Female condom employing tensegrity principle
US7047975B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 3, 2001 |
| Grant date | May 23, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 16, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S602/902
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Employing the known “tensegrity” principle, a female condom is configured such that when the condom is inserted into a woman's vagina, the woman's introitus acts on a proximal section of an elongated pouch extending between internal and external biasing members (e.g., rings) of the condom. Inward compressive forces exerted by the introitus on the inner ring of the condom cause the inner ring to be pushed distally within the vaginal canal, and the proximal pouch section to become a tension member pulling against the external ring. This causes a “tenting” of the proximal pouch section against the introitus. The resulting interaction of compression and tensile forces (a tensegrity effect) serves to provide the condom with a high degree of internal and external stability, including resistance to twisting and slippage.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.