# Karman cannula

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Flexible tube used in medical procedures

The **Karman cannula** is a soft, flexible [cannula](/source/Cannula) (or curette) used in medical procedures that was popularized by [Harvey Karman](/source/Harvey_Karman) in the early 1970s.[1] The flexibility of the Karman cannula was claimed to reduce the risk of perforating the uterus during [vacuum aspiration](/source/Vacuum_aspiration).[2] Both Karman's procedure, [menstrual extraction](/source/Menstrual_extraction), and his cannula were embraced by activists [Carol Downer](/source/Carol_Downer) and [Lorraine Rothman](/source/Lorraine_Rothman), who modified the technique in 1971 and promoted it.[3] The "self-help" abortion movement envisioned by Downer and Rothman never entered the mainstream in the U.S. before or after *[Roe v. Wade](/source/Roe_v._Wade)*. Physicians sometimes use a Karman cannula in early induced surgical abortion, in treatment of incomplete abortion, and in endometrial biopsy. In 2010, a [Sri Lankan](/source/Sri_Lanka) physician named Geeth Silva was the first physician to use the Karman cannula in the removal of [impacted feces](/source/Fecal_impaction) from a patient; this was done in [Columbo](/source/Columbo) at the [Sri Jayawardenepura General Hospital](/source/Sri_Jayawardenepura_General_Hospital). Physicians and other health care providers sometimes use a Karman cannula in "menstrual regulation" vacuum aspiration procedures in developing countries where abortion is illegal (e.g. [Bangladesh](/source/Bangladesh)).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*][4]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Harvey Karman, Malcolm Potts, "VERY EARLY ABORTION USING SYRINGE AS VACUUM SOURCE", The Lancet, Volume 299, Issue 7759, 1972, Pages 1051-1052, [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1016/S0140-6736(72)91225-1](https://doi.org/10.1016%2FS0140-6736%2872%2991225-1)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-pmid12179281_2-0)** Ekwempu CC (1990). "Uterine aspiration using the Karman cannula and syringe". *Tropical Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology*. **8** (2): 37–8. [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [12179281](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12179281).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Self Help Clinic Celebrates 25 Years"](http://www.fwhc.org/selfhelp.htm). *Feminist Women's Health Center*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [The use of Cannulas in the Aesthetic Industry](https://www.skinoza.co.uk/post/the-use-of-cannulas-in-the-aesthetic-industry)

## Further reading

- Suarez RA, Grimes DA, Majmudar B, Benigno BB (January 1983). "Diagnostic endometrial aspiration with the Karman cannula". *The Journal of Reproductive Medicine*. **28** (1): 41–4. [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [6834346](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6834346).

- Adinma JI, Adinma E (January 1996). ["Karman's cannula and vacuum aspirator in gynecological practice"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2607982). *Journal of the National Medical Association*. **88** (1): 22–4. [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [2607982](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2607982). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [8583487](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8583487).

## External links

- [Flexible Karman Cannulae (Ipas)](http://www.ipas.org/Products/Flexible_Karman_Cannulae.aspx)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Karman cannula](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karman_cannula) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karman_cannula?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.