Devices and methods for occlusion of the uterine arteries
First Claim
1. An intravaginal system for treating a patient'"'"'s uterine disorder by at least partially occluding a uterine artery, comprising:
- a Doppler ultrasound sensor which is configured for locating a uterine artery by sensing blood flow through the uterine artery;
an elongated member which is configured for accessing an anatomical region adjacent to the located uterine artery and which has a distal portion; and
an occluding member which is disposed on the distal portion of the elongated member, and which is configured to apply pressure to the located uterine artery to at least partially occlude the artery and to thereby decrease blood flow through the artery.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods are disclosed for treating a uterine disorder which receive its blood supply from a uterine artery. In particular, uterine fibroids are effectively treated by occluding the uterine arteries using trans-vaginal, trans-uterine, transrectal, or retroperitoneal approaches. The devices and methods are advantageous because the inventive procedures may be performed by a patient'"'"'s gynecologist in the course of treatment, avoiding the need for referrals to specialist practitioners and for more radical treatments, such as hysterectomies. The methods include both temporary and permanent occlusion of the arteries. A cannula carries an imaging device and a member which will easily penetrate tissue, the member including a device which partially or completely, and temporarily or permanently, occludes a uterine artery.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An intravaginal system for treating a patient'"'"'s uterine disorder by at least partially occluding a uterine artery, comprising:
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a Doppler ultrasound sensor which is configured for locating a uterine artery by sensing blood flow through the uterine artery;
an elongated member which is configured for accessing an anatomical region adjacent to the located uterine artery and which has a distal portion; and
an occluding member which is disposed on the distal portion of the elongated member, and which is configured to apply pressure to the located uterine artery to at least partially occlude the artery and to thereby decrease blood flow through the artery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An intravaginal system for treating a patient'"'"'s uterine disorder by at least partially occluding a uterine artery, comprising:
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an elongated member for accessing an anatomical region adjacent to the uterine artery to be occluded having a proximal portion and a distal portion a Doppler ultrasonic transducer which is configured for locating the uterine artery to be occluded by sensing blood flow through the uterine artery when energized; and
an occluding member which is disposed on the distal portion of the elongated member, which is configured to be movable from a retracted position to an extended position to occlude the uterine artery. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A system for treating a patient'"'"'s uterine disorder by at least partially occluding at least one of the patient'"'"'s uterine arteries, comprising:
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an elongated member for accessing an anatomical region adjacent one of the uterine arteries which has a proximal end and a distal end and which has a Doppler ultrasound sensor capable of sensing the location of the uterine artery by sensing blood flow therethrough; and
an occluding member which has a distal end and which is movable independent from and relative to the elongated member between a retracted position and an extended position to occlude the uterine artery.
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Specification