Tampons and sanitary pads are today the most commonly used devices for the "collection" (in these cases by absorption) of menstrual fluids. Each of these devices are however characterised by certain drawbacks.

Tampons are widely used intravaginal catamenial devices which are made of absorbing material and which are inserted into the vagina at the onset of menstruation.

Their purpose is to absorb menstrual blood and they function as reservoirs until saturated with blood. However tampons are known to allow unpredictable leakage of menstrual blood, e. g. because the tampon is too quickly saturated with blood, the blood flow is disproportionately heavy for the absorbency capabilities of the inserted tampon or the tampon does not provide an adequate sealing with the vaginal orifice (or for a combination of these reasons).

Instances are known where tampons have induced vaginal or cervical ulceration, or have fallen apart inside the vagina, leaving behind fibres that induce infections. This has resulted in a growing awareness of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), a potentially serious reaction to chemically bleached/chlorinated fibres associated with the use of tampons. Tampons manufactured from organic cotton prevent TSS, but are substantially more expensive and exhibit lower absorbency, causing leakage and requiring frequent change.

Whilst in 1997,70% of menstruating women in the US used tampons, each using up to 11,400 within her lifetime [Tampon Safety & Research Act 1 05th Congress, 1997], 85% of women now use pads. Pads have improved substantially to become ultra-thin multi-layered liners, typically characterised by a fluid permeable top-layer for contact with the skin, an intermediate absorbent core and a fluid impermeable bottom layer and apt to be adhered to a panty. However, sanitary pads bridge the entire perineal area and can be breeding grounds for bacteria therefrom.

Pads can also be characterised by chafing-exacerbated by localised pressure caused by the presence of seams in trousers, tights and underwear-leading to inflammation of the vaginal canal and by odour problems.

In recent years, there has been renewed interest in the use of the menstrual cup. This is true for a number of reasons. First of all, the cost is far less than the use of tampons or pads. Convenience and availability constitute additional factors. Since the menstrual cup is re-usable, only one is required per person and its therefore has ecological and cost advantages. The use of a menstrual cup is odourless and non- polluting. Finally, the menstrual cup can be used to hold medication for the treatment of vaginal infections. However, market research has indicated that a majority of women dislike the notion of reusability and that cups lack wide acceptance due to the need for finger insertion and messy extraction.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the abovementioned disadvantages.

According to the present invention there is provided a menstrual fluid collection device intended for intra-vaginal use, said device comprising (i) a generally cup-shaped collection body of a liquid-proof, soft elastomeric material, (ii) a flexing spring member to which one half of the mouth of the cup is attached, said spring member having a first concave configuration which serves to maintain the mouth of the cup open, and (iii) a string attached to said spring member, the device being such that pulling on said string when the spring member is in the first concave configuration causes said spring member to adopt a second convex configuration in which the spring member seals the mouth of the body.

The device of the invention may be located intra-vaginally by means of an applicator device comprised of a handle and an elongate applicator body formed at each of its ends with grooves. The mouth of the cup may be readily deformed so that it may be mounted on the applicator body and be held in position by virtue of the grooves of the body. The applicator body itself may be inserted intra-vaginally until the top of the applicator body contacts the cervix. This causes the device to be released from the applicator body and be located in the position for the collection of menstrual fluids.

The device of the invention is such that when the cup has been filled or partly filled with menstrual blood pulling on the string causes the spring member to adopt its second convex configuration in which the spring member seals the mouth of the bag.

Further pulling on the string allows the device to be removed from the vagina for disposal or washing and re-use as required.

Preferably the mouth of the cup is provided with a flexible ring to which is attached the other half of the mouth of the cup (to that which is attached to the flexing spring member). With the spring member in its first concave configuration, it is nested in said ring. The flexible spring member may be mounted on the ring by means of living hinges.

Preferably the string passes through an aperture in the wall of the ring.

Whilst the use of a ring represents a preferred embodiment of the invention, there are other possibilities. For example, the flexing spring member could be attached to a semi-circular support member (i. e. the equivalent of half of the aforementioned ring).

