Curved Endoscopic Medical Device
First Claim
1. An apparatus for occluding a fallopian tube, comprising:
- an elongate member having a distal end, a proximal end and a central interior including at least a first lumen operable to couple to a vacuum source and to draw moisture way from one or more electrodes included in an electrode carrier positioned at the distal end of the elongate member and at least a second lumen configured to receive a hysteroscope, where the first lumen and the second lumen can be the same lumen or can be separate lumens;
an electrode carrier attached to the distal end of the elongate member and including one or more bipolar electrodes formed thereon and operable to couple to a radio frequency energy generator; and
one or more conductors extending from the electrode carrier to the proximal end of the elongate member and configured to connect to a controller operable to control the delivery of radio frequency energy to the one or more bipolar electrodes;
where the elongate member is a substantially rigid member configured with a curve to facilitate advancement of the distal end transcervically through a uterus and into a region of a tubal ostium of a fallopian tube to be occluded.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A medical device and procedure is described which can be used for occluding a fallopian tube. In one implementation, the apparatus includes an elongate member, an electrode carrier and one or more conductors. The elongate member has a lumen operable to couple to a vacuum source and draw moisture way from one or more electrodes included in the electrode carrier, and a lumen configured to receive a hysteroscope. The electrode carrier includes one or more bipolar electrodes and can to couple to a radio frequency energy generator. The one or more conductors connect to a controller operable to control the delivery of radio frequency energy to the one or more bipolar electrodes. The elongate member is a substantially rigid member configured with a curve to facilitate advancement of the distal end transcervically through a uterus and into a region of a tubal ostium of a fallopian tube to be occluded.
495 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus for occluding a fallopian tube, comprising:
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an elongate member having a distal end, a proximal end and a central interior including at least a first lumen operable to couple to a vacuum source and to draw moisture way from one or more electrodes included in an electrode carrier positioned at the distal end of the elongate member and at least a second lumen configured to receive a hysteroscope, where the first lumen and the second lumen can be the same lumen or can be separate lumens; an electrode carrier attached to the distal end of the elongate member and including one or more bipolar electrodes formed thereon and operable to couple to a radio frequency energy generator; and one or more conductors extending from the electrode carrier to the proximal end of the elongate member and configured to connect to a controller operable to control the delivery of radio frequency energy to the one or more bipolar electrodes; where the elongate member is a substantially rigid member configured with a curve to facilitate advancement of the distal end transcervically through a uterus and into a region of a tubal ostium of a fallopian tube to be occluded. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for occluding a fallopian tube, comprising:
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a hysteroscope including a working channel extending from a distal end to a proximal end, where the hysteroscope is substantially rigid and configured with a curve to facilitate advancement of the distal end transcervically through a uterine cavity and into a region of a tubal ostium of a fallopian tube to be occluded; an elongate member positioned within the working channel of the hysteroscope, the elongate member having a distal end, a proximal end and a central interior including a lumen operable to couple to a vacuum source and to draw moisture way from one or more electrodes included in an electrode carrier positioned at the distal end of the elongate member and where the elongate member is a substantially rigid member configured with a curve similar to the curve of the hysteroscope to facilitate advancement of the distal end of the elongate member to the distal end of the hysteroscope; an electrode carrier attached to the distal end of the elongate member and including one or more bipolar electrodes formed thereon and operable to couple to a radio frequency energy generator; and one or more conductors extending from the electrode carrier to the proximal end of the elongate member and configured to connect to a controller operable to control the delivery of radio frequency energy to the one or more bipolar electrodes.
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15. An apparatus for ablating tissue, comprising:
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an elongate member having a distal end, a proximal end and a central interior including at least a first lumen operable to couple to a vacuum source and to draw moisture way from one or more electrodes included in an electrode carrier positioned at the distal end of the elongate member and at least a second lumen configured to receive an endoscope; an electrode carrier attached to the distal end of the elongate member and including one or more bipolar electrodes formed thereon and operable to couple to a radio frequency energy generator; and one or more conductors extending from the electrode carrier to the proximal end of the elongate member and configured to connect to a controller operable to control the delivery of radio frequency energy to the one or more bipolar electrodes; where the elongate member is a substantially rigid member configured with a curve to facilitate advancement of the distal end through a body cavity to a region of tissue to be ablated.
