Importance

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Abstract

The invention is directed to instruments and procedures using such instruments for temporarily reducing or terminating blood flow through a female patient's uterine artery to treat post partum hemorrhage (PPH). The uterine artery is occluded by a clamping device which includes a pair of pivotally connected clamping members, with each of the clamping members having a handle and a clamping element at the distal end of the handle. The clamping elements are inclined with respect to the longitudinal axes of the handles at an included obtuse angle between about 120.degree. and about 170.degree., preferably between about 130.degree. and 160.degree.. An artery locating sensor is provided on the distal end of at least one of the clamping elements. Preferably, the artery locating sensor is a Doppler ultrasound blood flow sensor. After birth, the clamping device is inserted into the female patient's post partum vaginal canal and advanced therein until one of the clamping elements Is in the patient's uterine cervix and the other clamping element is on the exterior of the uterine cervix. The clamping element on the exterior of the patient's uterine cervix is pressed against the patient's vaginal fornix and the clamping device closed so as to occlude the uterine artery disposed within tissue grasped by the clamping device. The clamping device is locked in the closed configuration and maintained in the condition until the patient's uterus is sufficiently clotted up to ensure termination of the hemorrhaging, typically about 5 minutes to about 7 hours.

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First Claim