The invention will be further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig 1 illustrates one embodiment of menstrual fluid collection device in accordance with the invention; Fig 2 is an exploded view of the device shown in Fig 1 ; Fig 3 is a plan view of the device shown in Fig 1 but illustrating a step in the closure of the cup; Fig 4 is similar to Fig 3 but with the cup closed; and Fig 5 illustrates (to a smaller scale) an applicator for the device.

The menstrual fluid collection device 1 illustrated in Fig 1 comprises a cup 2 of a soft, resilient, fluid-proof material, a flexible ring 3 which is sufficiently elastic to adapt to the walls of the vagina, a generally semi-circular flexing spring member 4 and a string 5 attached to the mid point of the flexing member 4.

In more detail, one half of the mouth of the cup 2 is attached by its upper, outer peripheral margin to the inside of ring 3 whereas the other half of the cup is attached by its upper, outer peripheral margin to the concave surface of spring 4. This spring 4 has, at its ends with integrally moulded living hinges 6 and 7 by means of which it is mounted on the plane of the ring 3. In the configuration illustrated in Fig 1, the flexing spring member is in its first, concave configuration and nests within the ring 3.

The string 5 is attached to the mid point of the spring member 4 and extends through an aperture 8 provided in the ring 3 diametrically opposite to the point at which the string 5 is attached to the spring member 4.

The cup 2 may be of a material similar to that used for condoms and may for example be a polyurethane. The ring 3 may also be of polyurethane but, whilst being sufficiently elastic to conform to the walls of the vagina, may be more"rigid"than the cup 2. If desired, the ring 3 may be comprised of a soft outer material suitable for contact with the wall of the vagina and an inner core providing the required degree of rigidity. The spring member 4 may be of polyethylene.

The device is such that the cup 2 may be closed in the manner illustrated in Figs 3 and 4. Light tension on the string 5 causes the spring member 4 to be "deformed"form its first, concave configuration so that closure of the cup 2 is initiated (see Fig 3). With continued pulling on the string 5, the spring member effectively inverts and adopts a second, convex configuration (see Fig 4) in which the spring member now nests against the opposite surface of ring 3 to that which it nested in the configuration shown in Fig 1. Put another way, the spring member is moved from the configuration illustrated in Fig 1, passed an"over-centre"position to the configuration shown in Fig 4. The cup 2 is now sealed closed.

Reference is now made to Fig 5 which illustrates an applicator 10 by means of which the device 1 may be inserted into the vagina. The applicator 10 comprises a handle 11 and an elongate applicator body 12 formed at each of its ends with grooves 13. Prior to insertion into the vagina, the device 1 is mounted on the applicator body 12. for this purpose, the ring 3 is pinched at diametrically opposed locations so that the ring 3 effectively adopts an elongate oval configuration in which it may now be positioned onto the applicator body 12, being retained in position by location of the grooves 13.

For the purposes of intra-vaginal location of the device 1, the applicator body 12 (with the device 1 mounted thereon) is inserted (by means of the handle 11) into the vagina until the top of the applicator body contacts the cervix. This causes the device 1 to be released from the applicator body so as to be positioned under the cervix, in a manner similar to contraceptive diaphragm, allowing the applicator to be cleanly removed and leaving the string 5 hanging out of the vagina in a manner similar to a tampon string. When thus located in position, the device 1 collects menstrual blood in its cup 2. Furthermore the ring 3 softens with body temperature to confirm to that walls of the canal to prevent leakage and odour.

When it is desired to remove the device from the vagina, the string 2 is initially pulled with light tension to cause the cup 2 to close and seal in the manner described above with reference to Figs 3 and 4. This action causes the cup to close, forming a sac or reservoir or menstrual fluid and prevents the formation of vacuum within the vagina as the device is removed.

Further tension of the string 5 causes the device 1 to be withdrawn from the vaginal canal, allowing the device to hygienically disposed of.

The device has a number of advantages. In particular, insertion and removal of the device without finger contact is easy. There is no risk of toxic shock a little dryness even on light flow days. There is minimal leakage and odour and, in this respect, menstrual fluid is fully contained and creates minimal mess on removal of the device. Additionally the device requires only relatively infrequent change.

Although the primarily intended use for the device is for the collection of menstrual fluids, it may be used to administer medication for the treatment of vaginal infection.