# US 10,499,926 B2 · Delaying pre-term birth > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,499,926 B2 - Document ID: US10499926B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/302,190 - Filed: 2015-04-14 - Published: 2017-01-26 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2014-04-14 - Assignees: Tel HaShomer Medical Research Infrastructure and Services Ltd.; The Trendlines Group Ltd. - Applicants: Tel HaShomer Medical Research Infrastructure and Services Ltd.; The Trendlines Group Ltd. - Inventors: Abraham Tsur; Sharon Farber; Roy Mashiach; Yosef Hazan; David Shashar; Avshalom Shenhav - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10499926B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/122: Clamps or clips, e.g. for the umbilical cord {(for the vas deferens A61F6/206)} - A61B 5/4356: {Assessing uterine contractions (A61B5/033 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/6846: {specially adapted to be brought in contact with an internal body part, i.e. invasive} - A61B 5/6847: {mounted on an invasive device} - A61B 5/6882: {Anchoring means} - A61B 5/6885: {Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure} - A61B 17/1227: {Spring clips} - A61B 17/42: Gynaecological or obstetrical instruments or methods {(ligaturing clamps or clips for the umbilical cord A61B17/122; curettage A61B17/320708)} - A61F 6/08: Pessaries, i.e. devices worn in the vagina to support the uterus, remedy a malposition or prevent conception {, e.g. combined with devices protecting against contagion} - A61M 31/00: Devices for introducing or retaining media, e.g. remedies, in cavities of the body (A61M25/00 takes precedence {; introducing or retaining ophthalmic products into the ocular cavities A61F9/0008}) - A61B 5/435: {Assessing cervix alteration or dilation} - A61B 2017/00221: {with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves} - A61B 2017/00535: {pneumatically or hydraulically operated (A61B2017/22051, A61B2090/401 take precedence)} - A61B 2017/00734: {battery operated} - A61B 2017/00893: {pharmaceutically effective} - A61B 2017/4225: {Cervix uteri} - A61B 2090/065: {for measuring contact or contact pressure} - A61B 2090/0811: {for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract A device for retarding birth including an upper ring for surrounding a cervix, an anchoring component for anchoring the device, and an elastic component for attaching the upper ring to the anchoring component, wherein the elastic component pushes the upper ring and the anchoring component apart. A device for retarding birth including a sleeve for surrounding a cervix along a greater portion of a length of the cervix, a support strip on the sleeve directed along an axis of the sleeve, and a ring at least partially around the sleeve, in which when a top of the sleeve is pushed to expand radially, the support strip pivots on the ring, such that an end of the support strip near the top of the sleeve moves radially outward, and an end of the support strip near the bottom of the sleeve moves radially inward. Related apparatus and methods are also described. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for retarding birth comprising: an upper ring sized and shaped for surrounding a cervix; an anchoring component for anchoring the device; support strips connecting the upper ring and the anchoring component; and a ring surrounding the support strips, wherein the device is configured so that when the upper ring is pushed to expand radially, the support strips pivot on the ring, such that an end of the support strips near the upper ring moves radially outward, and an end of the support strips near the anchoring component moves radially inward. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 and further comprising a quick release mechanism to release the anchoring component from anchoring the device to a body of a patient. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 and further comprising a component for measuring birth progress parameters. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 in which the elastic component comprises a spring. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 and further comprising a lower ring attached to the anchoring component. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 and further comprising a component for releasing a drug. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 in which a distance between the upper ring and the anchoring component is less than a length of a cervix, and the anchoring component is anchored to the cervix. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 in which: the anchoring component comprises a plurality of projections projecting in a direction toward a surface of the cervix when the device is located surrounding the cervix; and the anchoring component is arranged to have two states: a first state in which the plurality of projections are exposed, jutting from a surface of the anchoring component, and a second state in which the plurality of projections are sheathed, concealed under a surface of the anchoring component. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 and further comprising a gauge attached to the elastic component and comprising a marking arranged to indicate a degree to which the elastic component is compressed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 and further comprising a unit for measuring a parameter associated with contractions of the device, the parameter being one of a group consisting of: a frequency of contractions; force of contractions; pressure of contractions; and duration of contractions. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10 and further comprising a unit for storing a value of the parameter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10 and further comprising a unit for transmitting a value of the parameter to a monitoring device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10 and further comprising a unit for activating automatic release of the device from the cervix based, at least in part, on the parameter exceeding a known threshold. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1 and further comprising a gauge attached to the elastic component and comprising physical markings arranged to indicate a degree to which the elastic component is compressed. ### Claim 15 A method of inserting a device for retarding birth comprising: providing a device for retarding birth which comprises: an upper ring sized and shaped for surrounding a cervix; an anchoring component for anchoring the device; support strips connecting the upper ring and the anchoring component; and a ring surrounding the support strips, wherein the device is configured so that when the upper ring is pushed to expand radially, the support strips pivot on the ring, such that an end of the support strips near the upper ring moves radially outward, and an end of the support strips near the anchoring component moves radially inward; inserting the device into a vagina; and placing the compressed device such that the upper ring surrounds the cervix. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 and further comprising anchoring the anchoring component of the device against the cervix. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 and further comprising suturing the anchoring component to the cervix. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 and further comprising: activating a quick release mechanism to release an anchoring component from anchoring the device to a body of a patient; and pulling the device out of the vagina. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 and further comprising: using a gauge arranged to indicate a force exerted upon the elastic component to estimate a force exerted on the upper ring, thereby estimating a force exerted by a uterine contraction.