Multi-axial uterine artery identification, characterization, and occlusion pivoting devices and methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Elongated intravaginal device for treating a female patient'"'"'s uterine disorder by occluding uterine arteries thereof, comprising:
- a first tong having an enlarged distal end, a pressure applying surface on the enlarged distal end, an elongated shaft and an operable proximal end configured to extend out of the patient to facilitate extracorporeal manipulation of the enlarged distal end of the first tong;
a second tong having an enlarged distal end, a pressure applying surface on the enlarged distal end and an elongated shaft and an operable proximal end configured to extend out of the patient to facilitate extracorporeal manipulation of the enlarged distal end of the second tong;
a pivotal connection between the first and second tongs at a location on their shafts proximally spaced from the enlarged distal ends of the first and second tongs; and
a blood flow sensing element on the enlarged distal ends of the first and second tongs configured to non-invasively locate the patient'"'"'s uterine arteries or to monitor blood flow therethrough.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system is provided for compressing one or both of the uterine arteries of a patient which is at least in part shaped to complement the shape of the exterior of the cervix, which allows the system to be self-positioning. One or more Doppler chips can be mounted or incorporated into the system which permit the practitioner to better identify the uterine artery and monitor blood flow therein. The system includes a pair of pivotally joined elements which can be moved toward and away from the cervix to compress a uterine artery.
159 Citations
34 Claims
-
1. Elongated intravaginal device for treating a female patient'"'"'s uterine disorder by occluding uterine arteries thereof, comprising:
-
a first tong having an enlarged distal end, a pressure applying surface on the enlarged distal end, an elongated shaft and an operable proximal end configured to extend out of the patient to facilitate extracorporeal manipulation of the enlarged distal end of the first tong;
a second tong having an enlarged distal end, a pressure applying surface on the enlarged distal end and an elongated shaft and an operable proximal end configured to extend out of the patient to facilitate extracorporeal manipulation of the enlarged distal end of the second tong;
a pivotal connection between the first and second tongs at a location on their shafts proximally spaced from the enlarged distal ends of the first and second tongs; and
a blood flow sensing element on the enlarged distal ends of the first and second tongs configured to non-invasively locate the patient'"'"'s uterine arteries or to monitor blood flow therethrough. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A method of treating a female patient'"'"'s uterine disorder by bilaterally occluding both uterine arteries thereof, comprising:
-
providing an intravaginal instrument comprising a first tong with an enlarged head on a distal end, a pressure applying surface on the enlarged head, an elongated shaft and an operable proximal end configured to extend out of the patient and a second tong having an enlarged head on a distal end, a pressure applying surface on the enlarged head, an elongated shaft and an operable proximal end configured to extend out of the patient and a pivotal connection between the first and second tongs at a location between the enlarged heads and the proximal end of the tongs;
advancing the intravaginal instrument through a vaginal canal toward a cervix of the patient'"'"'s uterus until the enlarged heads of the tongs are pressing against vaginal fornices on opposite sides of the patients uterine cervix;
adjusting the positions of the enlarged heads of the intravaginal instrument to press the pressure applying surfaces of the enlarged heads against the vaginal fornices on opposite sides of the patient'"'"'s uterine cervix to compress both of the underlying uterine arteries to at least partially occlude the uterine arteries. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
-
29. A method of treating a female human patient with a dysfunctional uterine condition by occluding the patient'"'"'s uterine arteries comprising:
-
a. providing an intravaginal instrument having a first tong with an enlarged head on a distal end thereof, a pressure applying surface on the enlarged head, an elongated handle secured to the enlarged head and an operable proximal end configured to extend out of the patient'"'"'s vaginal opening and a second tong with an enlarged head on a distal end thereof, a pressure applying surface on the enlarged head and an elongated handle secured to the enlarged head and an operable proximal end configured to extend out of the patient'"'"'s vaginal opening and a pivotal connection between the handles of the first and second tongs at a location between the enlarged heads and the proximal end thereof;
b. advancing the intravaginal instrument through the patient'"'"'s vaginal canal toward the patients uterine cervix until the enlarged heads of the tongs are located on opposite sides of the patient'"'"'s uterine cervix and pressure applying surfaces of the enlarged heads are pressing against the vaginal fornix; and
c. adjusting the positions of the heads of the intravaginal instrument to press the pressure applying surfaces of the enlarged heads against the vaginal fornix in contact therewith on both sides of the uterine cervix to compress the underlying uterine arteries against the uterus to at least partially occlude the underlying uterine arteries.
-
-
30. An intravaginal occlusive device for treating a female patient'"'"'s dysfunctional uterus by bilaterally occluding both uterine arteries thereof, comprising:
-
a) a first elongated clamping member which has a first proximal section with a manipulative handle configured to extend out of the patient'"'"'s vaginal canal when the device is in position to occlude the patient'"'"'s uterine arteries and which has a first enlarged distal section having a damping surface configured to engage the patient'"'"'s vaginal fornix on one side of the patient'"'"'s uterine cervix and apply pressure thereto to occlude a first underlying uterine artery;
b) a second elongated clamping member which has a second proximal section with a manipulative handle configured to extend out of the patient'"'"'s vagina when the device is in position to occlude the patient'"'"'s uterine artery and which has a second enlarged distal section having a damping surface configured to engage the patient'"'"'s vaginal fornix on a second side of the patient'"'"'s uterine cervix and apply pressure thereto to occlude a second underlying uterine artery;
c) a pivotal connection between the first and second elongated clamping members at a location proximally spaced from the enlarged distal sections thereof; and
d) at least one blood flow sensor on the first and second enlarged distal sections having an inwardly directed view when the clamping members are in a closed configuration. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
-
Specification