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. Collected by a large pill manufacturer for market research purposes.
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).