Methods and systems for evaluating the integrity of a uterine cavity

• US 10,028,696 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2017
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Minerva Surgical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Minerva Surgical, Inc.
• Inventors: Toth, Akos, Bek, Robin, Filloux, Dominique
• Primary Examiner(s): HINDENBURG, MAX F
• Application Number:
  US15/488,395
• Publication Number:
  US 20170215788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/042 using additional gas becoming plasma
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1485 having a short rigid shaft for accessing the inner body through natural openings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/4216 Operations on uterus, e.g. endometrium
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00559 Female reproductive organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00821 measured by a thermocouple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/147 Electrodes transferring energy by capacitive coupling, i.e. with a dielectricum between electrode and target tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/05 Surgical care
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4325 of the uterine cavities, e.g. uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 13/003 Blowing gases other than for carrying powders, e.g. for inflating, dilating or rinsing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/00 Devices for introducing or retaining media, e.g. remedies, in cavities of the body A61M25/00 takes precedence ; introducing or retaining ophthalmic products into the ocular cavities A61F9/0008

Abstract

Methods, systems and devices for evaluating the integrity of a uterine cavity. A method comprises introducing transcervically a probe into a patient'"'"'s uterine cavity, providing a flow of a fluid (e.g., CO₂) through the probe into the uterine cavity and monitoring the rate of the flow to characterize the uterine cavity as perforated or non-perforated based on a change in the flow rate.

Claims

1. A system for characterizing a patient'"'"'s uterus, said system comprising:

a probe;

means for introducing a flow of gas through the probe;

means for measuring an inflow rate of the flow of gas through the probe when positioned in the uterus;

means for comparing a measured peak flow with a measured subsequent flow rate through the probe to produce a comparison of the measured peak flow rate and the measured subsequent flow rate; and

means for determining whether the uterus cavity is perforated based at least in part on the comparison of the peak and subsequent flow rates.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein the probe is adapted for transcervical introduction to the uterus.

3. A system as in claim 1, wherein the gas introducing means is adapted to deliver the gas at a pre-determined constant pressure.

4. A system as in claim 3, wherein the gas introducing means is adapted to introduce the gas at a pressure in the range from 0.025 psi to 1 psi.

5. A system as in claim 3, wherein the gas introducing means is adapted to deliver gas at a pre-determined initial flow rate.

6. A system as in claim 5, wherein the initial flow rate is in the range from 0.05 slpm to 0.2 slpm.

7. A system as in claim 5, wherein the determining means detects when the initial flow rate drops by at least 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, or 50% of the initial flow rate.

8. A system as in claim 5, wherein the determining means detects when the initial flow rate drops to a value in the range from 0.01 slpm to 0.1 slpm.