ELECTRICAL MENORRHAGIA TREATMENT

• US 20110202108A1
• Filed: 02/18/2010
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rainbow Medical Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Rainbow Medical Ltd.
• Inventors: Gross, Yossi
• Application Number:
  US12/707,897
• Publication Number:
  US 20110202108A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0524 Vaginal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are provided for treating menorrhagia of a subject. At least one electrode is coupled to a pelvic site of the subject. A control unit reduces nitric oxide production by pelvic tissue of the subject by driving the electrode to drive an electric current into the pelvic site of the subject. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. Apparatus for treating menorrhagia of a subject, comprising:

at least one electrode, configured to be coupled to a pelvic site of the subject; and

a control unit, configured to reduce nitric oxide production by pelvic tissue of the subject by driving the electrode to drive an electric current into the pelvic site of the subject.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor configured to sense a level of bleeding of the subject and to generate a signal in response thereto, wherein the control unit is configured to receive the signal and to reduce the nitric oxide production in response to the signal.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to configure the electric current to have a frequency that is between 50 Hz and 150 Hz.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electrode is configured to be inserted by the subject into a vagina of the subject and removed by the subject from the vagina of the subject.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the at least one electrode is configured to be inserted into the vagina of the subject in accordance with a schedule related to timing of a menstrual period of the subject.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a total length of the apparatus is 4-10 cm.

7. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit is configured to configure the electric current to have an amplitude that is between 1 mA and 15 mA.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control unit is configured to configure the electric current to have an amplitude that is between 5 mA and 15 mA.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electrode is configured to be coupled to a nerve that innervates a uterus of the subject.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the at least one electrode is configured to be coupled to a nerve of the subject selected from the group consisting of an inferior hypogastric plexus, a uterovaginal plexus, and a pelvic splanchnic nerve.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control unit is configured to drive a pain-reduction current into the nerve of the subject to reduce pain associated with menorrhagia.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the control unit is configured to drive into the nerve of the subject a collision blocking current configured to reduce pain associated with the menorrhagia.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the control unit is configured to reduce nitric oxide production by using a first signal protocol, and to reduce pain by driving the pain reduction current into the subject'"'"'s nerve using a second signal protocol, different from the first signal protocol.

14. A method, comprising:

identifying a subject as suffering from menorrhagia; and

in response to the identifying;

driving an electric current into a pelvic site of the subject; and

configuring the electric current to reduce nitric oxide production by pelvic tissue of the subject.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein configuring the electric current comprises sensing a level of bleeding of the subject and configuring the electric current in response to the sensed level of bleeding.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein configuring the electric current comprises sensing a level of pain of the subject and configuring the electric current in response to the sensed level of pain.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein driving the electric current into the pelvic site of the subject comprises configuring the electric current to have a frequency that is between 50 Hz and 150 Hz.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein driving the electric current into the pelvic site of the subject comprises configuring the electric current to have an amplitude that is between 1 mA and 15 mA.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein driving the electric current into the pelvic site of the subject comprises configuring the electric current to have an amplitude that is between 5 mA and 15 mA.

20. The method according to claim 14, wherein the pelvic site includes a vagina of the subject, wherein the method further comprises inserting an electrode into the vagina, and wherein driving the electric current comprises driving the electric current via the electrode while the electrode is inserted.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein inserting the electrode comprises inserting the electrode into the vagina of the subject in accordance with a schedule related to timing of a menstrual period of the subject.

22. The method according to claim 14, further comprising implanting the electrode in the pelvic site of the subject, wherein driving the electric current comprises driving the electric current via the electrode while the electrode is implanted in the pelvic site.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein implanting the electrode comprises coupling the electrode to a nerve that innervates a uterus of the subject, and wherein driving the electric current comprises driving the electric current into the nerve.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein implanting the electrode comprises coupling the electrode to a nerve of the subject selected from the group consisting of an inferior hypogastric plexus, a uterovaginal plexus, and a pelvic splanchnic nerve.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein driving the electric current into the subject'"'"'s nerve comprises driving an electric current to reduce pain associated with menorrhagia.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein driving the electric current into the subject'"'"'s nerve comprises reducing pain associated with the menorrhagia by driving a collision blocking current.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein driving the electric current into the subject'"'"'s nerve comprises driving an electric current using a first signal protocol to reduce nitric oxide production, and driving the electric current to reduce pain associated with menorrhagia using a second signal protocol, different from the first signal protocol.

28. Apparatus for treating menstrual pain of a subject, comprising:

at least one menstrual cramp sensor, configured to be coupled to a pelvic site of the subject and to generate a signal indicative of menstrual pain; and

a control unit, configured to receive the signal and to relieve the menstrual pain by driving an electric current into tissue of the subject.

29. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the apparatus comprises a manual insertion device, which comprises the sensor and the control unit.

30. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the apparatus is configured to be surgically implanted in the subject.

31. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the sensor comprises an electrode.

32. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the control unit is configured to receive an electromyographic signal from the electrode, which varies in response to menstrual cramps of the subject.

33. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the control unit is configured to drive the electric current via the electrode.

34. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the control unit is configured to reduce nitric oxide production by pelvic tissue of the subject, by driving the electrode to drive the electric current.

