Uterine Manipulator Assemblies and Related Components and Methods

• US 20100106163A1
• Filed: 09/23/2009
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Coopersurgical Incorporated (The Cooper Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Coopersurgical Incorporated (The Cooper Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Long, Michael, Williams, Robert, Sugalski, Eric, Susi, Michael, Lawrence, Tyson, Blair, Kerry
• Granted Patent: US 8,545,513 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/119
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/4241 Instruments for manoeuvring or retracting the uterus, e.g. during laparoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/4216 Operations on uterus, e.g. endometrium

Abstract

A uterine manipulator includes an elongate shaft and a tip hub. The elongate shaft has a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end is configured to be inserted into a vagina. The tip hub is disposed at the distal end and is configured to releasably receive and support a tip mount for engaging a uterus. The elongate shaft includes one or more channels extending between the distal and proximal ends. The channels are configured to releasably receive catheter tubing.

Claims

1. A uterine manipulator assembly comprising:

a tip mount comprising;

a tip configured to extend into a uterus, and

one or more catheter tubes in fluid communication with the tip; and

a uterine manipulator comprising;

an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being configured to be inserted into a vagina,

wherein the tip mount can be secured to the distal end of the elongate shaft, and

wherein the elongate shaft forms one or more channels extending between the distal and proximal ends, the one or more channels being configured to releasably receive the one or more catheter tubes of the tip mount.

2. The uterine manipulator assembly of claim 1, further comprising a tip hub disposed at the distal end of the elongate shaft, the tip hub being configured to releasably receive and support the tip mount.

3. The uterine manipulator assembly of claim 1, further comprising a cup configured to be coupled to the uterine manipulator, the cup comprising a first open end configured to receive a cervix.

4. The uterine manipulator assembly of claim 3, wherein the cup is configured to be coupled to the elongate shaft via the tip mount.

5. The uterine manipulator assembly of claim 3, wherein the cup is configured to be coupled to the uterine manipulator such that the cup is slidable between the proximal and distal ends of the elongate shaft.

6. The uterine manipulator assembly of claim 3, further comprising a vaginal occluder attached to the cup, wherein the vaginal occluder is operable to inhibit the passage of fluid through a vaginal cavity.

7. The uterine manipulator assembly of claim 3, wherein the cup is connected to the tip mount by one or more collapsible connecting members.

8. The uterine manipulator assembly of claim 1, wherein the tip comprises an expandable member and at least one of the one or more catheter tubes is in fluid communication with the expandable member.

9. The uterine manipulator assembly of claim 1, further comprising a vaginal occluder configured to be coupled to the uterine manipulator, wherein the vaginal occluder is operable to inhibit the passage of fluid through a vaginal cavity.

10. The uterine manipulator assembly claim 9, wherein the vaginal occluder is configured to be coupled to the uterine manipulator via the tip mount.

11. The uterine manipulator assembly of claim 1, wherein the elongate shaft is substantially arcuate.

12. The uterine manipulator assembly of claim 1, wherein the tip hub is configured to align the one or more catheter tubes of the tip mount in a predetermined position relative to the elongate shaft such that the one or more catheter tubes of the tip mount are substantially aligned with the one more channels.

13. The uterine manipulator assembly of claim 1, wherein the elongate shaft comprises a mounting interface.

14. The uterine manipulator assembly of claim 13, wherein the mounting interface comprises one or more flat regions on the elongate shaft.

15. The uterine manipulator assembly of claim 1, further comprising a handle disposed at the proximal end of the elongate shaft.

16. The uterine manipulator assembly of claim 1, wherein the elongate shaft comprises a plurality of said channels.

17. The uterine manipulator assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of said channels are spaced radially about the elongate shaft.

18. The uterine manipulator assembly of claim 17, wherein each of the one or more channels is configured to received and support a single one of the catheter tubes of the tip mount.

19. The uterine manipulator assembly of claim 18, wherein each of the one or more channels is configured to retain one of the catheter tubes in a position substantially flush with an outer surface of the elongate shaft.

20. The uterine manipulator assembly of claim 1, wherein the elongate shaft further comprises one or more openings extending along the channels, the one or more openings being configured to allow catheter tubing to be inserted into and removed from the channels.

21. The uterine manipulator assembly of claim 1, wherein the uterine manipulator is formed of a material or materials capable of withstanding medical device sterilization procedures.

22. The uterine manipulator assembly of claim 1, wherein the uterine manipulator is reusable, and the tip mount is constructed for one-time use.

23. A uterine manipulator comprising:

an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being configured to be inserted into a vagina; and

a tip hub disposed at the distal end and configured to releasably receive and support a tip mount for engaging a uterus,

wherein the elongate shaft forms one or more channels extending between the distal and proximal ends, the one or more channels being configured to releasably receive catheter tubing.

24. The uterine manipulator of claim 23, wherein the elongate shaft is substantially arcuate.

25. The uterine manipulator of claim 23, wherein the tip hub is configured to align a received tip mount in a predetermined position relative to the one or more channels of the elongate shaft.

26. The uterine manipulator of claim 23, wherein the elongate shaft comprises a mounting interface.

27. The uterine manipulator of claim 26, wherein the mounting interface comprises one or more flat regions on the elongate shaft.

28. The uterine manipulator of claim 23, further comprising a handle disposed at the proximal end of the elongate shaft.

29. The uterine manipulator of claim 23, wherein the elongate shaft comprises a plurality of said channels.

30. The uterine manipulator of claim 23, wherein the plurality of said channels are spaced radially about the elongate shaft.

31. The uterine manipulator of claim 30, wherein each of the plurality of channels is configured to receive and support a single catheter tube.

32. The uterine manipulator of claim 31, wherein each of the one or more channels is configured to retain the catheter tubes in a position substantially flush with an outer surface of the elongate shaft.

33. The uterine manipulator of claim 23, wherein the elongate shaft further comprises one or more openings extending along the channels, the one or more openings being configured to allow catheter tubing to be inserted into and removed from the channels.

34. The uterine manipulator of claim 23, wherein the elongate shaft is formed of a material or materials capable of withstanding medical device sterilization procedures.

35. A method comprising:

mounting a tip mount to a uterine manipulator; and

then

inserting one or more catheter tubes of the tip mount into one or more channels in the uterine manipulator.