Vaginal carrier for the controlled release of substances

Abstract

A device that delivers one or more substances into a vaginal lumen according to one of a plurality of release patterns. The device comprises a supporting structure, substance dispensers, and/or coupling elements which are configured to release one or more substances, for example, drugs, in manner designed to optimize treatment of one or more medical conditions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for delivery of at least one medical substance in a vaginal lumen, comprising:
 a releasing mechanism comprising at least one substance release dispenser that contains at least one medical substance; and   a supporting structure that supports thereon the positioning of said releasing mechanism in the vaginal lumen,   wherein said device is sized and shaped to wholly fit within a vaginal canal; and   wherein said device defines at least one channel for passage of vaginal secretions while said device is in operation within the vaginal lumen.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one channel is provided in the interior of said supporting structure. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said support structure has a generally circular cross-section, and wherein said at least one channel is a single channel. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said supporting structure is one of a bag, a packet, a receptacle, a set of surrounding belts, and a pouch; and
 wherein said at least one channel is defined by said supporting structure.   
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said supporting structure includes at least one coupling element that extends radially away from said supporting structure. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein said at least one coupling element is adapted to couple said releasing mechanism to said supporting structure and is adapted to act as a spacing element that radially spaces said releasing mechanism from said supporting structure. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein said supporting structure includes a plurality of separate support locations, respectively at a first coupling element and at at least an additional coupling element, and wherein said releasing mechanism is modular and can be selectively attached at any of said plurality of separate support locations;
 wherein said at least one channel is defined between said supporting structure and each of said first and at least an additional coupling elements.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein each of said at least one dispenser is coupled to a predefined site on said supporting structure;
 said at least one channel defined at said predefined sites.   
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said device is configured to be maneuvered into an optimal position at a preselected depth within the vaginal lumen; and
 wherein said device is configured to be maneuvered such that said at least one channel is at an optimal position at a preselected depth within the vaginal lumen.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said releasing mechanism includes a first dispenser coupled by a first coupling element to said supporting structure;
 wherein said at least one channel is provided between said support structure and said first dispenser.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , said first dispenser configured as one of a torus, an ellipsoid, a crescent, a truncated torus, a truncated ellipsoid, a truncated crescent, an irregular polygon, and an assembly of the aforementioned shapes and their truncated forms; and
 wherein said at least one channel has a configuration corresponding to said configuration of said first dispenser.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein said first coupling element lies within said at least one channel. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein said first coupling element is configured to couple said first dispenser at one of a proximal and a distal end of said supporting structure, said at least one channel defined at a corresponding said one of a proximal and a distal end of said supporting structure. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein said releasing mechanism additionally includes a second dispenser coupled by a second coupling element to said supporting structure;
 wherein said at least one channel is provided between said support structure and said first and second dispensers and between said first and second dispensers.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein said first coupling element is configured to couple said first dispenser a proximal end of said supporting structure and said second coupling element is configured to couple said second dispenser at a distal end of said supporting structure, said at least one channel extending from said proximal end of said supporting structure to said distal end of said supporting structure. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein said first coupling element includes a plurality of arms configured to support said first dispenser, at least one of an angle of said arms relative to said supporting structure, a length of said arms, and a direction of said arms from said supporting structure preselected to determine a width of said at least one channel between said support structure and said first dispenser. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising side wings configured to provide said device with a flattened configuration, said at least one channel disposed within said side wings. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said coupling element enables situating said supporting structure and said releasing mechanism adjacent to the periphery of the vaginal lumen without occupying the center of the vaginal lumen to enable the passage of vaginal secretions through said at least one channel while said device is in operation within the vaginal lumen. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said releasing mechanism extends past both ends of said supporting structure; and
 wherein said at least one channel extends past both ends of said supporting structure.   
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said supporting structure is elongate and said channel is provided along the exterior of said supporting structure. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 1 , further including an element that absorbs the vaginal secretions within said at least one channel. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein said element is expandable.