Devices and methods for stimulating nerves
First Claim
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1. A method of stimulating nerves adjacent a vaginal canal, comprising the steps of:
- positioning a device in the vagina, the device including a main body and a first nerve stimulating element coupled to the main body, the positioning step is carried out with the nerve stimulating element being positioned to stimulate an autonomic plexus without intervening somatic nerves;
stimulating nerves adjacent the vaginal canal using the first nerve stimulating element.
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Abstract
A device for stimulating nerves adjacent the vagina includes a nerve stimulating element coupled to a main body. The nerve stimulating element is positioned and designed to stimulate the vesical, Frankenhauser'"'"'s and/or inferior hypogastric plexuses. The device may reside in the vaginal formices. An implant is also provided which has a nerve stimulating element in contact with a uterosacral ligament. The device positioned in the vagina may be used to charge a power source for an implant, which may be a capacitor.
86 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method of stimulating nerves adjacent a vaginal canal, comprising the steps of:
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positioning a device in the vagina, the device including a main body and a first nerve stimulating element coupled to the main body, the positioning step is carried out with the nerve stimulating element being positioned to stimulate an autonomic plexus without intervening somatic nerves; stimulating nerves adjacent the vaginal canal using the first nerve stimulating element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of stimulating nerves adjacent a vaginal canal, comprising the steps of:
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positioning a device in the vagina, the device including a main body and a first nerve stimulating element coupled to the main body; stimulating nerves adjacent the vaginal canal using the first nerve stimulating element; assessing a current orientation of the device; the positioning step being carried out with the first nerve stimulating element of the device positioned in the vaginal fornices, the device also having a control system and a plurality of nerve stimulating elements, the positioning step being carried out to position the device in a starting orientation; the assessing step being carried out to determine the current orientation of the device; and reassigning the plurality of nerve stimulating elements using the control system based on a change in orientation between the starting orientation and the current orientation determined in the assessing step. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method of stimulating nerves adjacent a vaginal canal, comprising the steps of:
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positioning a device in the vagina, the device including a main body and a first nerve stimulating element coupled to the main body, the positioning step is carried out with a controller separate from the main body, the controller being positioned outside the main body when the main body is positioned in the vagina; and stimulating nerves adjacent the vaginal canal using the first nerve stimulating element; the positioning step being carried out with the controller being a personal electronic device.
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Specification