Systems, Devices, And Methods For Uterine Hemostasis
Patent No. US11839408 (titled "Systems, Devices, And Methods For Uterine Hemostasis") was filed by Lucie Medical Inc on Mar 16, 2023.
What is this patent about?
’408 is related to the field of medical devices, specifically those used for managing postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), a leading cause of maternal mortality. Current methods for quantifying blood loss are often inaccurate, and effective treatments for uterine atony, the primary cause of PPH, are needed to improve outcomes and reduce complications associated with excessive bleeding after childbirth.
The underlying idea behind ’408 is to apply negative pressure directly to the uterine cavity to promote mechanical hemostasis of bleeding blood vessels in the uterine wall. This is achieved by inserting a flexible tube with a suction line extension into the uterus and connecting it to a vacuum source. The negative pressure encourages uterine contraction, helping to close blood vessels and control bleeding.
The claims of ’408 focus on a postpartum hemorrhage mitigation device featuring a flexible tube with a suction line extension for placement in the uterine cavity. The tube includes a suction line connected to a negative pressure source. An anchoring mechanism maintains the device's position, and a placement marker allows for size adjustment. Critically, the suction ports are arranged in a 180-degree spiral to prevent blockage.
In practice, the device is inserted into the uterus after childbirth, either vaginally or via cesarean section. The anchoring mechanism ensures the suction line extension remains in the correct position to apply negative pressure effectively. The spiral arrangement of the suction ports is a key feature, preventing occlusion by the uterine wall or blood clots, ensuring continuous suction and promoting uterine contraction.
The device differentiates itself from prior approaches by combining negative pressure therapy with a design that addresses common challenges in postpartum hemorrhage management. The volumetric indications on the suction line allow for accurate blood loss measurement, while the adjustable placement marker and various anchoring mechanisms ensure proper positioning and prevent device migration. The protection pores prevent damage to the uterine lining.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the early 2020s when ’408 was filed, medical devices often incorporated features for precise placement and monitoring within the body. At a time when minimally invasive procedures were increasingly common, devices commonly relied on flexible materials and steerable tips to navigate complex anatomies. When hardware or software constraints made real-time feedback non-trivial, physical markings and anchoring mechanisms were often used to ensure proper positioning and functionality.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner approved the application because the prior art does not teach or suggest a postpartum hemorrhage mitigation device that includes a placement marker that is movable along the suction line extension to personalize the size of the device to the size of the uterus, where the placement marker covers one or more ports, and that further includes an anchoring mechanism along the flexible tube.
Claims
The patent has 15 claims, with claims 1, 14, and 15 being independent. The independent claims are directed to a postpartum hemorrhage mitigation device that includes a flexible tube with a suction line extension for placement in the uterus, a placement marker, and an anchoring mechanism. The dependent claims generally add specific features or limitations to the device described in the independent claims.
Key Claim Terms New
Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.
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Date
Description
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US11839408
- Application Number
- US18185311
- Filing Date
- Mar 16, 2023
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Mar 16, 2043
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents