USOO8454493B2 (12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 8.454.493 B2 La Vean (45) Date of Patent: Jun. 4, 2013 (54) CONCEPTION DEVICE AND RELATED 3,037,508 A 6, 1962 Friedman METHODS 3,371,664 A 3, 1968 Pleshette 3,952,737 A 4/1976 Lipfert et al. ck (75) Inventor: Michael LaVean, Saranac, MI (US) :33; A t Styal. 128,832 4,200,090 A 4, 1980 Drobish (73) Assignee: Conceivex, Inc., Saranac, MI (US) 4,200,091 A 4, 1980 Del Conte 4,219,016 A 8, 1980 Drobish et al. (*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this 1895; A RE: s h etal patent is extended or adjusted under 35 4,311,543- W I A 1/1982 StrickmanOS et3. al. U.S.C. 154(b) by 306 days. 4,320,751 A 3, 1982 Loeb (21) Appl. No.: 12/815,003 (Continued) 22) Filed Jun. 14, 2010 FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS (22) Filed: un. 14, WO WO99.36O10 7, 1999 O O WO WO 99.37259 7, 1999 (65) Prior Publication Data WO WO 2006/0584.09 8, 2006 Related U.S. Application Data International Search Report and Written Opinion of the International (63) Continuation-in-part of application No. 1 1/692,511, Saching Authority for International Application No. PCT/US2008/ filed on Mar. 28, 2007, now abandoned. 000505: Mailing date Jun. 20, 2008. (Continued) (51) Int. Cl. A6B 7/2425 (2006.01) Primary Examiner — Charles A Marmor, II (52) S.C. 6OO/33 Assistant Examiner — Catherine E Burk ... T. grgrrr. (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Harness, Dickey & Pierce, (58) Field of Classification Search PLC USPC ............................... 600/33–35; 128/830–841 u YW See application file for complete search history. (57) ABSTRACT 56 References Cited A conceptionp device includes a dome having9. a collapsiblep sidewall, an annular rim, and three or more gripping flanges U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS along the inner Surface of the rim. The gripping flanges may 2,079,022 A 5, 1937 Martin effectively position and secure the device over the cervix for 2,141,040 A 12, 1938 Holt the concentration of semen on the cervical os to effect fertili 2,324,656 A 7, 1943 Vincent zation independently or with the aid of biologically active 2,423,356 A 7/1947 Waterbury 2,764.975 A 1/1955 Greenberg agents. The device may additionally include a handle extend 2,818,856 A 1, 1958 Kohl ing from the annular rim at an angle. 2,836,177 A 5, 1958 Sells 2,855,932 A 10, 1958 Stubbs 23 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets US 8,454.493 B2 Page 2 U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 4,961,436 A 10, 1990 Koch 4,348,321. A 9, 1982 McDaniel, Jr. et al. 5,027,830 A 7/1991 Koch 4,360,013. A 1 1/1982 Barrows 5,044,376 A 9, 1991 Shields 4,381,771 A 5/1983 Gabbay 5,070,889 A 12/1991 Leveen et al. 4.393.871 A 7, 1983 Worh 1 5,207,232 A 5, 1993 Shihata 440534 A 8, 1983 & at al. 5,295,984. A * 3/1994 Contente et al. .............. 604,317 W. J. oepp et al. 5,857.959 A * 1/1999 La Vean et al. ................. 600,33 4,553,972 A 1 1/1985 Vickery 6,230,709 B1 5, 2001 LaVean 4,589,880 A 5, 1986 Dunn et al. 4 - W 4,630,602. A 12/1986 Strickman et al. 4,640,272 A * 2/1987 Monett ......................... 128,837 OTHER PUBLICATIONS 4,770,1674,703,752 A 1 9,1/1987 1988 GabbayKaali et al. Supplementary Partial European Search Report for Application No. 4,785,804 A * 1 1/1988 Tlapek et al. ................. 128,841 EP 08 713141, dated Aug. 23, 2010. 4,895,170 A 1/1990 Tlapek et al. 4.959,216 A 9, 1990 Daunter * cited by examiner U.S. Patent Jun. 4, 2013 Sheet 1 of 4 US 8.454.493 B2 FG, 1 10 12-N 30 -16 32 14 28 FG.2 U.S. Patent Jun. 4, 2013 Sheet 2 of 4 US 8.454.493 B2 U.S. Patent Jun. 4, 2013 Sheet 3 of 4 US 8.454.493 B2 U.S. Patent Jun. 4, 2013 Sheet 4 of 4 US 8.454.493 B2 NZ2 FIG. US 8,454,493 B2 1. 2 CONCEPTION DEVICE AND RELATED hood of conception within the comfort, convenience and pri METHODS vacy of her own home, and does not limit normal physical activity. CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS SUMMARY This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent The present disclosure generally relates to a conception application Ser. No. 1 1/692,511 filed on 28 Mar. 2007. The device that is positioned over the cervix to increase the entire disclosures of the above application is incorporated chances of successful fertilization. A dome of the conception herein by reference. 