Method and apparatus for tubal occlusion

• US 20040204720A1
• Filed: 04/26/2004
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cytyc Corporation (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Adiana, Inc. (Hologic Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bowman, Brett, Harrington, Douglas C., Breining, Peter M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,220,259 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/119
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12022 Occluding by internal devices, e.g. balloons or releasable wires plugging an opening in the wall of an organ A61B17/0057; occluders for the cervical canal A61F6/146; vas deferens occluders A61F6/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12099 characterised by the location of the occluder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12109 in a blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12159 Solid plugs; being solid before insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1485 having a short rigid shaft for accessing the inner body through natural openings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00559 Female reproductive organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00666 using a threshold value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00678 upper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00708 switching the power on or off
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00738 Depth, e.g. depth of ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00755 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00815 measured by a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00821 measured by a thermocouple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1253 monopolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 : bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1437 : whereby the windings of the spiral touch each other such as to create a continuous surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1467 : using more than two electrodes on a single probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3925 : ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 : Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 6/225 : transcervical

Abstract

A device for sterilizing females by occluding the uterotubal junction. The device includes a catheter with a releasable heat generating plug which is used to thermally damage the uterotubal junction and cause it to constrict around the plug, after which the plug is released from the catheter and left in place in the uterotubal junction.

Claims

1. A device for sterilization of a female comprising:

a catheter having a distal end adapted for insertion through the vagina and cervical canal and into the uterine tube of the female;

a detachable non-expandable plug releasably mounted to the distal end of the catheter;

means for applying energy to the uterine tube, through the plug; and

a release mechanism capable of releasing the non-expandable plug from the distal end of the catheter;

wherein said plug is configured to fit entirely within the uterine tube and wherein said electrode is capable of applying energy to the plug sufficient to cause damage to the uterine tube.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the plug comprises an insulator and an electrode mounted in the insulator, and the means for applying energy comprises a source of electrical energy coupled to the electrode.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the plug comprises a resistive heating element, and the means for applying energy comprises a source of electrical energy coupled to the resistive heating element.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the plug comprises a laser heating tip, and the means for applying energy comprises a source of laser energy coupled to the electrode.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the plug comprises a piezoelectric crystal, and the means for applying energy comprises a source of electrical energy coupled to the crystal.

6. A device for sterilization of a female comprising:

a catheter having a distal end adapted for insertion through the vagina and cervical canal and into the uterotubal junction of the female;

a detachable non-expandable plug releasably mounted to the distal end of the catheter;

means for applying energy to the uterotubal junction, through the plug; and

a release mechanism capable of releasing the non-expandable plug from the distal end of the catheter;

wherein said plug is configured to fit entirely within the uterotubal junction and wherein said electrode is capable of applying energy to the plug sufficient to cause damage to the uterotubal junction.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the plug comprises an insulator and an electrode mounted in the insulator, and the means for applying energy comprises a source of electrical energy coupled to the electrode.

8. The device of claim 6 wherein the plug comprises a resistive heating element, and the means for applying energy comprises a source of electrical energy coupled to the resistive heating element.

9. The device of claim 6 wherein the plug comprises a laser heating tip, and the means for applying energy comprises a source of laser energy coupled to the electrode.

10. The device of claim 6 wherein the plug comprises a piezoelectric crystal, and the means for applying energy comprises a source of electrical energy coupled to the crystal.

11. A device for sterilization of a female comprising:

a catheter having a distal end adapted for insertion through the vagina and cervical canal and into the uterus of the female;

a detachable non-expandable plug with at least one electrode mounted on the plug wherein the plug is releasably mounted to the distal end of the catheter; and

a release mechanism capable of releasing the non-expandable plug from the distal end of the catheter;

wherein said plug is configured to fit within the uterotubal junction and wherein said electrode is capable of applying energy to the plug sufficient to cause damage to the uterotubal junction.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the release mechanism is comprised of:

at least one tang extending from the plug into the catheter, said tang being resiliently biased toward the center of the catheter;

at least one receiving hole disposed within the catheter near the distal end of the catheter for receiving the tang to lock the plug to the catheter;

a slidable core extending from the proximal end of the catheter to the distal end of the catheter, said slidable core having a distal end with a first diameter, said slidable core disposed within the catheter and extending into obstructing relationship with the tang, thereby preventing the tang from resiliently bending toward the center of the catheter when obstructed by the core and maintaining the tang engaged with the receiving hole, said slidable core being slidable distally to move out of obstructing relationship with the tang;

a bore within the plug, said bore having a first diameter; and

a distally extending segment on the core, said distally extending segment extending from the distal end and having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter of the distal end, said second diameter sufficient to permit the distally extending segment to fit within the bore of the electrode.

13. The device of claim 11 where in the plug is comprised of porous material.

14. The device of claim 11 wherein the plug has at least one electrode operable as a monopolar electrode.

15. The device of claim 11 wherein the plug comprises at least two electrodes operable as bipolar electrodes.

16. The device of claim 11 further comprising a power source capable of applying RF energy to the plug sufficient to cause damage to the uterotubal junction.

17. The device of claim 11 wherein the release mechanism is capable of transferring RF energy to the electrode.

18. The device of claim 11 wherein the plug further comprises an in-growth promoting compound.

19. A device for sterilization of a female comprising:

a catheter having a detachable non-expanding plug releasably mounted on the distal end of the catheter; and

a release mechanism capable of releasing the plug from the distal end of the catheter;

wherein said plug is configured to fit within the uterotubal junction and wherein said electrode is capable of applying energy to the plug sufficient to cause damage to the uterotubal junction;

wherein the release mechanism comprises at least one tang extending from the plug into the catheter, said tang being resiliently biased toward the center of the catheter;

at least one receiving hole disposed within the catheter near the distal end of the catheter for receiving the tang to lock the plug to the catheter;

a slidable core extending from the proximal end of the catheter to the distal end of the catheter, said slidable core having a distal end with a first diameter, said slidable core disposed within the catheter and extending into obstructing relationship with the tang, thereby preventing the tang from resiliently bending toward the center of the catheter when obstructed by the core and maintaining the tang engaged with the receiving hole, said slidable core being slidable distally to move out of obstructing relationship with the tang;

a bore within the plug, said bore having a first diameter; and

a distally extending segment on the core, said distally extending segment extending from the distal end and having a second diameter smaller than he first diameter of the distal end, said second diameter sufficient to permit the distally extending segment to fit within the bore of the electrode.

20. The device of claim 19 further comprising:

a bore within the plug;

at least one electrical contact extending from at least one of the electrodes, through the plug towards the bore of the plug, and adapted to be in electrical contact with the core;

wherein the distal end of the core is adapted for insertion into the bore and into the electrical contact with the at least one electrical contact.

21. The device of claim 20 where in the plug is comprised of porous material.

22. The device of claim 20 wherein the plug has at least one electrode operable as a monopolar electrode.

23. The device of claim 20 wherein the plug comprises at least two electrodes operable as bipolar electrodes.

24. The device of claim 20 further comprising a power source capable of applying RF energy to the plug sufficient to cause damage to the uterotubal junction.

25. The device of claim 20 wherein the release mechanism is capable of transferring RF energy to the electrode.

26. The device of claim 20 wherein the plug further comprises an in-growth promoting compound.