Patent ID: 7771357

Claim:
A therapeutic device for treating a female patient's uterine disorder by temporarily occluding the patient's uterine artery, comprising: an elongated cannula having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the elongated cannula comprises a distal portion adjacent the distal end, a rigid shaft section extending along a longitudinal axis from the proximal end of the elongated cannula toward the distal portion, and a junction disposed between the rigid shaft section and the distal portion, wherein the junction is flexible so that the distal portion is deflectable to one side of the longitudinal axis of the rigid shaft section; a supporting member extendable from a first surface of the distal portion for deflecting the distal portion to one side of the longitudinal axis of the rigid shaft section, wherein the supporting member comprises a belt having a distal end attached to the distal portion and a proximal end that is movable along the longitudinal axis of the rigid shaft section to bow the belt outwardly for bearing against opposing tissue; a blood flow sensor positioned adjacent the distal end of the elongated cannula and being adapted for locating the patient's uterine artery; a tissue penetrating member extendable from the distal end of the elongated cannula, the tissue penetrating member including a tissue penetrating cannula having a lumen extending to a distal end thereof and a pressure applying mechanism movable through the lumen of the tissue penetrating cannula between a retracted position and an extended position; and the proximal end of the elongated cannula being adapted to extend out of the patient.