Device to assist delivery of fetal head at cesarean section

An obstetrical device for assisting a cesarean section delivery of a neonate having a fetal presenting part well seated within the mother's pelvis, said device comprising:

• a hollow tail having an internal lumen extending the length of the tail;
• a hollow tongue-shaped head disposed on a distal end of the tail, the head comprising a sterile, non-collapsible, curved structure having a hollow neck portion and a hollow tongue-shaped septum portion extending from the neck portion, the hollow neck portion and the hollow tongue-shaped septum portion defining an internal chamber of the head that is fluidly connected to the tail internal lumen, the tongue-shaped septum portion comprising:
• a broad, elongated concave front face including a plurality of apertures arrayed therein;
• an opposing broad, elongated convex back face including a plurality of apertures arrayed therein;
• and
• a plurality of sides connecting the front and back faces such that the septum portion is structured to have a broad, elongated tongue shape, wherein the front and back faces have a width that is greater than a height of the sides such that the tongue-shaped septum portion is structured to have:
• a curvature that is complementary to a curvature of an area of contact between the fetal presenting part and at least one of the mother's vagina and cervix;
• and
• a thickness that is less than the width of the front and back faces such that the tongue-shaped septum portion can be inserted into the area of contact between the fetal presenting part and the at least one of the mother's vagina and cervix,
• whereby air, via the tail internal lumen, the head internal chamber and the at least one aperture of the head, is drawn into the head and directed into the area of contact between the fetal presenting part and the at least one of the mother's vagina and cervix to release a suction formed between the fetal presenting part and the at least one of the mother's vagina and cervix so that the well seated fetal presenting part can be easily separated from the at least one of the vagina and the cervix;
• and
• an insertion marker disposed on a distal end portion of the tail, the insertion marker operable to indicate when the head has been advanced into the vaginal opening a desired distance such that the head is positioned between the fetal presenting part and the at least one of the mother's vagina and cervix, wherein the head is further structured and operable to, via the tail internal lumen, the head internal chamber and the at least one aperture of the head, allow air to be drawn into the head and direct the drawn air into the area between the fetal presenting part and at least one of a vagina and a cervix of the mother, and further structured and operable to release a suction formed between the fetal presenting part and the at least one of the mother's vagina and cervix so that the well seated fetal presenting part can be easily separated from the at least one of the vagina and the cervix.

A method for assisting a cesarean section delivery of a neonate having a fetal presenting part well seated within the mother's pelvis, said method comprising:

• inserting a tongue-shaped hollow head of an obstetrical device into a vaginal opening of the mother, the obstetrical device comprising:
• a hollow tail having an internal lumen extending the length of the tail;
• and
• the head extending from a distal end of the tail, the head comprising a sterile, non-collapsible, curved structure having a hollow neck portion and a hollow tongue-shaped septum portion extending from the neck portion, the hollow neck portion and the hollow tongue-shaped septum portion defining an internal chamber of the head that is fluidly connected to the tail internal lumen, the tongue-shaped septum portion comprising:
• a broad, elongated concave front face including a plurality of apertures arrayed therein;
• an opposing broad, elongated convex back face including a plurality of apertures arrayed therein;
• and
• a plurality of sides connecting the front and back faces such that the septum portion is structured to have a broad, elongated tongue shape, wherein the front and back faces have a width that is greater than a height of the sides such that the tongue-shaped septum portion is structured to have:
• a curvature that is complementary to a curvature of an area of contact between the fetal presenting part and at least one of the mother's vagina and cervix;
• and
• a thickness that is less than the width of the front and back faces such that the tongue-shaped septum portion can be inserted into the area of contact between the fetal presenting part and the at least one of the mother's vagina and cervix;
• inserting the broad, elongated tongue-shaped septum portion into the area of contact between the fetal presenting part and the at least one of the mother's vagina and cervix;
• providing a path for air to be drawn into the head, via the internal lumen of the tail, the internal chamber and the at least one aperture of the head;
• directing the drawn air into the area of contact between the fetal presenting part and the at least one of the vagina and the cervix of the mother;
• and
• releasing a suction formed between the fetal presenting part and the at least one of the vagina and the cervix of the mother so that the well seated fetal presenting part can be easily separated from the at least one of the vagina and the cervix.