Intrauterine deposit

Abstract

An intrauterine system for the retention of a biologically active compound within the uterus of a female mammal is formed by a frame defining an interior space for receipt of a deposit of the compound. The frame has an open structure allowing access to a substantial part of an outer surface of the deposit and the deposit has a rate controlling structure that controls a rate of release of the compound within the uterus. Retention elements are provided on the frame for retaining the frame within the uterus.

1 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . An intrauterine system for retention of a biologically active compound within the uterus of a female mammal, the system comprising:
 a deposit comprising a core and an outer membrane, wherein the core comprises etonogestrel and, wherein the membrane controls a rate of release of the etonogestrel within the uterus and wherein the core and membrane are substantially form-stable and not eroded during use;   a frame defining an interior space for receipt of the deposit, the frame having an open structure that extends longitudinally along the frame and allows access to a substantial part of an outer membrane of the deposit; and   one or more retention elements for retaining the frame within the uterus.   
     
     
         26 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the frame is flexible and interacts with the deposit to form a mechanical structure having a stiffness greater than that of either the deposit or the frame alone. 
     
     
         27 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the deposit is in the form of a rod shaped element having a circumferential surface and two end surfaces. 
     
     
         28 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the frame comprises an opening for allowing introduction of the deposit into the interior space and a closure member for closing the opening. 
     
     
         29 . The system according to  claim 28 , wherein the closure member comprises a substantially impermeable plug. 
     
     
         30 . The system according to  claim 28 , wherein the closure member is located at a forward end of the frame and a retrieval element is located at a rearward end of the frame. 
     
     
         31 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the frame is formed of a substantially inert material. 
     
     
         32 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein the substantially inert material is a biologically compatible polymer. 
     
     
         33 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the retention elements are integrally formed with the frame. 
     
     
         34 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the deposit comprises a polymer matrix core. 
     
     
         35 . The system according to  claim 34 , wherein the polymer matrix core comprises an EVA polymer comprising more than 10% vinyl acetate and the deposit has a diameter of from 1.0 mm to 3.0 mm. 
     
     
         36 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the deposit comprises a rate controlling structure comprising an outer membrane surrounding the deposit, wherein the membrane comprises an EVA polymer having less than 40% vinyl acetate. 
     
     
         37 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the frame having an open structure allows access to at least 50% of a surface of the deposit. 
     
     
         38 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the deposit comprises two end surfaces and the frame covers the two end surfaces to prevent release of compound therefrom. 
     
     
         39 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein the frame comprises an elongate stem in which is located the interior space and the retention elements comprise arms, laterally extending from the stem. 
     
     
         40 . The system according to  claim 25 , further comprising an inserter comprising a hollow tube into which the frame may be received. 
     
     
         41 . The system according to  claim 40 , wherein the inserter has an outer diameter of less than 4.0 mm. 
     
     
         42 . An intrauterine system for retention of a biologically active compound within the uterus of a female mammal, the system comprising:
 a generally rod shaped deposit comprising a core and an outer membrane, wherein the core comprises etonogestrel, and wherein the core and the membrane are substantially form-stable and not eroded during use;   a substantially flexible frame defining an interior space and having an open structure that extends longitudinally along the frame for receipt of the deposit, wherein the flexible frame and the rod shaped deposit interact to form a composite structure having greater stiffness than either the rod shaped deposit or the frame alone; and   one or more retention elements provided on the frame for retaining the frame within the uterus.   
     
     
         43 . A method of forming an intrauterine system comprising:
 forming a frame having an interior space and an open structure that extends longitudinally along the frame;   providing a deposit comprising a core and a rate controlling outer membrane, wherein in the core comprises etonogestrel, and wherein the core and membrane are substantially form-stable and not eroded during use; and   inserting the deposit into the interior space such that a substantial part of the outer membrane is exposed through the open structure.   
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 43 , further comprising closing an opening in the frame to prevent removal of the deposit from the interior space. 
     
     
         45 . The method according to  claim 43 , further comprising bonding a closure to the frame to prevent removal of the deposit. 
     
     
         46 . The method according to  claim 43 , wherein the frame is formed by injection moulding. 
     
     
         47 . The method according to  claim 43 , further comprising forming the deposit by co-extrusion of a polymer matrix core containing the compound and a rate controlling membrane. 
     
     
         48 . A method of contraception in a female mammal, the method comprising placing the intrauterine system according to  claim 25  into the uterus of the mammal.