Method of making intrauterine devices.

摘要

A medicated intrauterine device includes a preexisting contraceptive intrauterine platform (11) and an attachment (15) formed as a cylindrical sleeve (16) of base polymer containing a drug such as an antifertility agent. Local controlled release administration of the drug is added to the contraceptive effect of the preexisting platform. The attachment (15) can be made by centrifuging a medical grade of room temperature vulcanizing silicone rubber to remove reinforcing fillers therefrom. A selected quantity of the drug is mixed into the fillerless silicone rubber, and the drug and silicone mixture is injected into a multicavity mold. After the mixture sets and the sleeves (16) are removed from the mold, the sleeves are trimmed, then swollen by immersion in a solvent, and slipped onto the stem (12). An outer covering (17) over the sleeve (16) can control the drug release rate and impart greater strength to the fillerless silicone rubber of the attachment (15). The outer covering (17) can be a tube likewise swollen and slipped onto the sleeve (16) to tightly shrink thereon.