Post-partum hemorrhage treatment device
AssigneeObstetrx, Inc.
InventorsAndrew Barofsky, Mary Bullard
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An intra-uterine device for treating post-partum hemorrhage (PPH) is described, along with an applicator system. In embodiments, the PPH device is comprised of a mesh pouch that is filled with a plurality of sponges. Each sponge is designed to expand upon absorption of fluids, such as blood. The collective expansion of the sponges within the mesh pouch causes the PPH device to expand within a patient's uterus, thus applying pressure to stanch blood flow. The PPH device is loaded into an applicator which is then inserted into a patient, and a corresponding plunger is used to deploy the PPH device. Following completion of treatment, the PPH device may be removed using a removal strand attached to the pouch that is exposed outside of the patient.
Claims20
A method for treating post-partum hemorrhaging (PPH), comprising placing a plurality of sponges disposed within a tubular pouch, into a patient's uterus, wherein:
- each of the plurality of sponges is configured to expand in volume within the patient's uterus by absorbing blood;
- the tubular pouch is comprised of a porous, expandable material with a length and a flat width, wherein the length is greater than the flat width;
- and
- the tubular pouch exhibits a positive Poisson's ratio, shortening when the pouch expands as a result of expansion of the sponges and radially narrowing when the tubular pouch is stretched lengthwise.
A device for treating post-partum hemorrhaging (PPH), comprising:
- a tubular pouch having a first end and a second end distal from the first end, the tubular pouch comprised of a porous, expandable material and having a length and a flat width, wherein the length is greater than the flat width;
- and
- a plurality of sponges disposed within the tubular pouch, each of the plurality of sponges configured to expand in volume upon absorption of a fluid,
- wherein the tubular pouch is configured to expand as at least a subset of the plurality of sponges expand upon absorption of the fluid, and
- wherein the tubular pouch exhibits a positive Poisson's ratio, shortening when the pouch expands as a result of expansion of the sponges and radially narrowing when the tubular pouch is stretched lengthwise.
A system for treating post-partum hemorrhaging (PPH) in a patient's uterus, comprising:
- a PPH device comprised of:
- a tubular pouch having a first end and a second end distal from the first end, the tubular pouch comprised of a porous, expandable material and having a length and a flat width, wherein the length is greater than the flat width;
- and
- a plurality of sponges disposed within the tubular pouch, each of the plurality of sponges configured to expand in volume within the patient's uterus by absorbing blood,
- wherein the tubular pouch is configured to expand as at least a subset of the plurality of sponges expand upon absorption of the fluid, and
- wherein the tubular pouch exhibits a positive Poisson's ratio, shortening when the pouch expands as a result of expansion of the sponges and radially narrowing when the tubular pouch is stretched lengthwise,
- an applicator comprised of a hollow tube, sized to receive and enclose the PPH device;
- and
- a plunger configured to eject the PPH device from the applicator and into the patient's uterus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.