Intrauterine contraceptive device
A method for promoting contraception by placing a contraceptive device within a uterus without blocking fallopian tubes may involve advancing a distal end of a delivery device through a cervix, advancing the contraceptive device comprising an elongate shape memory member out of the distal end of the delivery device and into the uterus, and limiting inferior migration of the contraceptive device within the uterus. Inferior migration may be limited by allowing the contraceptive device to assume a shape, when subjected to pressure that tends to cause a downward migration of the device within the uterus, in which an expandable middle portion of the device is expanded to contact the inner wall of the uterus and thus limit the downward migration of the device.
1. A contraceptive device for localized delivery of a substance in a uterus, the contraceptive device comprising:
an elongate shape memory member, comprising:
a bottom loop disposed at a bottom of the contraceptive device;
a middle portion comprising two parts of the elongate shape memory member extending upward from the bottom loop;
two bends in the elongate shape memory member at a location above the middle portion, where the elongate member crosses over itself;
two arms extending from the two bends, wherein one of the arms extends from one of the two bends and the other arm extends from the other of the two bends;
a first end loop at an end of one of the two arms; and
a second end loop at an end of the other of the two arms,
wherein the first end loop and the second end loop in the elongate shape memory member comprise tissue contact surfaces for contacting an inner wall of the uterus; and
multiple substance delivery sleeves coupled with the elongate shape memory member at locations to locally deliver the substance to the uterus in an area near a fallopian tube and an area near a cervical os, the multiple substance delivery sleeves comprising:
a first sleeve disposed at least partially around the elongate shape memory member on one of the two arms near the first end loop;
a second sleeve disposed at least partially around the elongate shape memory member on the other of the two arms near the second end loop; and
a third sleeve disposed at least partially around one of the two parts of the middle portion of the elongate shape memory member at or near the bottom loop.
2. The contraceptive device of claim 1 , wherein the substance comprises copper.
3. The contraceptive device of claim 1 , wherein the substance comprises copper, and wherein the substance delivery sleeves have a total surface area of no more than 200 square millimeters.
4. The contraceptive device of claim 1 , wherein the substance comprises copper, and wherein the contraceptive device further comprises a hormone delivery member coupled with the elongate shape memory member.