# US 9,872,983 B2 · Uterine electrical stimulation system and method

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- Number: US 9,872,983 B2
- Document ID: US9872983B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/135,739
- Filed: 2016-04-22
- Published: 2016-08-18
- Granted: 2018-01-23
- Earliest claimed: 2010-10-27
- Assignees: Dignity Health
- Applicants: Dignity Health
- Inventors: Robert E. Garfield; Shao-Qing Shi; Leili Shi; William Maner
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9872983B2

## CPC

- A61N 1/36007: {of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control}
- A61N 1/0521: {Genital electrodes}
- A61N 1/0524: {Vaginal electrodes}
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)

## Abstract

Systems and methods for producing cervical ripening in a pregnant patient. The method includes generating an electrical stimulation current between about 0.01 milliamperes and about 6 milliamperes using a current unit, coupling an electrode probe to the current unit, and inserting the electrode probe transvaginally so that at least one electrode of the electrode probe is in contact with the patient's cervix. The method also includes applying the electrical stimulation current from the current unit through the electrode probe and the at least one electrode to the patient's cervix to produce ripening of the patient's cervix.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for producing cervical ripening in a pregnant patient, the method comprising:
generating an electrical stimulation current between about 0.01 milliamperes and about 6 milliamperes using a current unit;
coupling an electrode probe to the current unit;
inserting the electrode probe transvaginally;
contacting at least one electrode of the electrode probe against the patient's cervix;
prior to vaginal delivery by the pregnant patient, applying the electrical stimulation current from the current unit through the electrode probe and the at least one electrode to the patient's cervix for a duration between about 1 minute to about 6 hours; and
causing a release of prostaglandins in response to the electrical stimulation current to produce ripening of the patient's cervix.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising administering a uterotonic agent to the patient.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving input from electrical activity of the patient's cervix in response to applying the electrical stimulation current, and modifying the electrical stimulation current based on the electrical activity.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining pre-recorded electrical traces from a normally ripening cervix and generating the electrical stimulation current identical to the pre-recorded electrical traces.