35. Apparatus for increasing fertility of a subject, comprising:

at least one electrode, configured to be coupled to a pelvic site of the subject; and

a control unit, configured to increase fertility of the subject by increasing nitric oxide production by tissue of the subject by driving an electric current into the tissue.

36. The apparatus according to claim 35, further comprising an ovulation sensor, configured to sense ovulation of the subject and to generate a signal in response thereto, wherein the control unit is configured to receive the signal and to increase the nitric oxide production in response to receiving the signal.

37. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the at least one electrode is configured to be inserted by the subject into a vagina of the subject and removed by the subject from the vagina of the subject.

38. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the control unit is configured to configure the current to have a frequency that is between 3 Hz and 50 Hz.

39. The apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the control unit is configured to configure the current to have a frequency that is between 10 Hz and 20 Hz.

40. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the control unit is configured to configure the current to have an amplitude that is between 1 mA and 7 mA.

41. The apparatus according to claim 40, wherein the control unit is configured to configure the current to have an amplitude that is between 1 mA and 3 mA.

42. A method for increasing fertility of a subject, comprising:

identifying a subject who wants to become pregnant; and

in response to the identifying, driving an electric current into a pelvic site of the subject configured to increase fertility of the subject by enhancing nitric oxide production by pelvic tissue of the subject.

43. The method according to claim 42, further comprising sensing ovulation of the subject, and driving the current in response to sensing the ovulation.

44. The method according to claim 42, wherein the pelvic site includes a vagina of the subject, wherein the method further comprises inserting an electrode into the vagina, and wherein driving the electric current comprises driving the electric current via the electrode while the electrode is inserted.

45. The method according to claim 44, wherein inserting the electrode comprises inserting the electrode into the vagina of the subject in accordance with a schedule related to timing of ovulation of the subject.

46. The method according to claim 42, wherein driving the electric current comprises configuring the electric current to have a frequency that is between 3 Hz and 50 Hz.

47. The method according to claim 46, wherein driving the electric current comprises configuring the electric current to have a frequency that is between 10 Hz and 20 Hz.

48. The method according to claim 42, wherein driving the electric current comprises configuring the electric current to have an amplitude that is between 1 mA and 7 mA.

49. The method according to claim 48, wherein driving the electric current comprises configuring the electric current to have an amplitude that is between 1 mA and 3 mA.

50. Apparatus for increasing blood supply to a fetus within a subject, comprising:

at least one electrode configured to be coupled to a pelvic site of the subject; and

a control unit, configured to enhance fetal blood supply by increasing nitric oxide production of tissue of the subject, by driving the electrode to drive an electric current into the pelvic site of the subject.

51. The apparatus according to claim 50, further comprising a sensor configured to sense a heartbeat of the fetus and to generate a signal indicative of the fetal heartbeat, wherein the control unit is configured to enhance the fetal blood supply in response to identifying a decline of the fetal heartbeat.

52. The apparatus according to claim 50, wherein the apparatus is configured to be surgically implanted in the subject.

53. The apparatus according to claim 50, wherein the at least one electrode is configured to be inserted by the subject into a vagina of the subject and removed by the subject from the vagina of the subject.

54. The apparatus according to claim 50, wherein the control unit is configured to configure the current to have a frequency that is between 3 Hz and 50 Hz.

55. The apparatus according to claim 54, wherein the control unit is configured to configure the current to have a frequency that is between 10 Hz and 20 Hz.

56. The apparatus according to claim 50, wherein the control unit is configured to configure the current to have an amplitude that is between 1 mA and 7 mA.

57. The apparatus according to claim 56, wherein the control unit is configured to configure the current to have an amplitude that is between 1 mA and 3 mA.

58. A method, comprising:

identifying a subject who is pregnant with a fetus; and

in response to the identifying, driving an electric current into a pelvic site of the subject configured to increase blood supply to the fetus by enhancing nitric oxide production by pelvic tissue of the subject.

59. The method according to claim 58, further comprising surgically implanting an electrode in the subject, wherein driving the current comprises driving the current via the electrode.

60. The method according to claim 58, further comprising sensing a decline in fetal heartbeat, wherein driving the current comprises driving the current in response to sensing the decline.

61. The method according to claim 58, wherein the pelvic site includes a vagina of the subject, wherein the method further comprises inserting an electrode into the vagina, and wherein driving the electric current comprises driving the electric current via the electrode while the electrode is inserted.

62. The method according to claim 58, wherein driving the electric current comprises configuring the electric current to have a frequency that is between 3 Hz and 50 Hz.

63. The method according to claim 62, wherein driving the electric current comprises configuring the electric current to have a frequency that is between 10 Hz and 20 Hz.

64. The method according to claim 58, wherein driving the electric current comprises configuring the electric current to have a frequency that is between 1 mA and 7 mA.

65. The method according to claim 64, wherein driving the electric current comprises configuring the electric current to have a frequency that is between 1 mA and 3 mA.

66. The method according to claim 58, wherein driving the current comprises driving the current even in the absence of sensing a decline in fetal heartbeat within an immediately preceding 30 minute period.

67. The method according to claim 66, wherein identifying comprises identifying that the subject is pregnant with more than one fetus.