Method and Apparatus for the Ablation of Endometrial Tissue

• US 20100114082A1
• Filed: 10/06/2009
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Santa Anna Tech LLC
• Original Assignee: Santa Anna Tech LLC
• Inventors: Sharma, Virender K.
• Application Number:
  US12/573,944
• Publication Number:
  US 20100114082A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/24 for use in the oral cavity, larynx, bronchial passages or nose for medical inspection of cavities or tubes in the body A61B1/00; Tongue scrapers
• 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 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00279 deployable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00488 Esophagus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00773 Sensed parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/048 in gaseous form
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/04 Constructional details of apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1076 for measuring dimensions inside body cavities, e.g. using catheters A61B3/1005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0468 non-physiological
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10 Balloon catheters A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02; inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 ; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1011 Multiple balloon catheters

Abstract

The present invention is directed toward a device that performs ablation of tissue. The device has a catheter with a shaft through which an ablative agent can travel, a first positioning element attached to the catheter shaft at a first position and a second positioning element attached to the catheter shaft at a second position. The shaft also has ports through which the ablative agent can be released.

Claims

1. A device to perform ablation of endometrial tissue, comprising

a. a catheter having a shaft through which an ablative agent can travel;

b. a first positioning element attached to said catheter shaft at a first position, wherein said first positioning element is configured to center said catheter in a center of a cervix; and

c. a shaft comprises a plurality of ports through which said ablative agent can be released out of said shaft.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a second positioning element attached to said catheter shaft at a second position

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the first positioning element is conical.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the first positioning element comprises an insulated membrane.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein said insulated membrane is configured to prevent an escape of thermal energy through the cervix.

6. The device of claim 2 wherein said second positioning element is disc shaped.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein second positioning element has a predefined dimension and wherein said dimension is used to determine a uterine cavity size.

8. The device of claim 6 wherein the second positioning element has a predefined dimension and wherein said dimension is used to calculate an amount of thermal energy needed to ablate the endometrial tissue.

9. The device of claim 1 further comprising at least one temperature sensor wherein said temperature sensor is used to control delivery of said ablative agent.

10. The device of claim 1 further comprising at least one of acoustic, electromagnetic, infrared or radiofrequency energy sensor wherein said sensor is used to measure the dimension of the uterus.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein said ablative agent is steam.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein said first positioning element is a covered wire mesh.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein said first positioning element comprises a circular body with a diameter between 0.01 mm and 10 cm.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein said second positioning element is oval and wherein said oval has a long axis between 0.01 mm and 10 cm and a short axis between 0.01 mm and 5 cm.

15. A device to perform ablation of endometrial tissue, comprising

a. a catheter having a hollow shaft through which steam can be delivered;

b. a first positioning element attached to said catheter shaft at a first position, wherein said first positioning element is conical and configured to center said catheter in a center of a cervix;

c. a second positioning element attached to said catheter shaft at a second position, wherein the second positioning element is elliptical shaped;

d. a plurality of ports integrally formed in said catheter shaft, wherein steam can be released out of said ports and directed toward endometrial tissue and wherein said ports are located between said first position and second position; and

e. at least one temperature sensor.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein second positioning element has a predefined dimension and wherein said dimension is used to determine a uterine cavity size.

17. The device of claim 15 wherein the second positioning element has a predefined dimension and wherein said dimension is used to calculate an amount of thermal energy needed to ablate the endometrial tissue.

18. The device of claim 16 wherein said temperature sensors are used to control delivery of said ablative agent.

19. The device of claim 15 wherein said first positioning element comprises wire mesh.

20. The device of claim 15 wherein said second positioning element has a disc shape that is oval and wherein said oval has a long axis between 0.01 mm and 10 cm and a short axis between 0.01 mm and 5 cm.