Method and apparatus for the detection and ligation of uterine arteries

• US 20020183771A1
• Filed: 03/28/2002
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vascular Control Systems, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Vascular Control Systems, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Jones, Michael L., Burbank, Fred H., Werneth, Randy, Wong, Yu-Tung, Uyeno, Jill, Serra, R. J., Altieri, Greig
• Granted Patent: US 7,229,465 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/158
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12 for ligaturing or otherwise compressing tubular parts of the body, e.g. blood vessels, umbilical cord specially adapted for vas deferens or fallopian tubes A61F6/20; materials for ligaturing blood vessels A61L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/122 Clamps or clips , e.g. for the umbilical cord for the vas deferens A61F6/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/128 for applying or removing clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2812 with a single pivotal connection A61B17/29 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/42 Gynaecological or obstetrical instruments or methods ligaturing clamps or clips for the umbilical cord A61B17/122; curettage A61B17/320708; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/4216 Operations on uterus, e.g. endometrium
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/026 Measuring blood flow A61B3/1233, A61B3/1241 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/415 the glands, e.g. tonsils, adenoids or thymus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/418 lymph vessels, ducts or nodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/06 Measuring blood flow measuring volume flow in general G01F, e.g. G01F1/66, G01F1/72; measuring speed of fluids in general G01P5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00

Abstract

The invention provides devices, systems and methods for occluding arteries without puncturing skin or vessel walls. The devices, systems and methods for occluding arteries are configured to be applied to arteries externally of the arteries. Occlusion may be temporary or permanent, and may be partial or complete. Clamping a device to tissue near to an artery is effective to compress tissue around the artery and to indirectly compress the artery. The methods, devices and systems of the invention find use in, for example, treatment of uterine disorders and conditions which may be treated by occlusion of the uterine arteries. A uterine artery may be accessed via a patient'"'"'s vagina by compressing a portion of the vaginal wall around a portion of a uterine artery to occlude a uterine artery. Clamping of an artery may also be performed by clamping a device directly onto an artery.

Claims

1. A clamping device comprising a clamping member configured to apply pressure to a blood vessel, and a blood flow sensor.

2. The clamping device of claim 1, wherein said blood flow sensor comprises a doppler ultrasound sensor.

3. The clamping device of claim 1, wherein said blood flow sensor is disposed on said clamping member.

4. The clamping device of claim 1, comprising a pair of clamping members disposed in an opposing relationship with respect to each other.

5. The clamping device of claim 1, wherein said clamping device is configured to engage a clamp applicator.

6. The clamping device of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of clamping members, wherein at least two of said clamping members are configured to close together.

7. The clamping device of claim 6, wherein said at least two clamping members are configured to be closed together by said clamp applicator.

8. The clamping device of claim 1, further comprising a ratchet mechanism configured to hold a clamping member in a clamping position.

9. The clamping device of claim 8, wherein said ratchet mechanism comprises a releasable mechanism.

10. The clamping device of claim 3, wherein said clamping member has a distal portion configured to engage tissue, wherein said blood flow sensor is disposed on said distal portion.

11. The clamping device of claim 10, wherein said clamping member has a medial position approximately in the middle of said distal portion, wherein said blood flow sensor is disposed on said distal portion near said medial position.

12. The clamping device of claim 11, wherein said blood flow sensor comprises a doppler ultrasound sensor.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said blood flow sensor comprises a doppler ultrasound sensor.

15. The clamping device of claim 1, comprising a plurality of blood flow sensors.

16. The clamping device of claim 1, further comprising a recovery member.

17. The clamping device of claim 16, wherein said recovery member comprises a lanyard.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising sensing blood flow in a uterine artery effective to locate a uterine artery.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising accessing a uterine artery of a patient via the vagina of said patient.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein compressing a uterine artery comprises compressing a portion of the vaginal wall around a portion of said uterine artery.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein said clamping device comprises a releasable clamping device, and said uterine artery remains occluded for only a limited time.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said limited time comprises a time of between about 0.5 hours and about 4 hours.

13. A system comprising:

a clamping device comprising a clamping member configured to apply pressure to a blood vessel, and a blood flow sensor; and

a clamping device applicator configured to engage said clamping device.

18. A clamping device applicator comprising a clamping device engagement member configured to hold and to release a clamping device, and a delivery member configured to deliver a clamping device to a desired location.

19. A method of occluding a uterine artery of a patient, comprising:

compressing a portion of a uterine artery with a clamping device comprising a blood flow sensor; and

sensing a level of blood flow in the artery with said blood flow sensor.