Surgery – Instruments – Obstetric or gynecological instruments
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-02
2001-01-30
Philogene, Pedro (Department: 3732)
Surgery
Instruments
Obstetric or gynecological instruments
C606S122000, C606S119000, C604S074000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179845
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an obstetrical vacuum extractor to assist in childbirth.
The conventional vacuum extractor has a vacuum cup at one end that is integral with a stem and handle. The stem is hollow so that a vacuum can be applied through the stem to the cup. Grasping the extractor with the handle, the physician places the cup on the head of the infant, and applies a partial vacuum through the hollow stem to the cup. A flexible edge at the mouth of the cup seals to the infant's head, and allows the physician to pull with the handle, transmitting this force to assist in delivery.
The above described vacuum extractor works well in pulling the infant out of the birth canal. However, the infant's head will sometimes rotate as it descends through the birth canal. The cup can rotate on the infant's head without breaking the seal, and injury can occur if the cup does not rotate in unison with the head. In such cases, the physician is required to manually rotate the handle at the same time as the head rotates. This can be a difficult procedure to accomplish.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention pertains to an obstetrical vacuum extractor comprising: a vacuum cup having an interior; an elongated hollow stem having a longitudinal axis, a first open end fixedly joined to the cup so as to communicate with the cup interior, and an opposing second open end; and a handle having first and second handle portions on opposite sides of the stem longitudinal axis, the handle being mounted on the stem to allow rotation of the stem and cup with respect to the handle and substantially prevent axial movement of the handle on the stem.
Accordingly, as the infant's head rotates in the manner discussed above, the physician can pull on but not rotate the handle as the stem and up rotate in unison with the infant's head, thereby decreasing the possibility of injury.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2702038 (1955-02-01), Uddenberg et al.
patent: 3202152 (1965-08-01), Wood et al.
patent: 3794044 (1974-02-01), Vennard et al.
patent: 4512347 (1985-04-01), Uddenberg
patent: 4730617 (1988-03-01), King
patent: 5019086 (1991-05-01), Neward
patent: 5224947 (1993-07-01), Cooper et al.
patent: 5281229 (1994-01-01), Neward
patent: 5569265 (1996-10-01), Elliott
patent: 5693058 (1997-12-01), Cavanagh et al.
patent: 5810840 (1998-09-01), Lindsay
patent: 5935136 (1999-08-01), Hulse et al.
Peters Donald L.
Peters Scott W.
Philogene Pedro
Sharp William R.
LandOfFree
Obstetrical vacuum extractor does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Obstetrical vacuum extractor, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Obstetrical vacuum extractor will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2451151