Patent ID: 7404821

Claim:
A method of treating a female patient suffering from PPH, comprising: a. providing an intravaginal clamping device having i. a first clamping member which has an elongated handle with a distal operative end and a proximal manipulative end and a clamping element secured to the operative distal end at an obtuse angle with respect to the first handle; ii. a second clamping member which has a second elongated handle with a distal operative end and a proximal manipulative end and a second clamping element secured to the operative distal end of the second elongated handle at an obtuse angle with respect to the second elongated handle; iii. a pivotal connection between the first and second clamping members so that rotation of the first and second handles within a rotational plane about the pivotal connection adjusts spacing between the first and second clamping elements with the clamping elements extending out of the rotational plane of the first and second handles; and iv. a blood flow sensor on a pressure applying surface on the distal end of the second clamping element; b. introducing the intravaginal clamping device into the patient's vaginal canal, and advancing the device therein until the first clamping element of the device is disposed within the patient's uterine cervix and the second clamping element of the device is disposed on the exterior of the patients uterine cervix; c. further advancing the device within the patient's vaginal canal to press the pressure applying surface of the second clamping element against a region of the patient's vaginal fornix to fold the tissue of the vaginal fornix over underlying uterine tissue; d. detecting blood flow through the patient's uterine artery to ensure that the pressure applying surface of the second clamping element is located over the patient's uterine artery; and e. compressing the handles of the device together to close at least the second clamping element against the patient's vaginal fornix and underlying uterine tissue to at least partially occlude the uterine artery.