UTERINE MANIPULATOR

• US 20170112535A1
• Filed: 11/10/2016
• Published: 04/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Prabhat Kumar Ahluwalia
• Original Assignee: Prabhat Kumar Ahluwalia
• Inventors: AHLUWALIA, PRABHAT KUMAR
• Granted Patent: US 10,639,072 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/4241 Instruments for manoeuvring or retracting the uterus, e.g. during laparoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00455 Orientation indicators, e.g. recess on the handle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00738 part of the tool being offset with respect to a main axis, e.g. for better view for the surgeon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00862 elastic or resilient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0801 Prevention of accidental cutting or pricking
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0807 Indication means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/571 for clamping a support arm to a bed or other supports
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/50 Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0073 Tip designed for influencing the flow or the flow velocity of the fluid, e.g. inserts for twisted or vortex flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0068 Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure

Abstract

An embodiment includes a uterine manipulator system comprising: a collar including a first shelf connected to the inner surface of the collar; a stabilizer including a stabilizer rim adapted to couple to the first shelf; and a shaft adapted to pass through the stabilizer and a hollow tunnel of the collar with a bulbous tip. Other embodiments are described herein.

Claims

1. A uterine manipulator comprising:

(1) a shaft configured to contain a first hollow inner channel, the first hollow inner channel coupling a distal end of the shaft to a proximal end of the shaft;

wherein the distal end of the shaft includes at least one of a distal shaft aperture in fluid communication with the first hollow inner channel, and the proximal end of the shaft includes at least one of a proximal shaft aperture in fluid communication with the first hollow inner channel; and

wherein a portion of the shaft distal to the proximal end is curved relative to the proximal end in a “

C”

or “

S”

shape;

(2) a sliding tube containing a second hollow inner channel to receive the shaft;

wherein the sliding tube includes a proximal tube end and a distal tube end; and

wherein the sliding tube is less than a length of the shaft, and the sliding tube being configured to be slidable along the shaft;

(3) a fulcrum comprised of a collapsible and flexible material;

wherein the fulcrum contains a third hollow inner channel; and

wherein the sliding tube is in contact with the third hollow inner channel; and

(4) a handle-grippable body coupled to the proximal end of the shaft.

2. A uterine manipulator of claim 1, further comprising:

a slidable lockable stop adjacent to the proximal tube end;

wherein the lockable stop includes a fourth hollow inner channel to receive the shaft and is configured to slide along the shaft between the proximal end of the shaft and the proximal tube end; and

wherein the lockable stop includes a screw portion to affix a positioning of the lockable stop along the shaft via a screw.

3. A uterine manipulator of claim 2, further comprising:

a stabilizer including (i) a first stabilizer end comprised of a base portion with a stabilizer aperture, (ii) a second stabilizer end, opposite the first stabilizer end, having a stabilizer rim;

wherein a diameter of the first stabilizer end is less than a diameter of the second stabilizer end;

wherein the shaft is configured to pass through the stabilizer aperture; and

wherein the first stabilizer end is proximal to the distal end of the shaft.

4. A uterine manipulator of claim 3, wherein the stabilizer includes at least one of a window between the stabilizer rim and the base portion.

5. The uterine manipulator of claim 3, further comprising:

an inflatable balloon having an inflatable diameter, the inflatable diameter having a maximum inflated diameter greater than a maximum diameter of the shaft; and

wherein the inflatable balloon is coupled to the distal end of the shaft.

6. The uterine manipulator of claim 3 further comprising

(2) a bulbous tip portion having a maximum bulbous diameter greater than a maximum diameter of the shaft;

wherein the bulbous tip portion includes a first portion having a first diameter, a second portion having a second diameter, and a third portion having a third diameter;

wherein the second portion is located between the first portion and the third portion and the first portion is configured for coupling to the distal end of the shaft;

wherein the second diameter is less than the first diameter and the third diameter; and

wherein at least one bulbous tip portion aperture configured for passage of a fluid located on the bulbous tip portion, and the at least one bulbous tip portion aperture is in fluid communication with the distal shaft aperture and the first hollow inner channel.

7. The uterine manipulator of claim 6, wherein the at least one bulbous tip portion aperture is located on the second portion;

wherein the first diameter is equal in diameter to the third diameter; and

wherein the first stabilizer end is proximal to the at least one bulbous tip portion aperture.

8. The uterine manipulator of claim 7 further comprising a collar including (a)(i) a first end comprising a first opening, having a first collar diameter, surrounded by a first rim, (a)(ii) a second end, opposite the first end, having a second opening, having a second collar diameter that is larger than the first diameter, surrounded by a second rim, (a)(iii) an inner surface, coupling the first end to the second end, adapted to contact a cervix, (a)(iv) an outer surface adapted to contact a vaginal wall, (a)(v) a hollow tunnel, including the inner surface, the first opening, and the second opening wherein the hollow tunnel is adapted to receive the cervix;

and (a)(vi) a first shelf connected to the inner surface and located between the first end and the second end;

wherein the first shelf includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first surface being between the second surface and the first end, and the second surface being between the second end and the first surface; and

wherein the stabilizer rim is adapted to couple to the first shelf or the second shelf.

