	US 12,233,228 B2
	Methods and devices to prevent premature birth
Ryan Kendall Pierce, Carl Junction, MO (US); and Benjamin Kahn Cline, Palo Alto, CA (US)
Assigned to Nine Medical, Inc., San Francisco, CA (US)
Filed by Nine Medical, Inc., San Francisco, CA (US)
Filed on Sep. 29, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/478,290.
Application 18/478,290 is a continuation of application No. 16/986,098, filed on Aug. 5, 2020, granted, now 11,819,648.
Application 16/986,098 is a continuation of application No. 15/707,982, filed on Sep. 18, 2017, granted, now 10,773,062, issued on Sep. 15, 2020.
Application 15/707,982 is a continuation of application No. 15/332,906, filed on Oct. 24, 2016, granted, now 9,764,120, issued on Sep. 19, 2017.
Application 15/332,906 is a continuation of application No. 14/992,914, filed on Jan. 11, 2016, granted, now 9,474,885, issued on Oct. 25, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/102,018, filed on Jan. 10, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/116,568, filed on Feb. 16, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/181,208, filed on Jun. 18, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/194,798, filed on Jul. 20, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2024/0100311 A1, Mar. 28, 2024
Int. Cl. A61M 31/00 (2006.01); A61M 11/00 (2006.01); B05B 11/00 (2023.01)

CPC A61M 31/00 (2013.01) [A61M 11/007 (2014.02); B05B 11/00 (2013.01); A61M 2205/3331 (2013.01); A61M 2210/14 (2013.01); A61M 2210/1475 (2013.01)]

16 Claims

1. A medical device, comprising: a device configured to assume a volume fully within a female reproductive tract, fully outside of a uterine cavity, and at least partially surrounding a vaginal portion of a cervix; wherein the device is configured to occupy at least part of a path from a first site in a vagina of the female reproductive tract to a second site on the cervix, in a cervical canal of the cervix, or in the uterine cavity of the female reproductive tract; wherein the device includes a contacting region that is configured to impart a normal force that is in a direction perpendicular to and against a vaginal wall and/or a frictional force on the vaginal wall, from which results an opposing force that is opposite the normal force and/or an opposing frictional force that favors a stable position of the device; and wherein the device is configured to provide at least one unobstructed path from the second site to the first site; wherein the device is configured to prevent disruption or dislodging of a cervical mucus plug formed during pregnancy.