Device and method for artificial insemination

Abstract

The medical device has a shield and an arm secured to the shield at one end and extending outwardly from the shield. The arm is inserted into the cervical canal of a patient and the shield covers the external os of the patient. By inserting the medical device into a patients cervical canal prior to insemination and leaving the device in place after insemination, a physical barrier that holds a semen sample within the cervical canal and prevents leakage from the cervical canal back into the vaginal cavity is established. The device may have a bore extending through the device for a catheter to pass through. The bore has a valve to allow passage of the catheter and prevent backflow of semen. The arm may have a plurality of longitudinal ridges, circumferential ridges, or circumferential barbs to help keep the device in place.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 ) A medical device comprising:
 a shield configured to cover an orifice;   an arm having a proximal end secured to the shield and a distal end configured to insert into an orifice, wherein the shield and the arm are configured to secure the medical device in place during use,   wherein the arm has a plurality of longitudinal ridges positioned along a length of the arm between a midway point of the arm and the distal end of the arm.   
     
     
         2 ) The medical device of  claim 1  further comprising a bore extending longitudinally through the arm and through the shield such that the bore has an opening at the distal end of the arm and an opening on the side of the shield opposite the arm. 
     
     
         3 ) The medical device of  claim 1  further comprising a valve disposed at the distal end of the arm, wherein the valve is operable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the valve comprises a plurality of elastomeric flaps integrally attached to the distal end of the arm, wherein the elastomeric flaps are resiliently biased against each other when the valve is in the closed position, wherein the elastomeric flaps are each sized and shaped to for a substantially fluid-tight seal over the opening at the distal end of the arm when the valve is in the closed position. 
     
     
         4 ) The medical device of  claim 3  wherein the valve has three elastomeric flaps. 
     
     
         5 ) The medical device of  claim 2  wherein the bore is of sufficient diameter to allow a catheter to pass through the bore. 
     
     
         6 ) The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the shield has a concave shape, wherein the proximal end of the arm is secured to the concave side of the shield. 
     
     
         7 ) The medical device of  claim 1 , further comprising an insert member secured to the shield, wherein the insert member is secured to the opposite side of the shield as the proximal end of the arm. 
     
     
         8 ) The medical device of  claim 7 , wherein the insert member has an annular cavity, and wherein the insert member has an external opening that provides external access to the annular cavity. 
     
     
         9 ) The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the shield is flexible. 
     
     
         10 ) The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the shield is translucent. 
     
     
         11 ) A medical device comprising:
 a shield configured to cover an orifice;   an arm having a proximal end secured to the shield and a distal end configured to insert into an orifice, wherein the shield and the arm are configured to secure the medical device in place during use,   wherein the arm has a plurality of circumferential ridges positioned along a length of the arm between a midway point of the arm and the distal end of the arm.   
     
     
         12 ) The medical device of  claim 11  further comprising a bore extending longitudinally through the arm and through the shield such that the bore has an opening at the distal end of the arm and an opening on the side of the shield opposite the arm. 
     
     
         13 ) The medical device of  claim 11  further comprising a valve disposed at the distal end of the arm, wherein the valve is operable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the valve comprises a plurality of elastomeric flaps integrally attached to the distal end of the arm, wherein the elastomeric flaps are resiliently biased against each other when the valve is in the closed position, wherein the elastomeric flaps are each sized and shaped to for a substantially fluid-tight seal over the opening at the distal end of the arm when the valve is in the closed position. 
     
     
         14 ) The medical device of  claim 13  wherein the valve has three elastomeric flaps. 
     
     
         15 ) The medical device of  claim 12 , wherein the bore is of sufficient diameter to allow a catheter to pass through the bore. 
     
     
         16 ) The medical device of  claim 1   1 , wherein the shield has a concave shape, wherein the proximal end of the arm is secured to the concave side of the shield. 
     
     
         17 ) The medical device of  claim 11 , further comprising an insert member secured to the shield, wherein the insert member is secured to the opposite side of the shield as the proximal end of the arm. 
     
     
         18 ) The medical device of  claim 17 , wherein the insert member has an annular cavity, and wherein the insert member has an external opening that provides external access to the annular cavity. 
     
     
         19 ) The medical device of  claim 11 , wherein the shield is flexible. 
     
     
         20 ) The medical device of  claim 11 , wherein the shield is translucent. 
     
     
         21 ) A medical device comprising:
 a shield configured to cover an orifice;   an arm having a proximal end secured to the shield and a distal end configured to insert into an orifice, wherein the shield and the arm are configured to secure the medical device in place during use,   wherein the arm has a plurality of circumferential barbs positioned along a length of the arm between a midway point of the arm and the distal end of the arm.   
     
     
         22 ) The medical device of  claim 21  further comprising a bore extending longitudinally through the arm and through the shield such that the bore has an opening at the distal end of the arm and an opening on the side of the shield opposite the arm. 
     
     
         23 ) The medical device of  claim 21  further comprising a valve disposed at the distal end of the arm, wherein the valve is operable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the valve comprises a plurality of elastomeric flaps integrally attached to the distal end of the arm, wherein the elastomeric flaps are resiliently biased against each other when the valve is in the closed position, wherein the elastomeric flaps are each sized and shaped to for a substantially fluid tight seal over the opening at the distal end of the arm when the valve is in the closed position. 
     
     
         24 ) The medical device of  claim 23  wherein the valve has three elastomeric flaps. 
     
     
         25 ) The medical device of  claim 22 , wherein the bore is of sufficient diameter to allow a catheter to pass through the bore. 
     
     
         26 ) The medical device of  claim 21 , wherein the shield has a concave shape, wherein the proximal end of the arm is secured to the concave side of the shield. 
     
     
         27 ) The medical device of  claim 21 , further comprising an insert member secured to the shield, wherein the insert member is secured to the opposite side of the shield as the proximal end of the arm. 
     
     
         28 ) The medical device of  claim 27 , wherein the insert member has an annular cavity, and wherein the insert member has an external opening that provides external access to the annular cavity. 
     
     
         29 ) The medical device of  claim 21 , wherein the shield is flexible. 
     
     
         30 ) The medical device of  claim 21 , wherein the shield is translucent.