Intrauterine access catheter for delivering and facilitating operation of a medical apparatus for assisting parturition
First Claim
1. A birthing system for augmenting expulsive uterine forces towards a cervical canal during delivery of a fetus from a uterus, the birthing system comprising:
- a medical apparatus having a balloon body configured to be placed in an intrauterine cavity at a location between an infant and uterine walls, the balloon body configured to transition between a compacted state and an expanded state, wherein when in the expanded state the balloon body applies a force to a base of the fetus in a direction of the cervical canal;
a catheter configured to receive the medical apparatus, circumnavigate the fetus and one or more structures within the uterus to place the balloon body in the intrauterine cavity at the location between the infant and the uterine walls, and obtain electrical signals indicative of intrinsic uterine contractions; and
a controller coupled to the catheter to receive the electrical signals, and to a source of an agent, the controller configured to;
process the electrical signals to detect one of an onset of an intrinsic uterine contraction, an increase in uterine contraction forces, and a decrease in uterine contraction forces,in response to either of a detection of an onset of an intrinsic uterine contraction or an increase in uterine contraction forces, deliver agent from the agent source to the balloon body to at least partially expand the balloon body toward the cervical canal and into contact with the fetus, andin response to a detection of a decrease in uterine contraction forces, discharge agent from the balloon body to at least partially collapse the balloon body away from the fetus and the cervical canal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter to access and navigate the uterine cavity through the cervical canal for delivering, deploying, and facilitating operation of a peripheral intrauterine medical apparatus during parturition includes an elongated, flexible tubular catheter body with a handle at the proximal end controlling a steering mechanism and deflecting the distal tip. The catheter includes a lumen that extends the length of catheter body to a distal end region of the catheter. The peripheral medical apparatus is located in the distal end region and is configured to deploy from the distal tip of the catheter into the uterine cavity. A soft catheter tip reduces the likelihood of injury during intrauterine navigation and placement, and sensors associated with the catheter body provide signals that allow for the monitoring of infant, umbilical cord, placenta and uterine muscle activity during labor to assist operation of the peripheral medical apparatus.
95 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A birthing system for augmenting expulsive uterine forces towards a cervical canal during delivery of a fetus from a uterus, the birthing system comprising:
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a medical apparatus having a balloon body configured to be placed in an intrauterine cavity at a location between an infant and uterine walls, the balloon body configured to transition between a compacted state and an expanded state, wherein when in the expanded state the balloon body applies a force to a base of the fetus in a direction of the cervical canal; a catheter configured to receive the medical apparatus, circumnavigate the fetus and one or more structures within the uterus to place the balloon body in the intrauterine cavity at the location between the infant and the uterine walls, and obtain electrical signals indicative of intrinsic uterine contractions; and a controller coupled to the catheter to receive the electrical signals, and to a source of an agent, the controller configured to; process the electrical signals to detect one of an onset of an intrinsic uterine contraction, an increase in uterine contraction forces, and a decrease in uterine contraction forces, in response to either of a detection of an onset of an intrinsic uterine contraction or an increase in uterine contraction forces, deliver agent from the agent source to the balloon body to at least partially expand the balloon body toward the cervical canal and into contact with the fetus, and in response to a detection of a decrease in uterine contraction forces, discharge agent from the balloon body to at least partially collapse the balloon body away from the fetus and the cervical canal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification