Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for occluding blood vessels include a deployable constrictor having opposed pressure-applying portions, a delivery shaft configured to intravaginally advance the constrictor to the patient's cervix, a location sensor configured to detect a blood vessel, a deployment member for deploying the constrictor about the patient's cervix, and optionally a guide. The constrictor has a first configuration to receive a cervix and a second configuration to apply pressure to the cervical area to occlude a uterine artery by compression from the pressure-applying members. The pressure-applying members may be released from the cervix after a limited therapeutically effective time. The invention finds use in, for example, treating uterine disorders and conditions which may be treated by occlusion of the uterine arteries, such as uterine fibroids, dysfunctional uterine bleeding, post-partum hemorrhage, and bleeding associated with caesarian sections.

Abstract: The invention provides devices, systems and methods for occluding arteries without puncturing skin or vessel walls. The devices, systems and methods for occluding arteries are configured to be applied to arteries externally of the arteries. Occlusion may be temporary or permanent, and may be partial or complete. Clamping a device to tissue near to an artery is effective to compress tissue around the artery and to indirectly compress the artery. The methods, devices and systems of the invention find use in, for example, treatment of uterine disorders and conditions which may be treated by occlusion of the uterine arteries. A uterine artery may be accessed via a patient's vagina by compressing a portion of the vaginal wall around a portion of a uterine artery to occlude a uterine artery. Clamping of an artery may also be performed by clamping a device directly onto an artery.

Abstract: The invention provides devices, systems and methods for reducing or abolishing blood flow by occluding uterine arteries for treating adenomyosis and endometriosis. A non-invasive uterine artery occlusion device embodying features of the invention includes a pair of pressure-applying members with opposed tissue-contacting surfaces, a supporting shaft configured to adjust the distance between tissue-contacting surfaces, and at least one sensor for locating a uterine artery disposed on at least one pressure-applying member. Uterine arteries are occluded by indirectly compressing the artery by compressing tissue near to an artery. One uterine artery may be occluded or both may be occluded simultaneously. A uterine artery may be accessed via a body cavity, such as a patient's vagina, and may be occluded by compressing a portion of the vaginal wall around a portion of a uterine artery.

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.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method and device for treating a female patient's uterine disorder by occluding one or both of the patient's uterine artery. The treatment embodying features of the invention basically involves occluding one or both of the patient's uterine arteries with an intravaginal device to form a thrombus within the occluded artery or arteries and administering an agent which will prolong the occlusion of the artery or arteries after removal of the occluding device or initiate or accelerate fibroid cell apoptosis (programmed cell death). The intravaginal device has a pair of pivotally connected occluding members, with at least one of the occluding member having a movable occluding element on a distal shaft section of the occluding member.

Abstract: A compression and ligation device includes a pair of jaws including one or more Doppler chips oriented to send and receive Doppler signals across the jaws, to assist a practitioner in determining whether or not a uterine artery is between the jaws. A suture leader with an attached suture can be pushed through a channel on one of the jaws, through tissue behind the uterine artery, into another channel on the other jaw, and proximally out the device so that the practitioner can ligate the artery and effect hemostasis.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an intravaginal staple for occluding a female patient's uterine artery in the treatment of a uterine disorder such as fibroids, DUB, PPH, uterine bleeding after caesarian delivery and the like. The intravaginal staple includes an occluding bar having a pressure applying surface and at least one and preferably two tissue penetrating legs which are provided with protuberances which help to retain the staple leg within the penetrated tissue. At least part of the staple is preferably formed of bioabsorbable material so that it will in part self destruct at a preselected time period by separation of staple components caused by the bioabsorption of a bioabsorbable portion of the staple. The staple deployment system may be provided with elongated handles and staple deploying mechanisms on the distal ends of the handles to drive the legs of the staple into the tissue bundle about the uterine artery so that pressure applied by the occlusion bar occludes the uterine artery.

Abstract: Non-permanent occlusion of the uterine arteries is sufficient to cause the demise of uterine myomata without unnecessarily exposing other tissues and anatomical structures to hypoxia attendant to prior permanent occlusion techniques. A therapeutically effective transient time of occlusion of a uterine artery to treat uterine fibroid tumors is from 1 hours to 24 hours, and preferably is at least about 4 hours. A therapeutically effective temporary time of occlusion of a uterine artery to treat uterine fibroid tumors is from 1 day (24 hours) to 7 days (168 hours), and preferably is about 4 days (96 hours). By invaginating the tissues of the vaginal wall up to or around a uterine artery, collapse of the uterine artery can be achieved without penetrating tissue of the patient.

