1. A method for providing therapeutic heat to a cervical region, comprising:
inserting an intra-vaginal device into the cervical region;
providing the therapeutic heat to the device;
wherein the therapeutic heat is transferred from the device to the cervical region.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the therapeutic heat provides for amelioration of discomfort of the cervical region.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the therapeutic heat is between 97.0 and 120.0 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the therapeutic heat is between 99.00 and 106.00 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the therapeutic heat is between 100.00 and 104.00 degrees Fahrenheit.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the therapeutic heat is adjustable by a temperature control associated with the device.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the cervical region comprises tissues immediately surrounding a cervix uteri.
8. An apparatus for providing therapeutic heat to a cervical region, the apparatus comprising:
an intra-vaginal device for placement into the cervical region;
a heat source for providing the therapeutic heat to the intra-vaginal device; and
wherein the therapeutic heat is transferred to the cervical region from the intra-vaginal device.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the therapeutic heat provides for amelioration of discomfort of the cervical region.
10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the therapeutic heat is between 97.0 and 120.0 degrees Fahrenheit.
11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the therapeutic heat is between 99.00 and 106.00 degrees Fahrenheit.
12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the therapeutic heat is between 100.00 and 104.00 degrees Fahrenheit.
13. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:
a temperature control associated with the heat source for adjusting the therapeutic heat.
14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the device approximates the shape of a cervix uteri.
15. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the heat source comprises a heat transfer means selected from the group consisting of electric, fluid flow, exothermic chemical reaction, passive, or thermonuclear.
16. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the cervical region comprises tissues immediately surrounding a cervix uteri.
17. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the device is shaped as a hollow inverted conical frustum.
18. An intra-vaginal device for placement adjacent to a cervix uteri, the device comprising:
an approximately circular ring base;
a plurality of flaps attached to the circumference of the ring base at a first end of the flaps, the flaps adjacent to each other and collectively approximating a hollow inverted frustum with an internal diameter sized to approximate the cervix uteri, wherein a second end of the flaps approximates a top base of the hollow inverted frustum; and
wherein the device is fabricated from a material that allows the plurality of flaps to overlap so as to decrease an overall diameter of the device for insertion.
19. The device of claim 18, wherein the material comprises a hypoallergenic, elastomeric material.
20. The device of claim 18, wherein the ring base is hollow.
21. The device of claim 20, wherein when the device is in place, the ring base hollow defines an aperture substantially in alignment with the os of the cervix uteri.
22. The device of claim 18, wherein the ring base is solid, and further comprising:
webbing between each of the flaps such that the flaps collectively form a continuous structure.
23. The device of claim 18, wherein the device is configured for delivering therapy to the cervical region.
24. The device of claim 23, wherein the therapy is selected from the group consisting of: heat therapy, chemical therapy, hormone therapy, contraception, and retention of menstrual fluid.
25. The device of claim 23, wherein the therapy comprises at least two selected from the group consisting of: heat therapy, chemical therapy, hormone therapy, contraception, and retention of menstrual fluid.
26. An intra-vaginal device for placement adjacent to a cervix uteri, the device comprising:
an approximately circular ring base;
a plurality of flaps attached to the circumference of the ring base at a first end of the flaps, the flaps adjacent to each other and collectively approximating an inverted bowl with an internal diameter sized to approximate the cervix uteri, wherein a second end of the flaps approximates a top base of the hollow inverted frustum; and
wherein the device is fabricated from a material that allows the plurality of flaps to overlap so as to decrease an overall diameter of the device for insertion.
27. An apparatus for placement of an intra-vaginal device adjacent to a cervix uteri, comprising:
a cylindrical outer tube comprising an insertion end, a body, and a grip end;
a plunger comprising a device end, a body, and a force receiving end, wherein the plunger is slideably received inside the cylindrical outer tube such that a force applied on the force receiving end of the plunger expels the intra-vaginal device from the cylindrical outer tube at the insertion end; and
wherein the device end comprises an approximately hemispherical convex tip sized to nestle inside an approximately circular ring base portion of the intra-vaginal device.
