An early prototypical anti-rape female tampon was invented in late 2000 by Jaap Haumann, a South African man, for the purpose of preventing rape. Haumann's device was designed to resemble a tampon for ease of insertion, and consisted of a hard cylindrical plastic core containing a tensioned spring blade primed to slice when pressed against by the tip of a penis. Following activation, a portion of the tip of the penis would be removed, in effect performing a minor penectomy. More recently, an anti-rape female condom using a different design was invented by Sonette Ehlers, a South African woman also for the purpose of preventing rape. Ehler was motivated to create it while working as a blood technician with the South African Blood Transfusion Service, during which time she met and treated many rape victims. The device, known as RAPEX, is a latex sheath embedded with shafts of sharp, inward-facing microscopic barbs that would be worn by a woman in her vagina like a tampon. If an attacker were to attempt vaginal rape, their penis would enter the latex sheath and be snagged by the barbs, causing the attacker pain during withdrawal and (ideally) giving the victim time to escape. The condom would remain attached to the attacker's body when he withdrew and could only be removed surgically, which would alert hospital staff and police. This device could assist in the identification and prosecution of rapists. Like most condoms, RAPEX also prevents pregnancy and the transmission of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases. RAPEX was unveiled on August 31, 2005 in South Africa. Mass production was scheduled to begin in April 2007. http://www.antirape.co.za/index.htm