Abstract: A system is provided for compressing one or both of the uterine arteries of a patient which is at least in part shaped to complement the shape of the exterior of the cervix, which allows the system to be self-positioning. One or more Doppler chips can be mounted or incorporated into the system which permit the practitioner to better identify the uterine artery and monitor blood flow therein. The system includes a pair of pivotally joined elements which can be moved toward and away from the cervix to compress a uterine artery.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an intravaginal uterine artery occlusion device for treating uterine disorders such as fibroids, dysfunctional uterine bleeding, postpartum hemorrhage and the like. A occlusion device has a cervical receptacle or cap with an open distal end for receiving the patient's uterine cervix and an elongated shaft having a distal end secured to the closed proximal end of the cervical receptacle and an inner lumen extending to the distal end of the elongated shaft. The patient's uterine cervix is held within the interior of the receptacle by the application of a vacuum to the interior of the receptacle through the inner lumen of the shaft or otherwise, while the leading edge(s) of the cervical receptacle press against the patient's vaginal fornix to occlude an underlying or adjacent uterine artery. At least one blood flow sensor may be provided on the leading edge of the receptacle to aid in locating a uterine artery and to monitor blood flow through the located uterine artery.

Abstract: An occluding device is disclosed for occluding a female patient's uterine arteries which have unsymmetrical anatomy with respect to the patient's uterine cervix. The occluding device has a pair of pivotally connected occluding members, with at least one of the occluding member having a movable occluding element on a distal shaft section of the occluding member. The position and orientation of the occluding elements on the distal shaft sections may be adjusted by operative members on the proximal shaft sections of the occluding members to accommodate for asymmetrical uterine artery anatomy. The occluding elements have pressure applying surfaces with one or more blood flow sensors such as Doppler chips which help the physician to better identify the uterine artery and to monitor blood flow therein. A tenaculum-like guiding element configured to be secured within the patient's uterine cervix, may be provided to guide the occluding device to the patient's cervix.

Abstract: The invention provides devices, systems and methods for clamping arteries which are useful in reducing or abolishing blood flow in an artery, and may be used to control hemorrhage following a caesarian delivery. A clamping device embodying features of the invention includes a pair of clamping members with opposed pressure-applying members having facing pressure-applying surfaces, at least one of which is a yieldable pressure-applying surface. The yieldable pressure-applying surface is preferably resilient. The clamping members are configured to adjust the distance between pressure-applying surfaces, and a blood flow sensor is disposed on at least one of the pressure-applying members to aid in locating the target artery and also to monitor blood flow through the artery. The clamping device is particularly suitable for occluding uterine arteries by compressing the broad ligament which contains the uterine artery and which is connected to the patient's uterus with the arterial clamp.

Abstract: A treatment procedure is disclosed which involves the short term, non-permanent occlusion of the patient's blood vessels by depositing a bioabsorbable embolic mass within the patient's blood vessel. The procedure is particularly suitable for treating uterine disorders by occluding a patient's uterine arteries. A therapeutically effective time period for occlusion of a uterine artery is from about 0.5 to about 48 hours, preferably about 1 to about 24 hours, with occlusion times of about 1 to about 8 hours being suitable in many instances. The embolic mass may bioabsorbable particulate with minimum transverse dimensions of about 100 to about 2000 micrometers, preferably about 300 to about 1000 micrometers. The particulate may be a polymeric material formed of polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid or copolymers thereof, or a swellable copolymer of lactic acid and polyethylene glycol.

Abstract: The invention provides devices, systems and methods for occluding arteries without puncturing skin or vessel walls. The devices, systems and methods for occluding arteries are configured to be applied to arteries externally of the arteries. Occlusion may be temporary or permanent, and may be partial or complete. Clamping a device to tissue near to an artery is effective to compress tissue around the artery and to indirectly compress the artery. The methods, devices and systems of the invention find use in, for example, treatment of uterine disorders and conditions which may be treated by occlusion of the uterine arteries. A uterine artery may be accessed via a patient's vagina by compressing a portion of the vaginal wall around a portion of a uterine artery to occlude a uterine artery. Clamping of an artery may also be performed by clamping a device directly onto an artery.