Device and method for measuring pressure exerted on a surface
First Claim
1. A method for treatment of urinary stress incontinence of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
- introducing a force or a pressure sensor system on a skin surface of the patient adjacent to the urethra of the patient at a first time in a non-surgical clinical setting, wherein the force or pressure sensor system comprises a force or pressure sensor;
applying an application force or pressure onto the force or the pressure sensor system and the underlying urethra in the non-surgical clinical setting, wherein the application force or pressure is sufficient to temporarily alleviate a urinary stress incontinence symptom and the force or pressure sensor is positioned between the application force or pressure and the urethra;
identifying a clinically-derived an alleviation output from the force or pressure sensor on the skin surface corresponding to a minimum force or pressure sufficient to alleviate the urinary stress incontinence symptom in the non-surgical clinical setting;
inserting a surgical sling to support the urethra in a surgical setting;
positioning the force or pressure sensor system to determine a force or pressure exerted by the surgical sling on the urethra at a second time in the surgical setting, wherein the second time in the surgical setting is after the first time in the non-surgical clinical setting;
exerting a force or pressure on the urethra by generating a force or pressure on the surgical sling in the surgical setting, wherein the exerted force or pressure is detected by the force or pressure sensor; and
matching the exerted force or pressure on the urethra in the surgical setting to the clinically-derived alleviation output in the non-surgical clinical setting, thereby obtaining selecting an optimal generated force or pressure by the surgical sling in the surgical setting,wherein the optimal generated force or pressure by the surgical sling in the surgical setting at the second time is within about 20% of the clinically-derived alleviation output of the identifying step at the first time, thereby treating urinary stress incontinence of the patient.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Provided are methods and devices for measuring pressure exerted against a surface. In an aspect, the surface corresponds to the urethra and the device measures the pressure exerted against the urethra. Methods include treatment of a patient suffering urinary stress incontinence. A pressure sensor system is used to determine, pre-surgically, the minimum pressure required to alleviate incontinence. During surgery, the pressure sensor system is employed to ensure the surgical intervention provides a corresponding minimum pressure that was clinically identified. In this manner, the surgical intervention is precisely monitored and measured to insure the appropriate pressure is exerted on the urethra to alleviate stress incontinence, thereby improving surgical outcome and decreasing post-operative complications.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method for treatment of urinary stress incontinence of a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
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introducing a force or a pressure sensor system on a skin surface of the patient adjacent to the urethra of the patient at a first time in a non-surgical clinical setting, wherein the force or pressure sensor system comprises a force or pressure sensor; applying an application force or pressure onto the force or the pressure sensor system and the underlying urethra in the non-surgical clinical setting, wherein the application force or pressure is sufficient to temporarily alleviate a urinary stress incontinence symptom and the force or pressure sensor is positioned between the application force or pressure and the urethra; identifying a clinically-derived an alleviation output from the force or pressure sensor on the skin surface corresponding to a minimum force or pressure sufficient to alleviate the urinary stress incontinence symptom in the non-surgical clinical setting; inserting a surgical sling to support the urethra in a surgical setting; positioning the force or pressure sensor system to determine a force or pressure exerted by the surgical sling on the urethra at a second time in the surgical setting, wherein the second time in the surgical setting is after the first time in the non-surgical clinical setting; exerting a force or pressure on the urethra by generating a force or pressure on the surgical sling in the surgical setting, wherein the exerted force or pressure is detected by the force or pressure sensor; and matching the exerted force or pressure on the urethra in the surgical setting to the clinically-derived alleviation output in the non-surgical clinical setting, thereby obtaining selecting an optimal generated force or pressure by the surgical sling in the surgical setting, wherein the optimal generated force or pressure by the surgical sling in the surgical setting at the second time is within about 20% of the clinically-derived alleviation output of the identifying step at the first time, thereby treating urinary stress incontinence of the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification