Method and Apparatus for Tubal Occlusion

• US 20070215163A1
• Filed: 05/22/2007
• Published: 09/20/2007
• 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, Breining, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,905,880 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/831
• 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 method of occluding the ovarian pathway of a female body, wherein the ovarian pathway is lined by an epithelium layer on the inner surface of the ovarian pathway, said method comprising the steps of:

inserting a catheter having a detachable non-expandable plug releasably mounted to a distal end of the catheter through the vagina and cervical canal into the uterine tube of the female;

applying sufficient energy to the uterine tube, through the plug, to cause damage to the uterine tube; and

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

2. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in a configuration capable of fitting entirely within the uterine tube.

3. The method of claim 2 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in the form of an insulator and an electrode mounted in the insulator.

4. The method of claim 3 additionally comprising the step of providing the energy in the form of a source of electrical energy coupled to the electrode.

5. The method of claim 2 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in the form of a resistive heating element.

6. The method of claim 5 additionally comprising the step of providing the energy in the form of electrical energy coupled to the resistive heating element.

7. The method of claim 2 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in the form of a laser heating tip.

8. The method of claim 7 additionally comprising the step of providing the energy in the form of a source of laser energy coupled to the laser heating tip.

9. The method of claim 2 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in the form of a piezo-electric crystal.

10. The method of claim 9 additionally comprising the step of providing the energy in the form of a source of electrical energy coupled to the crystal.

21. The method of claim 2 additionally comprising the step of providing the release mechanism in the form 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 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.

22. The method of claim 2 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in the form of porous material.

23. The device of claim 2 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in the form of at least one electrode operable as a monopolar electrode.

24. The device of claim 2 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in the form of at least two electrodes operable as bipolar electrodes.

25. The device of claim 2 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in the form of a power source capable of applying RF energy to the plug sufficient to cause damage to the uterine tube.

26. The device of claim 2 additionally comprising the step of providing the release mechanism is capable of transferring RF energy to the electrode.

27. The device of claim 2 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in the form of an in-growth promoting compound.

11. A method of sterilizing a female, said method comprising the steps of:

inserting a catheter having a detachable non-expandable plug releasably mounted to a distal end of the catheter through the vagina and cervical canal into the uterine tube of the female;

applying sufficient energy to the uterotubal junction, through the plug, to cause damage to the uterotubal junction; and

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

12. The method of claim 11 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in a configuration capable of fitting entirely within the uterine tube.

13. The method of claim 12 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in the form of an insulator and an electrode mounted in the insulator.

14. The method of claim 13 additionally comprising the step of providing the energy in the form of a source of electrical energy coupled to the electrode.

15. The method of claim 12 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in the form of a resistive heating element.

16. The method of claim 15 additionally comprising the step of providing the energy in the form of electrical energy coupled to the resistive heating element.

17. The method of claim 12 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in the form of a laser heating tip.

18. The method of claim 17 additionally comprising the step of providing the energy in the form of a source of laser energy coupled to the laser heating tip.

19. The method of claim 12 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in the form of a piezo-electric crystal.

20. The method of claim 19 additionally comprising the step of providing the energy in the form of a source of electrical energy coupled to the crystal.

28. The method of claim 12 additionally comprising the step of providing the release mechanism in the form 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 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.

29. The method of claim 12 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in the form of porous material.

30. The device of claim 12 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in the form of at least one electrode operable as a monopolar electrode.

31. The device of claim 12 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in the form of at least two electrodes operable as bipolar electrodes.

32. The device of claim 12 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in the form of a power source capable of applying RF energy to the plug sufficient to cause damage to the uterine tube.

33. The device of claim 12 additionally comprising the step of providing the release mechanism is capable of transferring RF energy to the electrode.

34. The device of claim 12 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in the form of an in-growth promoting compound.