Uterine compression devices and methods

• US 9,603,602 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2016
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eastern Virginia Medical School
• Original Assignee: Eastern Virginia Medical School
• Inventors: Abuhamad, Alfred Z.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHI, KATHERINE MENGLIN
• Application Number:
  US15/273,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20170007436A1
• Time in Patent Office: 187 Days
• Field of Search: 606201-203
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1325 with means for applying local pressure pressure pads A61F5/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/03 Corsets or bandages for abdomen, teat or breast support, with or without pads trusses A61F5/24, pressure-pads A61F5/30; brassieres A41C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/34 Pressure pads filled with air or liquid valves specially adapted for medical use A61M39/00; connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00; valves per se F16K

Abstract

Disclosed are devices for reducing postpartum hemorrhage, including a belt having a fastener for securing the belt around a patient'"'"'s body, a bladder being inflatable with air and adapted to be placed over the patient'"'"'s abdomen for applying selective external pressure to the patient'"'"'s uterus, a manual pump operably connected to the bladder to change air pressure of the bladder, and a pressure gauge for indicating the air pressure. Methods for using the devices are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for reducing postpartum hemorrhage, comprising:

providing a device including;

a belt having a fastener for securing the belt around a patient'"'"'s body,

a bladder being inflatable with air and adapted to be placed over the patient'"'"'s abdomen for applying selective external pressure to the patient'"'"'s postpartum uterus,

a manual pump operably connected to the bladder to change air pressure of the bladder; and

a pressure gauge for indicating the aft pressure;

placing the device around the patient'"'"'s body;

inflating the bladder using the manual pump such that the bladder expands ventrally inwards against the patient'"'"'s abdomen thus applying selective external pressure to the patient'"'"'s postpartum uterus; and

changing the pressure to induce uterine contractions.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the device is left in place around the patient'"'"'s body continuously for multiple hours.

3. The method of claim 1,

wherein the steps are carried out in response to diagnosing the patient with uterine atony, and

wherein the induced uterine contractions result in a reduction in hemorrhaging by the patient.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the changing the pressure to induce uterine contractions comprises determining a goal pressure, operating the pump to change the pressure, and monitoring the pressure gauge to determine when the goal pressure is achieved.