Methods and apparatus for preventing vaginal lacerations during childbirth

Abstract

A vaginal dilation device is provided that may include any of a number of features. One feature of the vaginal dilation device is that it is configured to dilate vaginal tissue during labor to prevent tissue damage. Another feature of the vaginal dilation device is that it can be manually controlled to dilate vaginal tissue, or can be automatically controlled to dilate vaginal tissue. In some embodiments, the vaginal dilation device is configured to measure a force applied by the device to tissue. In other embodiments, the vaginal dilation device is configured to apply a constant force to tissue. In other embodiments, the vaginal dilation device is configured to expand at a constant rate. Methods associated with use of the vaginal dilation device are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of dilating a vagina of a patient during labor, comprising:
 inserting a dilation device into the vagina of the patient;   dilating the vagina with the dilation device;   measuring a diameter of the dilation device with a diameter sensor; and   stopping dilating the vagina when the dilation device reaches a target diameter.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the inserting step further comprises inserting the dilation device into the vagina during a first phase of labor. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising removing the dilation device from the vagina prior to a second phase of labor. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the dilating step further comprises automatically dilating the vagina with the dilation device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising dilating the vagina with the dilation device based on the measured diameter. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising measuring a force applied to the dilation device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising dilating the vagina with the dilation device based on the measured force and/or the measured diameter. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , the dilating step further comprising dilating the vagina at a constant force with the dilation device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the target diameter comprises between 7-10 cm.