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16. An apparatus for ablating tissue, comprising:
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an endoscope including a working channel extending from a distal end to a proximal end, where the endoscope is substantially rigid and configured with a curve to facilitate advancement of the distal end through a body cavity to a region of tissue to be ablated; an elongate member positioned within the working channel of the endoscope, the elongate member having a distal end, a proximal end and a central interior including a lumen operable to couple to a vacuum source and to draw moisture way from one or more electrodes included in an electrode carrier positioned at the distal end of the elongate member and where the elongate member is a substantially rigid member configured with a curve similar to the curve of the hysteroscope to facilitate advancement of the distal end of the elongate member to the distal end of the endoscope; an electrode carrier attached to the distal end of the elongate member and including one or more bipolar electrodes formed thereon and operable to couple to a radio frequency energy generator; and one or more conductors extending from the electrode carrier to the proximal end of the elongate member and configured to connect to a controller operable to control the delivery of radio frequency energy to the one or more bipolar electrodes.
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17. An apparatus for occluding a fallopian tube, comprising:
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an elongate member having a distal end, a proximal end and a central interior including at least a first lumen operable to couple to a vacuum source and to draw moisture way from one or more electrodes included in an electrode carrier positioned at the distal end of the elongate member and at least a second lumen configured to receive a hysteroscope, where the first lumen and the second lumen can be the same lumen or can be separate lumens; an electrode carrier attached to the distal end of the elongate member and including one or more bipolar electrodes formed thereon and operable to couple to a radio frequency energy generator, where the electrode carrier has a substantially cylindrical shape; and one or more conductors extending from the electrode carrier to the proximal end of the elongate member and configured to connect to a controller operable to control the delivery of radio frequency energy to the one or more bipolar electrodes; where the elongate member includes an aperture formed in a sidewall of the elongate member toward a distal end of the elongate member but proximate to the electrode carrier, the aperture configured to allow a distal end of the hysteroscope to pass through, providing the hysteroscope with a field of view extending from a side of the elongate member. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. An apparatus for occluding a fallopian tube, comprising:
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an elongate member having a distal end, a proximal end and a central interior including at least a first lumen operable to couple to a vacuum source and to draw moisture way from one or more electrodes included in an electrode carrier positioned at the distal end of the elongate member and at least a second lumen configured to receive a rigid and curved hysteroscope, where the first lumen and the second lumen can be the same lumen or can be separate lumens; an electrode carrier attached to the distal end of the elongate member and including one or more bipolar electrodes formed thereon and operable to couple to a radio frequency energy generator; and one or more conductors extending from the electrode carrier to the proximal end of the elongate member and configured to connect to a controller operable to control the delivery of radio frequency energy to the one or more bipolar electrodes; where the elongate member is a substantially flexible member configured to bend into a curved configuration upon receiving the rigid and curved hysteroscope in the second lumen, where the curve facilitates advancement of the distal end transcervically through a uterus and into a region of a tubal ostium of a fallopian tube to be occluded.
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20. A method for fallopian tubal occlusion, comprising:
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inserting a substantially rigid, curved elongate member including a substantially cylindrically shaped electrode carrier positioned at a distal end with one or more bipolar electrodes formed thereon into a uterine cavity; positioning the electrode carrier at a tubal ostium of a fallopian tube such that a distal end of the electrode carrier advances into the tubal ostium; and passing radio frequency energy through the one or more bipolar electrodes to the tubal ostium to destroy tissue to a known depth and to precipitate a healing response in surrounding tissue that over time scars and occludes the fallopian tube. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification