Uterine Therapy Device and Method

• US 20090054869A1
• Filed: 08/22/2008
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aegea Medical Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aegea Medical Inc.
• Inventors: REYES, RAMIRO, SPARKS, KURT D., SHARKEY, HUGH R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,216,217 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/515
• 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. In some embodiments the method includes the steps of: inserting an access tool through a cervix and a cervical canal into the uterus; placing an expansion mechanism in contact with tissue within the uterus to move uterine tissue surfaces away from an opening in an access tool lumen; delivering vapor through the vapor delivery tool into the uterus; and condensing the vapor on tissue within the uterus. The system has an access tool adapted to be inserted through a human cervical canal to place an opening of an access tool lumen within a uterus when the access tool is inserted through the cervical canal; an expansion mechanism adapted to be advanced into the uterus to move uterine tissue surfaces away from the opening in the access tool lumen; 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 an access tool through a cervix and a cervical canal into the uterus, the access tool comprising a lumen and an opening in the lumen;

placing an expansion mechanism in contact with tissue within the uterus to move uterine tissue surfaces away from the opening in the lumen;

delivering vapor through the vapor delivery tool into the uterus; and

condensing the vapor on tissue within the uterus.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising advancing the expansion mechanism distally prior to the placing step.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein advancing the expansion mechanism distally comprises, prior to the step of delivering vapor, ceasing advancement of the expansion mechanism before a distal portion of the expansion mechanism reaches a fallopian os.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein advancing the expansion mechanism distally comprises advancing the expansion mechanism to place a distal portion of the expansion mechanism adjacent a fallopian os.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein advancing the expansion mechanism comprises moving an expansion mechanism actuator on the access tool.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the expansion mechanism comprises two expansion arms, the placing step comprising moving the expansion arms apart.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein distal portions of the expansion arms together form an obturator tip prior to the step of moving the expansion arms apart.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising advancing the expansion mechanism to place the distal portion of each arm adjacent a fallopian os.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising sealing an interior cervical os after the inserting step.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of delivering vapor comprises inserting a vapor delivery tool through the access tool lumen.

11. A uterine heat therapy system comprising:

an access tool comprising 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;

an expansion mechanism adapted to be advanced into the uterus to move uterine tissue surfaces away from the opening in the access tool lumen; 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.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the expansion mechanism, when fully advanced, is adapted to extend beyond the opening of the access tool lumen less than a distance from an interior cervical os of the uterus to a fallopian tube os of the uterus.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the expansion mechanism, when fully advanced, is adapted to extend beyond the opening of the access tool lumen substantially all a distance from a interior cervical os of the uterus to a fallopian tube os of the uterus.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the access tool comprises an expansion mechanism actuator operatively connected to the expansion tool to expand the expansion tool.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the expansion mechanism actuator is further adapted to advance the expansion mechanism distally beyond the opening of the access tool lumen.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein the expansion mechanism comprises two expansion arms adapted to move apart as the expansion mechanism is advanced beyond the opening of the access tool lumen.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein distal portions of the expansion arms together form an obturator tip prior to moving the expansion arms apart.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein each of the distal portions of the expansion arms is sized to substantially occlude a fallopian os of the uterus.

19. The system of claim 11 further comprising a seal disposed at a distal region of the access tool and adapted to seal against an interior cervical os.

20. The system of claim 11 further comprising a vapor delivery tool adapted to be inserted through the access tool lumen.