Dalkon Shield
Dalkon Shield with a black retrieval thread. Around the coil, on each side, are five small hooks. The area in the middle is transparent, with a small hole.
Contrary to the coils used today, the Dalkon Shield was unsafe and dangerous. The coil was rather large and accordingly difficult to insert and remove.
As a result, the retrieval threads consisted of several threads plaited together (multifilament) which worked as a “ladder” for bacteria. The retrieval threads of other coils consist of just one single thread (monofilament).