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SELF-SPREADING CATAMENIAL TAMPON frequently results in bypass failures, i.e., the menses
Pipi n nv Tub Imvcmtiam discharged from the cervical os travels the length of the
rinuuur intiiNVtiiNiiuiN vagjna without contacting the tampon and thereby
This invention relates generally to improvements in escapes through the introitus without being absorbed,
absorbent catamenial tampons and a method of insert- 5 Bypass failures occur because the deeply inserted,
ing them to substantially reduce menses bypass; more compressed tampon cannot block the many folds and
particularly it concerns tampons containing an interior convolutions of the vagina in that deep region, but the
potential energy source which acquires energy when menses can and does flow through these folds and con
the tampons are compacted for insertion and thus im- volutions and ultimately through the introitus to soil
mediately spreads the tampon when the tampon is 10 the woman's clothing and possibly cause her embar
released. rassment.
DESCR.Fr.ONOFTHEPR.ORART ^1"!-^fiST Anatomy references teach that the expanded vaginal 15 compressed material, deeply inserted, and expanded by vault has a shape similar to the shape of a pear which the menses, contributes towards lessening the effectivehas been slightly flattened whereby the anterior- ness of these tampons in that (1) the cross-section of posterior dimension is less than the lateral dimension. the vagina is not circular therefore a cylinder is not the Menstrual fluid enters in the upper portion of the best shape to use to block the vagina, (2) the high cornvagina through the cervical os which is located in the 2o pression and resultant high density dictates that the region where the vagina is most distensible and there- tampon, upon insertion, is relatively small and has fore has its maximum potential cross-sectional area. literally no inherent resiliency to immediately expand The vagina is least distensible near the introitus and it, because the hydrogen bonding which accompanies therefore the potential cross-section is reduced. Also, the high compression precludes elastic response, (3) the introital region of the vagina is more sensitive to 25 deep insertion locates the tampon in a part of the outwardly directed pressures than the remainder of the vagina where the potential vaginal cross-section is the vagina. greatest, this means the tampon is in contact with a Methods of collecting the recurring menses which smaller percentage of the vaginal periphery whereby flow periodically from females during their child bear- the probability of bypass increases, and (4) since these ing years are many and varied and are generally well- 30 tampons rely on moisture to expand and block a crossknown to those skilled m the art. All methods proposed section of the vagina, if they are located so that bypass fall into one of the following two general classifications: occurS) th are never wetted and consequentiy con. retentive and absorptive means. Retentive means are tinueto fail
those which form an impervious dam across an internal Some devices have been attempted which try to
canal; these are generally in the form of a rubber cap or 35 overcome one or several of these disadvantages, but
diaphragm which prevents flow from passing them A m fa tha{ {h do not overcome a„ of the disad.
thereby damming up the menses using an internal vanta Qr that th have their own Uar attendant
organ as a reservoir. Retentive means generally fall into disadvantages. Some tampons have non-circular cross
two main classes: devices which are intended to cover t. ,. , . . . , .
^ ^ ■. • ... An sections, which is an attempt to conform the tampon to
or contact the cervix of the uterus and devices which 40 . j
. „ j.. • , ... ... , the shape of the vagina. But generally these tampons
are intended to lie in the vaginal canal below the level _ . . r »• j».
of the cervix are highly compressed to facilitate insertion and thus
° Absolve devices can also be placed into two broad havet a h!ghhde"sitfy> a'eJnserted deeP- fnd re9<fe
categories - interior and exterior devices. Exterior moist"re t0 break thf hydrogen-bonded structure be
devices are generally in the form of pads and probably 45 fore they can expand. Thus they do not alleviate the
are the most commonly used type of menstrual sanitary Pr° em ° vPass
device, but they are unsatisfactory for a variety of u Some tampons attempt^ to solve the problem of
reasons. Some of these reasons are physical discomfort bypass by being structured so that they form an arc
from the bulkiness of the pad, self-consciousness that *hen they are ejected and released into the vagina. The
its presence may be discerned by others, emotional 50 theory 15 that thev Wl11 arc across the va8'na 311(1
discomfort because the bulk of the pad constantly re- therebv form a barner from one wal110 the other- But
minds the user that it is there, odors accompany the ex- thev do not solve the Problem of bypass because they
posure of the menses to air, and a generally unhygienic are hl«hly compressed and deeply inserted, therefore
and nonaesthetic character. they can be inserted into one of the vaginal formces
Internal absorptive devices generally in use are 55 and> figuratively, become lost. Since they do not ac
fibrous assemblies which are highly compressed into tuaHy span the vaginal passage, they do not solve the
IW-2 inches long cylinders approximately % inch in problem of bypass,
diameter. These products do not expand in a cross-sec- Another approach to solving the problem of bypass is tional direction until contacted with body fluids. Prior shown in U. S. Pat. No. 3,512,538 which is an expandaart insertion techniques are designed to achieve place- ble catamenial tampon in the form of an elongate holment of the tampon deep (2% inches - 2¥t inches) in low shell of absorbent material with an inner sack the vagina near the point of fluid entrance, i.e., near the which may be semipermeable or impervious. The tarncervical os, and thereby avoid placement near the in- pon is inserted into the vaginal canal in a collapsed controitus to avoid wearing discomfort. Deep insertion to a fi5 dition and then expanded in place so as to form a flexiposition where the collapsed vaginal vault contains ble seal with the vaginal wall to prevent by-pass of menmany folds and convolutions coupled with the small ses. The disadvantage of this approach is that expandcross-sectional area of the compressed tampon ing the tampon requires a secondary operation after the
