Claims for Patent: 9,668,912

Summary for Patent: 9,668,912

Title:	Inserter
Abstract:	The invention relates to an inserter for an intrauterine system, comprising a handle (3) having a longitudinal opening (8) at its first end, said opening (8) having a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the inserter, a first end (8a) and a second end (8b), a movable slider (5) arranged in said longitudinal opening (8) and having a first end (5a) and a second end (5b), a plunger (2) attached to the handle (3), an insertion tube (6) arranged around the plunger (2) having a first end and a second end, with its second end attached to the slider (5), wherein the inserter further comprises locking means for reversibly locking the intrauterine system in relation to the plunger (2) via a removal string of the intrauterine system, said locking means being controllable by the slider (5) and/or the insertion tube (6).
Inventor(s):	Jutila; Ilkka (Littoinen, FI), Lyytikainen; Heikki (Naantali, FI), Calvo Alonso; Ulla (Piispanristi, FI), Tjader; Taina (Littoinen, FI), Ali-Aijala; Marjo (Preitila, FI)
Assignee:	Bayer Oy (Turku, FI)
Application Number:	13/119,397
Patent Claims:	1. An inserter for an intrauterine system (1), comprising a handle (3) having an opening (8), a slider (5) arranged in the opening (8), a plunger (2) attached to the handle (3), an insertion tube (6) attached to the slider (5) and arranged around the plunger (2), and a lock adapted to immobilize and release a removal string (7) of the intrauterine system (1), characterised in that the lock comprises: a main part (11) having a substantially cylindrical shape and comprising an opening (12), an extension (11a) of the main part (11), and a counterpart (13), wherein the main part (11) is rotatably mounted on a shaft or axle on the handle (3), wherein the removal string (7) passes through the opening (12) and is immobilized between the main part (11) and the counterpart (13) when the lock is in a locking position, and wherein the slider (5) is configured to press against the extension (11a) of the main part (11) and turn the main part (11) around the shaft or axle to release the removal string (7) as the slider (5) is moved backwards, and wherein the main part (11) is substantially perpendicular to the shaft or axle as the main part (11) moves around the shaft or axle. 2. An inserter according to claim 1, characterised in that the main part (11) is cylindrical. 3. The inserter according to claim 1, wherein the lock is mounted on an inner surface of the handle (3). 4. The inserter according to claim 1, wherein the slider (5) is configured to release the removal string (7) as the insertion tube (6) is retracted backwards towards the handle (3). 5. An inserter for an intrauterine system (1), comprising a handle (3) having an opening (8), a slider (5) arranged in the opening (8), a plunger (2) attached to the handle (3), an insertion tube (6) attached to the slider (5) and arranged around the plunger (2), a lock adapted to immobilize or release a removal string (7) of the intrauterine system (1), characterised in that the lock comprises: a main part (14) having a substantially cylindrical shape, a first extension (14a) of the main part (14) and a second extension (14b) of the main part (14), and a counterpart (15), wherein the main part (14) is rotatably mounted on a shaft or axle on the handle (3) wherein the removal string (7) is immobilized between the second extension (14b) and the counterpart (15) when the lock is in a locking position, and wherein the removal string (7) is capable of being released from the lock when the slider (5) is pressed against the first extension (14a) of the main part (14) and turns the main part (14) around the shaft or axle enough to release the removal string (7), as the slider (5) is moved backwards, and wherein the main part (14) is substantially perpendicular to the shaft or axle as the main part (14) moves around the shaft or axle. 6. The inserter according to claim 5, wherein the lock is mounted on an inner surface of the handle (3). 7. The inserter according to claim 5, wherein the slider (5) is further configured to release the removal string (7) as the insertion tube (6) is retracted backwards towards the handle (3). 8. An inserter for an intrauterine system (1), comprising a handle (3) having an opening (8), a slider (5) arranged in the opening (8), a plunger (2) attached to the handle (3), an insertion tube (6) attached to the slider (5) and arranged around the plunger (2), and a lock adapted to immobilize and release a removal string (7) of the intrauterine system (1), characterised in that the lock comprises: a main part (11) comprising an opening (12) that is diagonal through the main part (11), an extension (11a) of the main part (11), and a counterpart (13), wherein the main part (11) is rotatably mounted on a shaft or axle on the handle (3), wherein the removal string (7) passes through the opening (12) and is immobilized between the main part (11) and the counterpart (13) when the lock is in a locking position, and wherein the slider (5) is configured to press against the extension (11a) of the main part (11) and turn the main part (11) around the shaft or axle to release the removal string (7) as the slider (5) is moved backwards. 9. The inserter according to claim 8, wherein the main part (11) has at least one of a substantially cylindrical shape, a substantially triangular shape, a round shape, a rod shape, a wedge shape, a polygonal shape, and a rectangular shape. 10. The inserter according to claim 8, wherein the main part (11) is a rectangle shape or a polygonal shape with rounded corners or sharp corners.