FIELD OF INVENTION

THIS INVENTION relates to a cervical drain device.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a cervical drain device including:

a gripping formation for gripping the cervix of a patient; and

a channel formation for channeling material which is discharged from the uterus of the patient via the cervical os, through the vagina to a collection receptacle.

The gripping formation may have a generally annular configuration. The gripping formation may be configured and dimensioned to be slightly larger than the cervix thereby to allow it to be fitted around the cervix.

The channel formation may have an L-shaped configuration when viewed in side elevation.

The channel formation may have a gripping formation end and a distal end.

The channel formation may define a curved lip formation at the distal end thereof.

The channel formation may comprise a first channel portion, a second channel portion and a lip portion. More particularly, the first channel portion may extend between the gripping formation and the second channel portion, with the second channel portion extending substantially perpendicularly and operatively downwardly with respect to the first channel portion. The lip portion may extend substantially perpendicularly in an operative horizontal direction with respect to the second channel portion.

The gripping formation and the channel formation may be of integrally moulded plastics material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features of the invention are described hereinafter by way of a non- limiting example of the invention, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a cervical drain device in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows a schematic top plan view of the cervical drain device of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows a schematic bottom plan view of the cervical drain device of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 shows a schematic front view of the cervical drain device of Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 shows a schematic rear view of the cervical drain device of Figure 1 ;

Figure 6 shows a schematic perspective view of the cervical drain device of Figure 1 , in an operative configuration wherein the gripping formation of the device is fitted around the cervix of a patient; and

Figure 7 shows a schematic sectional side view of the cervical drain device of Figure 1 , in an in-use configuration wherein the gripping formation of the device is fitted around the cervix of a patient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the drawings, a cervical drain device, in accordance with the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The device 10 comprises, broadly, a gripping formation in the form of a ring formation 12 and a channel formation 14.

The ring formation 12 and the channel formation 14 are of integrally moulded plastics material. The ring formation 12 is resiliently deformable and as such, defines a gap 16 which permits the ring formation to be resiliently opened when fitting the ring around the cervix of a patient.

The channel formation 14 has a generally L-shaped configuration when viewed in side elevation. The channel formation 14 has a ring formation end 18 and a distal end 20. The channel formation 14 comprises a first channel portion 22, a second channel portion 24 and lip portion 26. The first channel portion 22 extends between the ring formation 12 and the second channel portion 24. The second channel portion 24 extends substantially perpendicularly and operatively downwardly with respect to the first channel portion. As such, the first channel portion 22 and the second channel portion 24 meet in the region of a bend 28 defined between the first and second

channel portions. The lip portion 26 extends substantially perpendicularly in an operative horizontal direction with respect to the second channel portion 24.

It will be appreciated that the exact configuration of the cervical drain device may vary greatly while still incorporating the essential features of the invention defined hereinabove.

In use, the ring formation end 18 of the cervical drain device is inserted into a patient's vagina and the ring formation 12 is fitted around the cervix of the patient. The diameter of the ring formation 12 is dimensioned so as to be slightly larger than the external diameter of a patient's cervix, thereby permitting the ring formation 12 to grip the cervix when fitted around it. The ring formation 12 is pushed onto the cervix while holding the cervix with a tanaculum. The channel formation 14 permits material which is discharged from the uterus of the patient via the cervical os, to be channeled along the channel formation through the vagina to a collection receptacle.

The Applicant envisages that the cervical drain device can be used in a number of applications wherein material is discharged from the uterus of a patient. The Applicant envisages that the device will be particularly useful when performing hysteroscopic work where it is vitally important to determine the amount of fluid loss. With the use of the device, all of the fluid flowing from the uterus can be channeled and collected in a collection receptacle. The amount of fluid absorbed by the patient can be determined simply by subtracting the amount of fluid collected from the fluid introduced into the uterus.