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 extending upward from the bottom loop;
two arms extending in opposite directions away from the middle portion;
a first tissue contact surface at an end of one of the two arms; and
a second tissue contact surface at an end of the other of the two arms; and
multiple substance delivery sleeves coupled with the two arms and the bottom loop of the elongate shape memory member at locations to locally deliver the substance to the uterus in an area at the fallopian tubes and an area at a cervical os.