Fetal vacuum extractor having compact, versatile control handle and related methods of manufacture and use thereof

A vacuum extractor for use in childbirth, comprising:

• a vacuum cup;
• a handle coupled to the vacuum cup, the handle including:
• a grip member;
• and
• a pump member movably mounted on the grip member and configured to be manually moved relative to the grip member by a user between a first position and a second position, movement of the pump member relative to the grip member between the first position and the second position generating a vacuum within the vacuum cup when the vacuum cup is disposed on a head of a fetus;
• wherein an assembly of the grip member and the pump member has a maximum length of 105 mm or less between a proximal end surface of the pump member and a distal end surface of a first laterally extending member of the grip member, a maximum width between a first lateral side surface of the grip member and second lateral side surface of the grip member of 110 mm or less, and a maximum thickness between a front major surface and a rear major surface of the assembly of 20 mm or less, and wherein a vacuum pressure of at least −34.6 kPa relative to ambient pressure is achieved within the vacuum cup after moving the pump member from the first position to the second position and then back to the first position five times or less while the vacuum cup is sealed.

A vacuum extractor for use in childbirth, comprising:

• a vacuum cup;
• a handle coupled to the vacuum cup, the handle including:
• a grip member;
• and
• a pump member movably mounted on the grip member and configured to be manually moved by a user relative to the grip member between a first position and a second position, movement of the pump member relative to the grip member between the first position and the second position generating a vacuum within the vacuum cup when the vacuum cup is disposed on a head of a fetus;
• one of the grip member and the pump member having surfaces defining a fluid chamber;
• and
• another of the grip member and the pump member having surfaces defining a piston disposed and moveable within the fluid chamber in response to movement of the pump member relative to the grip member between the first position and the second position,
• wherein an assembly of the grip member and the pump member has a maximum length of 105 mm or less between a proximal end surface of the pump member and a distal end surface of a first laterally extending member of the grip member, a maximum width between a first lateral side surface of the grip member and second lateral side surface of the grip member of 110 mm or less, and a maximum thickness between a front major surface and a rear major surface of the assembly of 20 mm or less;
• and
• wherein a vacuum pressure of at least −34.6 kPa relative to ambient pressure is achieved within the vacuum cup after moving the pump member from the first position to the second position and then back to the first position five times or less while the vacuum cup is sealed.

A method of forming a vacuum extractor for use in childbirth, comprising:

• providing a vacuum cup;
• forming a grip member including a first laterally extending member and a second laterally extending member, the second laterally extending member separated from the first laterally extending member in a longitudinal direction by a distance, wherein each of the first laterally extending member and the second laterally extending member are configured to be gripped by fingers of a user;
• forming a handle by moveably mounting a pump member to the grip member and configuring the pump member to be manually movable relative to the grip member by a user between a first position and a second position;
• coupling the vacuum cup to the handle with a fluid conduit;
• configuring the grip member and the pump member such that movement of the pump member relative to the grip member between the first position and the second position generates a vacuum within the vacuum cup when the vacuum cup is disposed on a head of a fetus, wherein the user can grip either the first laterally extending member or the second laterally extending member while pushing the pump member toward the grip member to move the pump member from the first position to the second position during use of the vacuum extractor;
• and
• configuring the vacuum extractor such that a vacuum pressure of at least −34.6 kPa relative to ambient pressure is achieved within the vacuum cup after moving the pump member from the first position to the second position and then back to the first position five times or less while the vacuum cup is sealed.