US 11,974,849 B2
Intrauterine balloon apparatus, system, and method for augmenting uterine birthing forces during parturition
Ed Chinchoy, Studio City, CA (US); Jay Snell, Los Angeles, CA (US); and James Kelley, Coon Rapids, MN (US)
Assigned to 3VO Medical, Inc., Los Angeles, CA (US)
Filed by 3VO Medical, Inc., Studio City, CA (US)
Filed on Oct. 22, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/078,004.
Application 17/078,004 is a continuation of application No. 16/238,431, filed on Jan. 2, 2019, granted, now 10,856,754.
Application 16/238,431 is a continuation of application No. 14/942,748, filed on Nov. 16, 2015, granted, now 10,206,595, issued on Feb. 19, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/080,511, filed on Nov. 17, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/080,506, filed on Nov. 17, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2021/0038100 A1, Feb. 11, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 5/24 (2021.01); A61B 5/00 (2006.01); A61B 5/03 (2006.01); A61B 5/06 (2006.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/42 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 5/24 (2021.01) [A61B 5/035 (2013.01); A61B 5/065 (2013.01); A61B 5/4356 (2013.01); A61B 5/4836 (2013.01); A61B 5/6852 (2013.01); A61B 5/6853 (2013.01); A61B 17/4241 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00292 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00557 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of augmenting expulsive uterine forces towards a cervical canal during delivery of a fetus from a uterus, the method comprising:
monitoring an intrinsic uterine contraction by detecting one of an onset of an intrinsic uterine contraction, an increase in uterine contraction forces, and a decrease in uterine contraction forces based on signals indicative of intrinsic uterine contractions; and
mediating a force generated via a balloon body positioned in the uterus during the intrinsic uterine contraction by:
delivering an agent to the balloon body to at least partially expand the balloon body toward the cervical canal and into contact with the fetus upon a detection of an onset of an intrinsic uterine contraction or an increase in uterine contraction forces, wherein the force is directed toward the cervical canal and augments natural expulsive uterine forces; and
discharging an agent from the balloon body to at least partially collapse the balloon body away from the fetus and the cervical canal upon a detection of a decrease in uterine contraction forces.