipping a tube into said mixture a predetermined number of times, to form a film thereon, each successive time said tube being dipped to a more shallow depth within said mixture; c) drying said dipped tube between said dippings; d) removing said film from said tube; and e) drying said film.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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