9. A medical device comprising:

(1) a shaft configured to contain a first hollow inner channel coupling a distal end of the shaft to a proximal end of the shaft;

wherein the distal end of the shaft includes at least one distal shaft aperture in fluid communication with the hollow inner channel, and the proximal end of the shaft includes at least one proximal shaft aperture in fluid communication with the first hollow inner channel;

(2) a bulbous tip portion having a maximum bulbous diameter greater than a maximum diameter of the shaft;

wherein the bulbous tip portion includes a first portion having a first diameter, a second portion having a second diameter, and a third portion having a third diameter;

wherein the second portion is located between the first portion and the third portion;

wherein the first portion is configured for coupling to the distal end of the shaft;

wherein the second diameter is smaller than the first diameter and the third diameter; and

wherein at least one bulbous tip portion aperture configured for passage of a fluid located on the bulbous tip portion, and the at least one bulbous tip portion aperture is in fluid communication with the distal shaft aperture and the first hollow inner channel of the shaft.

10. The medical device of claim 9, wherein the at least one bulbous tip portion aperture is located on the second portion.

11. The medical device of claim 10, wherein the first diameter is equal in diameter to the third diameter, and wherein the first diameter and third diameter are between 5 mm and 10 mm.

12. The medical device of claim 10, wherein the shaft includes a middle portion between the proximal end of the shaft and the distal end of the shaft, and wherein the middle portion includes a middle portion long axis and the distal end includes a distal end long axis that intersects the middle portion long axis at an intersection angle between 0 to 90 degrees.

13. The medical device of claim 10, comprising a stabilizer including (i) a first stabilizer end comprised of a base portion with a stabilizer aperture, (ii) a second stabilizer end, opposite the first stabilizer end, the second stabilizer end having a stabilizer rim;

wherein a diameter of the first stabilizer end is less than a diameter of the second stabilizer end;

wherein the shaft is configured to pass through the stabilizer aperture;

wherein the first stabilizer end is proximal to the distal end of the shaft; and

wherein the first stabilizer end is proximal to the at least one bulbous tip portion aperture.

14. The uterine manipulator of claim 13, further comprising:

a collar including (a)(i) a first end comprising a first opening, having a first collar diameter, surrounded by a first rim, (a)(ii) a second end, opposite the first end, having a second opening, having a second collar diameter that is larger than the first collar diameter, surrounded by a second rim, (a)(iii) an inner surface, coupling the first end to the second end, adapted to contact a cervix, (a)(iv) an outer surface adapted to contact a vaginal wall, (a)(v) a hollow tunnel, including the inner surface, the first opening, and the second opening wherein the hollow tunnel is adapted to receive the cervix; and

(a)(vi) a first shelf connected to the inner surface and located between the first and second ends;

wherein the first shelf includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first surface being between the second surface and the first end, and the second surface being between the second end and the first surface; and

wherein the stabilizer rim is adapted to couple to the first shelf or the second shelf.

15. The medical device of claim 13, wherein the stabilizer includes at least one window between the stabilizer rim and the base portion.

16. The medical device of claim 13, further comprising:

a fulcrum including of a collapsible and flexible material and containing a second hollow inner channel; and

wherein the fulcrum is configured to slide between the proximal end of the shaft and the distal end of the shaft.

17. The medical device of claim 16, further comprising:

(1) a hand-grippable body, wherein the proximal end of the shaft is configured to couple to the hand-grippable body;

(2) a sliding tube containing a third hollow inner channel to receive the shaft;

wherein the sliding tube includes a proximal tube end and a distal tube end;

wherein the sliding tube is configured to be slidable along the shaft;

wherein the sliding tube is in contact with the second hollow inner channel of the fulcrum; and

(3) a slidable lockable stop adjacent to the proximal tube end of the sliding tube;

wherein the lockable stop includes a fourth hollow inner channel to receive the shaft and is configured to slide along the shaft between the proximal end of the shaft and the proximal tube end; and

wherein the lockable stop includes a screw portion to affix a positioning of the lockable stop along the shaft via a screw.

18. A medical device comprising:

a shaft configured to contain a first hollow inner channel, the first hollow inner channel coupling a distal end of the shaft to a proximal end of the shaft;

wherein the distal end of the shaft includes at least one of a distal shaft aperture in fluid communication with the first hollow inner channel, and the proximal end of the shaft includes at least one of a proximal shaft aperture in fluid communication with the first hollow inner channel; and

a bulbous tip having an hourglass shape, comprised of a first portion having a first diameter, a second portion having a second diameter, and a third portion having a second diameter;

wherein the second portion is located between the first portion and the third portion;

wherein the second diameter is smaller than the first diameter and the third diameter;

wherein at least one aperture is located on the bulbous tip;

wherein the tip is configured to couple to the shaft for delivery of a fluid; and

wherein in the at least one aperture is in fluid communication with the first hollow inner channel;

19. The medical device of claim 18, wherein the at least one aperture is located on the second portion, and wherein the first diameter is equal in diameter to the third diameter.

20. The medical device of claim 19, wherein the bulbous tip is configured for attachment to the distal end of a uterine manipulator device.