Uterine tissue monitoring device and method
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring the pH of tissue lining a female patient'"'"'s uterine cavity during a medical treatment which includes occluding one or more uterine arteries, comprising:
- a. providing a pH measuring catheter having an elongated shaft with a proximal end, a distal end, and an active electrode on the distal end thereof for detecting a pH parameter;
b. advancing the pH measuring catheter through the patient'"'"'s vaginal canal until the distal end is located in the female patient'"'"'s uterine cavity;
c. urging the active electrode on the distal end of the pH measuring catheter into contact with uterine tissue within the uterine cavity; and
d. generating a signal from the active electrode representing a pH parameter of the uterine tissue, wherein an introducer sheath having an inner lumen is introduced through the patient'"'"'s vaginal canal into the patient'"'"'s uterine cavity and is secured to the patient and the catheter is introduced through the inner lumen of the introducer sheath.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a devices, methods and systems to measure and record uterine tissue environment components such as pH during the course of uterine artery occlusion. The uterus becomes ischemic due to the occlusion thereof, and its pH drops sharply within minutes of uterine artery occlusion and remains relatively low for a period of time. The return of normal pH is an indicator of return of blood to the ischemic tissue. In use, a catheter with a pH measuring tip is advanced through the patient'"'"'s vaginal canal and into the patient'"'"'s uterine cavity until the pH measuring active electrode on the distal end of the catheter contacts or penetrates the uterine fundus. The active electrode detects the pH and a signal representing pH is transmitted to a pH recording and monitoring device which preferably displays the pH. The signal may be transmitted through a conductor or by a radio transmitter. Components other than pH may be monitored such a pCO2, and pO2.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method of monitoring the pH of tissue lining a female patient'"'"'s uterine cavity during a medical treatment which includes occluding one or more uterine arteries, comprising:
-
a. providing a pH measuring catheter having an elongated shaft with a proximal end, a distal end, and an active electrode on the distal end thereof for detecting a pH parameter; b. advancing the pH measuring catheter through the patient'"'"'s vaginal canal until the distal end is located in the female patient'"'"'s uterine cavity; c. urging the active electrode on the distal end of the pH measuring catheter into contact with uterine tissue within the uterine cavity; and d. generating a signal from the active electrode representing a pH parameter of the uterine tissue, wherein an introducer sheath having an inner lumen is introduced through the patient'"'"'s vaginal canal into the patient'"'"'s uterine cavity and is secured to the patient and the catheter is introduced through the inner lumen of the introducer sheath. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method of treating a female patient'"'"'s uterus, comprising:
-
a. detecting the concentration of a component of uterine tissue environment; b. occluding one or more of the patient'"'"'s uterine arteries; c. using a pH monitoring unit for monitoring the concentration of the detected component after occluding one or more of the patient'"'"'s uterine arteries; and d. re-establishing blood flow in the patient'"'"'s uterine artery after the concentration of the detected component returns to pre-occlusion levels or near pre-occlusion levels. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification