Uterine artery occlusion clamp

• US 20040153105A1
• Filed: 05/06/2003
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2003
• 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., Altieri, Greig E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,329,265 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/157
• 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 17/2812 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 2017/00057 Light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2837 with a locking ratchet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound

Abstract

The invention is directed to a uterine artery clamp and the relatively non-invasive treatment procedure utilizing this clamp. The uterine clamp includes a clamping member having a jaw with tissue-contacting surfaces for applying pressure to target tissue and a stabilizing member which is configured to be inserted into the patient'"'"'s uterine cervical canal. The clamp may be provided with elongated handles to manually adjust the spacing between the jaw and stabilizer and thereby apply pressure to a uterine artery beneath a bundle of tissue held between the jaw and stabilizer. Uterine clamps embodying features of the invention by be used in procedures for treating uterine disorders such as fibroids, DUB, PPH and the like.

Claims

1. An intrauterine clamping device for occluding a female patient'"'"'s uterine artery, comprising:

a. a clamping member which has a clamping element at the distal end thereof configured to fit about an exterior portion of the patient'"'"'s uterine cervix; and

b. a stabilizing member which has a distal end portion configured to extend into the patient'"'"'s uterine cervix.

2. The intrauterine clamping device of claim 1 wherein a connector is provided between the clamping member and the stabilizing member to adjust spacing between the clamping member and the stabilizing member.

3. The intrauterine clamping device of claim 2 wherein the connector is a pivotal connection between the clamping member and the stabilizing member.

4. The intrauterine clamping device of claim 1 wherein both the clamping member and the stabilizing member have elongated handles.

5. The intrauterine clamping device of claim 4, wherein the handles have an interconnecting locking mechanism which provide a locked configuration effective to retain the clamping member in a pressure-applying configuration.

6. The intrauterine clamping device of claim 1 wherein the clamping member has a pressure applying surface which generally lies in a plane perpendicular to a plane in which the handles rotate.

7. The intrauterine clamping device of claim 1 wherein the stabilizing member is longer than the clamping member.

8. The intrauterine clamping device of claim 1 wherein the clamping element is paddle-shaped.

9. The intrauterine clamping device of claim 8 wherein the paddle-shaped clamping element is at least in part formed of a wire frame.

10. The intrauterine clamping device of claim 1 wherein the clamping member and the stabilizing member are curved.

11. The intrauterine clamping device of claim 1, wherein the clamping element is releasably secured to a handle.

12. The intrauterine clamping device of claim 1, wherein an artery location sensor is provided at a distal portion of the clamping element.

13. The intrauterine clamping device of claim 12, wherein the artery location sensor is a Doppler ultrasound sensor.

14. The intrauterine clamping device of claim 13, wherein the Doppler ultrasound sensor is configured to sense ultrasound energy having a frequency of between about 5 MHz and about 20 MHz.

16. The intrauterine clamping device of claim 1, wherein the clamping element has a length between about 1 and about 6 inches.

17. The intrauterine clamping device of claim 1, wherein the clamping member has a length between about 2.5 inches and about 4.5 inches.

18. The intrauterine clamping device of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the clamping element is disposed distal to the distal end of the stabilizing member by a distance of about 0.1 inch to about 1 inch.

19. The intrauterine clamping device of claim 1, wherein the clamping element has a width of about 0.5 inch to about 3 inches.

20. The intrauterine clamping device of claim 1, wherein the clamping element is formed at least in part of a loop-shaped wire frame.

36. The intrauterine clamp of claim 2 wherein the connector is a spring.

37. The intrauterine clamp of claim 2 wherein the connector is a rack and pinion mechanism.

15. The intrauterine clamping device of claim 15, wherein the Doppler ultrasound sensor is configured to sense ultrasound energy having a frequency of between about 6 MHz and about 10 MHz.

21. A system for occluding a female patient'"'"'s uterine artery, comprising:

a. a uterine artery clamping device which has

i. a clamping member which has an elongated handle at an obtuse angle with respect to the first handle,

ii. a stabilizing member which has an elongated handle at an obtuse angle with respect to the second elongated handle; and

b. an artery location sensor secured to a distal portion of a clamping member.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the artery location sensor is a Doppler ultrasound sensor.

22. The system of claim 22 wherein the clamping device has a pivotal connection between the clamping member and the stabilizing member so that rotation of the handles about the pivotal connection adjusts spacing between the clamping member and the stabilizing member;

23. The system of claim 22 including an elongated signal transmitting member having a proximal end and a distal end and being secured at its distal end to the artery locating sensor and having a connector on its proximal end configured to be connected to a sensor controller.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein the handles have a locking mechanism to provide a locked configuration effective to retain the clamping member and the stabilizing member in a pressure-applying configuration.

26. A method of treating a female patient suffering from a uterine disorder, comprising:

a. providing an intrauterine clamping device having

i. an clamping member which has an elongated handle with a proximal manipulative end;

ii. a stabilizing member which has an elongated handle with a proximal manipulative end;

iii. a pivotal connection between the clamping member and the stabilizing member so that rotation of the handles about-the pivotal connection adjusts spacing between the clamping member and the stabilizing member; and

iv. a blood flow sensor on the distal end of the clamping member;

b. introducing the intrauterine clamping device into the patient'"'"'s vaginal canal, and advancing the device therein until the stabilizing member is disposed within the patient'"'"'s uterine cervix and the clamping member is disposed about an exterior portion of the patients uterine cervix;

c. further advancing the device within the patient'"'"'s vaginal canal to press the clamping element of the clamping member against a region of the patient'"'"'s vaginal fornix to fold the tissue of the vaginal fornix over the patient'"'"'s uterine artery; and

d. compressing the handles of the clamping device together to close the clamping member against tissue of the patient'"'"'s vaginal fornix to at least partially occlude the uterine artery.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the clamping member and the stabilizing member are locked in a closed configuration to at least partially occlude a uterine artery of the patient.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the uterine artery is located by an artery location sensor on a distal end of the clamping member when the clamping member is pressed against a region of the patient'"'"'s vaginal fornix to fold the tissue of the vaginal fornix over the patient'"'"'s uterine artery to occlude same.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the artery location sensor is a Doppler ultrasound sensor.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the Doppler ultrasound sensor emits ultrasound toward the uterine artery having a frequency of between about 5 MHz and about 20 MHz.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the Doppler ultrasound sensor detects a change in blood flow in the patient'"'"'s uterine artery.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the Doppler ultrasound sensor detects a reduction in blood flow in the blood vessel.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein the uterine artery is at least partially occluded for a period less than 24 hours.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein the uterine artery is at least partially occluded for a period comprising between about 0.5 hours and about 7 hours.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein the uterine artery is at least partially occluded for a period comprising between about 0.5 and about 5 hours.