Medical Removal Hook

Abstract

A removal hook assembly for removing intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUCD) such as coils or the like; the removal hook assembly includes a hook member and a retention tube slideably supported on the hook member to facilitate gripping and removal of the IUCD with the retention tube further acting to prevent damage to the uterus and/or cervix by the hook during insertion and extraction of the hook assembly.

Description

SUMMARY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to devices for inserting and/or removing intrauterine contraceptive devices.

In the past, the removal of an intrauterine contraceptive device from the uterus of a woman has been relatively difficult and time consuming. With the present invention, the removal of such devices has been greatly simplified.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved device for removing intrauterine contraceptive devices.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view with some parts shown in section of an assembly embodying features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view to enlarged scale of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view to enlarged scale of that portion of the device generally encompassed in the circle marked 3;

FIG. 4 is a view to enlarged scale of that portion of the device generally encompassed by the circle marked 4.

Looking now at FIG. 1, the removal hook assembly is generally indicated by the numeral 10 and includes a handle 12 and a thumb screw 14 near its forward end which communicates with an inwardly extending bore 16 which receives the rearward end of an elongated hook member 18. The hook member 18 can be assembled and held to the handle 12 by means of the thumb screw 14. The hook member 18 is made of a resilient material such that it can easily bend. Preferably the hook member 18 and handle 12 are made of stainless steel or of some other corrosion resistant material. The member 18 terminates at its free end in a hook portion 20.

A hollow plastic retention tube member 22 is slideably located over the hook member 18. The retention tube 22 has a generally uniform cross section except at its rearward end which terminates in a flange 24 which serves a purpose to be described. The hook member 18 is bent upwardly at its outer end generally as at point 26 and thereafter is slightly bowed downwardly, generally as indicated at 28. The bend 26 is set relative to the diameter of the retention tube 22 such that with the retention tube 22 over the hook member 18 and located at its forwardmost position, the forward end 30 of the retention tube 22 will fit snugly within the opening defined by hook portion 20. With this construction there will be substantially no gap between the hook portion 20 and the tube outer end 30. This insures that upon removal of the device 10 from the uterus, the hook portion 20 will be essentially closed thereby precluding the possibility of injury to the uterus and/or cervix.

The flange 24 on the tube 22 provides means to facilitate gripping whereby the doctor can easily manipulate the retention tube 22 i.e., sliding it back and forward on the hook member 18.

The retention tube 22 is provided to be of such a length whereby in its forwardmost position, the flange 24 will be located a preselected distance X from the end of the handle 12. A gauge or scribe mark 32 is provided in the hook member 18 to be at a distance of X/2 to serve a purpose to be readily seen. An adjustable stop collar 34 is slideably located onto the retention tube 22 near its forward end. In practice, the stop collar 34 is located a preselected distance Y from the end of the hook portion 20.

It is the practice to insert an IUCD into the uterus generally at a preselected depth which corresponds to the dimension Y. This assists the removal of the IUCD since its approximate depth is known. In use the device 10 is inserted into the uterus up to the stop collar 34. Any further penetration will be accomplished only by the hook member 18 with the retention tube 22 held from further insertion by the collar 34. The known distance X and gauge mark 32, provide the doctor with a visual indication of the total depth of insertion of the hook portion 20. When the IUCD has been hooked over the now exposed hooked end 20, the doctor merely then moves the retention collar 22 and hook member 18 together to the position shown in FIG. 4 at which position the IUCD has been gripped. Removal of the assembly 10 then results in removal of the contraceptive device also.

The retention tube 22 and collar 34 are made of an inexpensive plastic material and will be discarded after each use. In another form of the invention, the hook member 18 can also be made of a relatively inexpensive plastic material and could also be discarded with each use.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments of the invention disclosed are well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A removal tool for removing intrauterine contraceptive devices, comprising: a replaceable, disposable, elongated hook member having a longitudinal rod portion terminating at one end in a generally U-shaped hook portion, said rod portion being bowed slightly inward from said hook portion and said hook portion terminating in an end portion extending substantially parallel with the axis of said rod portion and defining a radial opening therebetween; a handle member connected to an opposite end of said rod portion; and a replaceable, disposable, tube member having a preselected diameter relative to said radial opening of said hook portion and located over said rod portion, said tube member being selectively movable relative to said hook portion between a first position in which said handle member interferringly engages one end of said tube member and wherein said hook portion is located at a position substantially removed outwardly from an opposite end of said tube member, to a second position in which said hook portion is interferringly clamped to said opposite end of said tube member and wherein said end portion of said hook portion radially overlies in close proximity the outer radial surface of said tube member; whereby said hook member can be freely manipulated within the uterus a distance between said first and second positions to facilitate the location of an IUCD within the uterus and to further facilitate the clamping of the IUCD between said hook and said outer end of said tube member at said second position, wherein said radial opening of said hook portion is substantially closed and said end portion of said hook portion is snugly fitted against the outer radial surface of said tube member.

2. The tool as set forth in claim 1 with said tube member having a flange located at said one end to facilitate manipulation of said tube member along said rod portion.

3. The tool as set forth in claim 1 with said opposite end of said rod portion having a distance mark located at a known preselected distance from said handle member whereby the total depth of insertion of said hook portion into the uterus can be approximated.

4. A removal tool for removing intrauterine contraceptive devices comprising: a handle member; an elongated hook member having a longitudinal rod portion connected at a first end to said handle member and terminating at an opposite end in a generally U-shaped hook portion, said rod portion being bowed slightly inward from said hook portion and including a distance mark located at a known preselected distance from said handle member for approximating the total depth of insertion of said hook member into the uterus, said hook portion terminating in an end portion extending substantially parallel with the axis of said rod portion and defining a radial opening therebetween; a tube member of a preselected diameter relative to said radial opening of said hook portion and located over said rod portion, said tube member having a flange located at one end and being selectively movable relative to said hook portion between a first position in which said handle interferringly engages said flange and wherein said hook is located at a position substantially removed outwardly from an opposite end of said tube member to a second position in which said hook portion is interferringly clamped to said opposite end of said tube member and wherein said end portion of said hook radially overlies in close proximity the outer radial surface of said tube member; and an adjustable stop collar locatable on said tube member at a preselected distance from said opposite end generally equal to the approximated distance of insertion of the IUCD in the uterus; whereby said hook member can be freely manipulated within the uterus a distance between said first and second positions to facilitate the location of an IUCD within the uterus and to further facilitate the clamping of the IUCD between said hook and said opposite end of said tube member at said second position wherein said radial opening of said hook portion is substantially closed and said end portion of said hook portion is snugly fitted against the outer radial surface of said tube member.

5. The tool as set forth in claim 4 with said tube member being a replaceable, disposable member.

6. The tool as set forth in claim 4 with hook member being a replaceable, disposable member.