Uterine therapy device and method

• US 10,154,871 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2012
• Issued: 12/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aegea Medical Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aegea Medical Inc.
• Inventors: Sharkey, Hugh R., Reyes, Ramiro, Sparks, Kurt D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bosworth, Kami A
• Application Number:
  US13/550,392
• Publication Number:
  US 20120283717A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,346 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/04 by heating by applying electromagnetic radiation A61B18/18; hyperthermia using electric or magnetic fields, radiation or ultrasound A61N
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3425 for internal organs, e.g. heart ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/4216 Operations on uterus, e.g. endometrium
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/4225 Cervix uteri
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00005 Cooling or heating of the probe or tissue immediately surrounding the probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00285 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00559 Female reproductive organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/048 in gaseous form

Abstract

A method and system of providing therapy to a patient'"'"'s uterus. The system has an access tool with a lumen, the access tool being adapted to be inserted through a human cervical canal to place an opening of the lumen within a uterus when the access tool is inserted through the cervical canal; a seal disposed at a distal region of the access tool and adapted to seal the access tool against an interior cervical os; a sealing indicator adapted to provide a user with an indication that the seal has sealed the access tool with the interior cervical os; and a vapor delivery mechanism adapted to deliver condensable vapor through the access tool to the uterus, the condensable vapor being adapted to condense within the uterus.

Claims

1. A method of providing heat therapy to a patient'"'"'s uterus comprising:

inserting a uterine heat therapy system through a cervix and a cervical canal into the uterus;

creating a seal between an exterior surface of the uterine heat therapy system and the cervical canal;

delivering vapor through the uterine heat therapy system into the uterus; and

condensing the vapor on tissue within the uterus.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing an indication to a user that the seal has been created.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of creating a seal comprises expanding an expandable member.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the expandable member comprises at least one balloon.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of creating a seal further comprises expanding a first portion of the at least one balloon at an interior cervical os and expanding a second portion of the at least one balloon proximal to the interior cervical os.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising exhausting vapor or vapor condensate from the uterus.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of delivering vapor through the uterine heat therapy system comprises delivering vapor through at least one vapor delivery port of the uterine heat therapy system.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising, prior to the step of delivering vapor, generating vapor in a vapor source.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating vapor in a vapor source disposed within a handle portion of the uterine heat therapy system.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating vapor in a vapor source remote from the uterine heat therapy system.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising, prior to the step of delivering vapor, allowing vapor to flow through a warming circuit of the uterine heat therapy system to ensure vapor quality.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising, prior to the step of delivering vapor, delivering saline through the uterine heat therapy system into the uterus to flush the uterus.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of creating a seal further comprises creating the seal between an exterior surface of the uterine heat therapy system and the cervical canal up to an interior cervical os.