Methods for controlling labor and treating menstrual cramps in uterine muscle
View Patent ↗A method of promoting the healing of a lesion in a smooth muscle ( 200 ), comprises selecting a smooth muscle portion having a lesion, and applying a non-excitory electric field ( 210 ) to the portion, which reduces the mechanical activity of the portion.
1. A method of controlling labor, the method comprising:
providing an apparatus adapted to transmit to at least a portion of a uterus a signal comprising at least an electrical field which does not generate a propagating action potential in uterine muscle, which electrical field modifies the reaction of said smooth muscle to an activation signal; and
controlling the apparatus so that the signal produces a desired effect, wherein said desired effect comprises at least one of advancing an onset of labor, increasing a length of labor, and increasing a contractility of the uterine muscle.
2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the desired effect further comprises delaying an onset of labor.
3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the desired effect comprises advancing an onset of labor.
4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the desired effect comprises increasing a length of labor.
5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the desired effect further comprises decreasing a length of labor.
6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the desired effect further comprises stopping labor from proceeding.
7. A method according to claim 6 , wherein the stopping occurs after labor has started.
8. A method according to claim 6 , wherein the stopping occurs in a pre-labor stage.
9. A method according to claim 6 , wherein the stopping is applied to a case of pre-term onset of labor.
10. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the desired effect further comprises reducing a contractility of the uterine muscle.
11. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the desired effect comprises increasing a contractility of the uterine muscle.
12. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the desired effect further comprises desensitizing the uterine muscle.
13. A method according to claim 12 , wherein the desensitization contributes to a reduction in synchronized contractions.
14. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said electric field is a substantially constant electrical field.
15. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a pacing signal to said at least a portion of a uterus.
16. A method according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said apparatus is implantable.
17. A method according to claim 16 , wherein said apparatus is implantable in a surgical procedure.
18. A method according to claim 16 , wherein said apparatus is implantable in a laparoscopic procedure.
19. A method of treating menstrual cramps, the method comprising:
determining a time at which a cramp is expected to occur; and
applying a desensitizing electrical field to uterine muscle to dampen the cramp.
20. A method according to claim 19 , wherein the applying occurs prior to the time at which the cramp is expected to occur.
21. A method according to claim 19 , wherein the applying occurs during the time at which the cramp is expected to occur.
22. A method of reducing undesirable electrical activity in the uterus, the method comprising:
detecting an area of uterine tissue producing undesirable electrical activity; and
blocking propagation of the undesirable electrical activity in preselected ones of a plurality of locations in the uterus.
23. A method according to claim 22 , wherein the blocking comprises a mechanism selected from the group consisting of fencing and desensitizing.
24. A method according to claim 22 , wherein the detecting comprises a mechanism selected from the group consisting of visual inspection and electrical mapping.
25. A method according to claim 22 , wherein the area of uterine tissue producing undesirable electrical activity comprises at least one tissue type selected from the group consisting of fibroid tissue, myomal tissue, stretched tissue and inflamed tissue.
26. A method of controlling labor, the method comprising:
providing an apparatus adapted to transmit to a plurality of preselected locations of a uterus at least one signal comprising at least one electrical field which does not generate a propagating action potential in uterine muscle, which said at least one electrical field modifies the reaction of said smooth muscle in the plurality of preselected locations to at least one activation signal; and
controlling the apparatus so that selected ones of said at least one signal produces a desired effect in selected ones of the plurality of preselected locations.
27. A method according to claim 26 , wherein the desired effect comprises delaying an onset of labor.
28. A method according to claim 26 , wherein the desired effect comprises advancing an onset of labor.
29. A method according to claim 26 , wherein the desired effect comprises increasing a length of labor.
30. A method according to claim 26 , wherein the desired effect comprises decreasing a length of labor.
31. A method according to claim 26 , wherein the desired effect comprises stopping labor from proceeding.
32. A method according to claim 31 , wherein the at occurs after labor has started.
33. A method according to claim 31 , wherein the stopping occurs in a pre-labor stage.
34. A method according to claim 31 , wherein the stopping is applied to a ease of pre-term onset of labor.
35. A method according to claim 26 , wherein the desired effect further comprises reducing a contractility of the uterine muscle.
36. A method according to claim 26 , wherein the desired effect comprises increasing a contractility of the uterine muscle.
37. A method according to claim 26 , wherein the desired effect further comprises desensitizing the uterine muscle.
38. A method according to claim 37 , wherein the desensitization contributes to a reduction in synchronized contractions.