28. The apparatus of 27, wherein the hemispherical tip allows for transfer of the force from the plunger to the device such that the device pivots into alignment with the cervix uteri.
29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the device comprises:
the approximately circular ring base portion;
a plurality of flaps attached to the circumference of the ring base portion at a first end of the flaps, the flaps adjacent to each other and collectively approximating a hollow inverted frustum with an internal diameter sized to approximate the cervix uteri, wherein a second end of the flaps approximates a top base of the hollow inverted frustum; and
wherein the device is fabricated from a material that allows the plurality of flaps to overlap so as to decrease an overall diameter of the device for insertion.
30. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein when the device is in place, the ring base hollow defines an aperture substantially in alignment with the os of the cervix uteri.
31. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the device is configured for delivering therapy to a region surrounding the cervix uteri.
32. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the apparatus is introduced into a vaginal canal with the intra-vaginal device positioned in a constrained configuration inside the cylindrical outer tube at the insertion end proximate the device end of the plunger.
33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein applying a force to the force receiving end of the plunger causes the intra-vaginal device to be expelled from the cylindrical outer tube at the insertion end and to change into an expanded configuration; and
wherein a first portion of the device, once in the expanded configuration, contacts a first fornix, causing the force to be transferred along the hemispherical convex tip such that a second portion of the device contacts a second fornix.
34. A method of using an apparatus for placement of an intra-vaginal device adjacent to the cervix uteri, the apparatus comprising a cylindrical outer tube comprising an insertion end, a body, and a grip end, and a plunger comprising a device end, a body, and a force receiving end, and wherein the plunger is slideably received inside the cylindrical outer tube, the method comprising:
introducing the apparatus, with the intra-vaginal device positioned in a constrained configuration inside the cylindrical outer tube at the insertion end proximate the device end of the plunger, into the vaginal opening positioned for placement of the intra-vaginal device adjacent to the cervix uteri;
applying a force to the force receiving end of the plunger, causing the intra-vaginal device to be expelled from the cylindrical outer tube at the insertion end and to change into an expanded configuration; and
wherein a first portion of the device, once in the expanded configuration, contacts a first fornix, causing the force to be transferred along the hemispherical convex tip such that a second portion of the device contacts a second fornix.
35. The method of claim 34, wherein the device end comprises an approximately hemispherical convex tip sized to nestle inside an approximately circular ring base portion of the intra-vaginal device.
36. The method of claim 34, wherein the device comprises:
an approximately circular ring base;
a plurality of flaps attached to the circumference of the ring base at a first end of the flaps, the flaps adjacent to each other and collectively approximating a hollow inverted frustum with an internal diameter sized to approximate the cervix uteri, wherein a second end of the flaps approximates a top base of the hollow inverted frustum; and
wherein the device is fabricated from a material that allows the plurality of flaps to overlap so as to decrease an overall diameter of the device for insertion.
37. The method of claim 34, wherein the device is configured for delivering therapy to the cervical region.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A pacifier toy combination for satisfying the nonnutritive, stimulatory, and teething needs of infants comprising:
a) a rattle housing, cylindrically shaped, having rounded ends, and a cross section where handles are to sit and spin placed halfway down the cylinder;
b) two handles located on opposing sides of the rattle housing for holding the toy combination, said handles having the ability to spin and each of said handles having a gear at one side;
c) a removable, locking, fillable pacifier having a locking mechanism on one side and a hollow nipple on the opposite side;
d) said rattle housing having a second locking mechanism that corresponds to said locking mechanism on said pacifier, wherein said locking mechanisms correspond to prevent the infants from removing said pacifier from said rattle housing;
e) flappers located in said rattle housing, wherein when said handles are spun said gears strike said flappers to make noise; and
f) a rubber gasket placed at the end of said pacifier locking mechanism.
2. A pacifier toy combination as recited in claim 1 and further comprising:
a) a stand with which to hold said pacifier in the freezer.