10 device is designed to contain semen and, upon securement, properly position a higher concentration of semen in proxim FIELD ity to the cervical os. The conception device is easily posi tioned, comfortable to use, and easily removed. The present disclosure relates generally to a conception According to one particular aspect, the present teachings device used to concentrate semen and effect fertilization. The 15 provide a conception device that may be positioned over a present disclosure also generally relates to a method of con cervix to concentrate semen and promote fertilization. The ception utilizing the device. Furthermore, the present disclo conception device may include an annular rim and a dome. Sure relates to a conception device that may be implanted by The dome may extend from the annular rim and define a the user in the comfort of her own home and which does not receptacle area. The dome may have a closed tip, a base limit normal physical activity while in use. portion and a sidewall extending between the closed tip and the base portion. The sidewall may be collapsible in a prede INTRODUCTION termined manner. The sidewall may be formed to include one or more ridges. The annular rim and the dome are formed of The statements in this section merely provide introductory 25 a material Suitable for use in the vagina. information related to the present disclosure and may not According to another particular aspect, the present teach constitute prior art. ings similarly provide a conception device for positioning Medical devices intended to be inserted into the vagina and over a cervix to concentrate semen and promote fertilization. secured to the cervix are known for use as contraceptive The conception device may include an annular rim and a barriers. One particular contraceptive device, the “cervical 30 dome. The dome may extend from the annular rim and define cap.” may be placed over the cervix to prevent semen from a receptacle area. The dome may have a closed tip, a base entering the cervical canal. The cervical cap may be held in portion and a sidewall extending between the closed tip and place by a Suction grip or Surface Viscosity on the moist the base portion. The conception device may further include cervical Surface. Insofar as known devices are intended for at least three thin, gripping flanges projecting radially the prevention of pregnancy, latex has proven to be a Suitable 35 inwardly from the annular rim. Adjacent flanges may be material. Latex, however, may result in semen damage. Thus, spaced apart by a notch to permit the flanges to deflect a latex device should not be used for delivery of semen. towards the closed tip of the dome during insertion of the To a more limited extent, it is known in the pertinent art to device, and to effectively grip and hold the device over the provide a cervical device to position a quantity of semen in cervix. The dome and the annular rim may be formed of a 40 material Suitable for use in the vagina. proximity to the cervix for purposes of facilitating impregna According to yet another particular aspect, the present tion. In this regard, U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,959 illustrates and teachings again provide a conception device for positioning describes a conception kit developed by the inventors of the over a cervix to concentrate semen and promote fertilization. present disclosure. The kit generally includes a conception The conception device may include an annular rim, a dome device comprising a thin, form-assuming, flexible dome, an 45 and a handle. The annular rim may generally define a plane. annular rim, and a pair of gripping flanges along an inner The dome may extend from the annular rim and define a Surface of the rim for positioning and securing the device over receptacle area. The dome may include a closed tip, a base the cervix. The device concentrates semen on the cervical os portion, and a sidewall extending between the closed tip and to effect fertilization. U.S. Pat. No. 5,857.959 is incorporated the base portion. The handle may extend from the annular rim by reference as if fully set forth herein. While the conception 50 at an angle to the plane defined by the annular rim. The dome, kit shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,959 has annular rim, and handle may be formed of a material Suitable proven to be extremely successful in promoting pregnancy, for use in the vagina. continued improvement in the pertinentart remains desirable. According to still yet another particular aspect, the present Some of the primary factors contributing to a decline in teachings provide a conception device that may be positioned fertility include low semen counts, problems with semen 55 over a cervix to concentrate semen and promote fertilization.