Device for compressing the uterus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11278321-B2
Application number	US-201515125318-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2015
Priority date	Mar 14, 2014
Publication date	Mar 22, 2022
Grant date	Mar 22, 2022

Abstract

A device for applying a compressive force to the uterus, the device comprising a contact portion for contacting the uterus and providing a compressive force thereto, and at least two elongate handles each extending from the contact portion along a respective longitudinal axis. The at least two elongate handles are configured to facilitate insertion of the device into the body and handling of the device from outside the body when inserted. At least a part of the contact portion is configured to be radially moveable relative to the longitudinal axes between a first radial position and a second radial position where the second radial position is radially outward of the first radial position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for applying a compressive force to the uterus so that the uterus can be compressed between the device and an applied force external of the body to treat postpartum hemorrhage, the device comprising:
a contact portion for contacting the uterus and providing a compressive force thereto, the contact portion having a surface area capable of imparting the compressive force to the uterus without perforating or causing trauma to the tissue of the uterus and comprising a plurality of holes that provide fluid pathways from a front of the contact portion to a rear of the contact portion, and
at least two elongate handles each extending from the contact portion along a respective longitudinal axis, wherein each of the at least two elongate handles is a unitary component and is sufficiently rigid to facilitate insertion of the device into the body through the vagina and handling of the device from outside the body when inserted, each of the at least two elongate handles comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of each elongate handle configured to be manipulated by a user from outside the body to transmit a force directly applied by the user via the first portion of each elongate handle to the contact portion once the contact portion and the second portion of each elongate handle have been inserted through the vagina so as to apply a compressive force to the uterus;
wherein the at least two elongate handles permit the user to grip both of the at least two elongate handles at their respective first portions with a single hand when the first portions of the at least two elongate handles are brought together; and
wherein at least a part of the contact portion is configured to be radially moveable relative to the longitudinal axes between a first radial position and a second radial position where the second radial position is radially outward of the first radial position, wherein when the contact portion is in the first radial position the device is in a more radially compact configuration that facilitates easier and more comfortable insertion of the device into the body relative to when the contact portion is in second radial position.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the contact portion is pivotally mounted so as to be radially moveable relative to the longitudinal axes.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the contact portion is pivotally mounted to the at least two elongate handles.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least part of the contact portion is rotatable relative another part of the contact portion and the longitudinal axes.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein said at least part of the contact portion is connected to another part of the contact portion by a first hinge.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein said first hinge is a living hinge.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the contact portion is connected to the at least one elongate handle by a handle hinge.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the handle hinge is a living hinge.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is formed as a continuous elongate element that includes two living hinges spaced from one another thereby defining the contact portion that is hingedly connected to two elongate handles extending from the contact portion.

10. The device of claim 1 , further including a limiting feature for limiting the maximum insertion depth of the device in a cavity.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the limiting feature comprises a projecting portion extending radially outward from one or more of the at least two elongate handles at a predetermined distance from the contact portion, wherein the predetermined distance determines the maximum insertion depth of the device in a cavity where the opening of the cavity has a radius smaller than the radial extent of the projecting portion.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the projecting portion is a flange that is substantially circumferentially continuous about the at least one elongate handle.

13. The device of claim 1 , further including a collection reservoir for receiving fluid that passes through the contact portion.

14. The device of claim 1 , further including one or more sensors or indicators for measuring pressure applied by the device against a surface.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the one or more sensors or indicators forms part of the contact portion.

16. The device of claim 14 , wherein the one or more sensors or indicators forms part of the at least one elongate handle.

17. The device of claim 14 , wherein the one or more sensors or indicators include a mechanical indicator.

18. The device of claim 17 , wherein the mechanical indicator includes a compressible member.

19. The device of claim 18 , wherein the compressible member is a spring.

20. The device of claim 14 , wherein the one or more sensors or indicators include an electronic sensor.

21. The device of claim 1 , wherein the contact surface is a substantially planar surface.

22. The device of claim 1 , wherein the contact portion is concave.

23. A method for treating postpartum hemorrhage, comprising:
introducing the device of claim 1 into the body of a patient; and
compressing the uterus of the patient against the contact portion.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the step of compressing the uterus of the patient against the contact portion includes applying a force external of the body to the at least two elongate handles.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the contact portion is in the first radial position during introduction of the device into the body of the patient and is in the second radial position during compression of the uterus of the patient against the contact portion.

26. The method of claim 23 , wherein the device includes a collection reservoir, and the method further comprises collecting fluid from the patient in the collection reservoir.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein the device includes one or more conduits, and the method further comprises channeling fluid from the patient out of the body.

28. The method of claim 23 , wherein the device includes a limiting feature for limiting the maximum insertion depth of the device in the body of the patient, wherein the step of introducing the device into the body of a patient comprises inserting the device into a cavity of the patient until the limiting feature prevents further insertion.

29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the limiting feature comprises a projecting portion extending radially outward from the at least two elongate handles at a predetermined distance from the contact portion, wherein the predetermined distance determines the maximum insertion depth of the device in the cavity where the opening of the cavity has a radius smaller than the radial extent of the projecting portion.

30. The method of claim 23 , wherein the step of introducing the device into the body of a patient comprises inserting the device into the vagina of the patient.

Assignees

• Univ Liverpool

Inventors

• Weeks Andrew
• Porter John

Classifications

• A61B2017/12004

  for haemostasis, for prevention of bleeding · CPC title

• A61B17/4241 Primary

  Instruments for manoeuvring or retracting the uterus, e.g. during laparoscopic surgery · CPC title

• A61B2090/065

  for measuring contact or contact pressure · CPC title

• A61B17/12

  for ligaturing or otherwise compressing tubular parts of the body, e.g. blood vessels or umbilical cord · CPC title

• A61B90/06

  Measuring instruments not otherwise provided for · CPC title