Endometrial tissue curette and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An elongate hollow cylindrical endometrial tissue curette for removing an endometrial tissue lining a uterus, the curette comprising:
- a longitudinally elongate hollow curetting head, at a distal end of the curette, having an outside surface extending longitudinally to a substantially rounded tip and an inside surface defining a hollow interior, the curetting head having at least one substantially longitudinally elongate slot with at least a portion of the at least one elongate slot extending into the substantially rounded tip, the at least one elongate slot comprising at least two substantially longitudinal margins defining a space there between and through the hollow curetting head and providing a direct communication from the hollow interior to the outside of the elongate hollow curetting head,at least one curetting edge formed on at least one of the at least two substantially longitudinal margins at the outside surface; and
suction means for creating a suction in the hollow curetting head at the at least one elongate slot to suctionably draw an endometrial tissue sample into the space between the at least two margins;
whereby rotating the elongate hollow cylindrical endometrial tissue curette around its longitudinal axis rotates the at least one curetting edge curetting the tissue sample free from the lining of the uterus and suctioning the tissue sample into the hollow curetting head.
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Abstract
A uterine curette device and method for curetting the endometrial lining the uterus using a cannula having a hollow curetting head including at least one longitudinal slot through which endometrium can be suctioned into the curetting head. The at least one longitudinal slot having two margins with at least one margin having a curetting edge where the margin meets the outer surface of the curetting head. Endometrium is curetted by rotating the cannula about its longitudinal axis so that the at least one curetting edge curettes off the endometrial sample which is then suctioned into the cannula.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. An elongate hollow cylindrical endometrial tissue curette for removing an endometrial tissue lining a uterus, the curette comprising:
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a longitudinally elongate hollow curetting head, at a distal end of the curette, having an outside surface extending longitudinally to a substantially rounded tip and an inside surface defining a hollow interior, the curetting head having at least one substantially longitudinally elongate slot with at least a portion of the at least one elongate slot extending into the substantially rounded tip, the at least one elongate slot comprising at least two substantially longitudinal margins defining a space there between and through the hollow curetting head and providing a direct communication from the hollow interior to the outside of the elongate hollow curetting head, at least one curetting edge formed on at least one of the at least two substantially longitudinal margins at the outside surface; and suction means for creating a suction in the hollow curetting head at the at least one elongate slot to suctionably draw an endometrial tissue sample into the space between the at least two margins; whereby rotating the elongate hollow cylindrical endometrial tissue curette around its longitudinal axis rotates the at least one curetting edge curetting the tissue sample free from the lining of the uterus and suctioning the tissue sample into the hollow curetting head. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An endometrial tissue curette for removing an endometrial tissue lining a uterus, the curette comprising:
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a cannula defining an elongate cylindrical hollow bore and having an open proximal end and an open distal end along the longitudinal axis of the cannula; a longitudinally elongate hollow curetting head at the distal end of the cannula, having an outside surface extending longitudinally to a substantially rounded tip and a hollow interior in direct communication with the hollow bore, the curetting head having at least one substantially longitudinally elongate slot with at least a portion of the at least one elongate slot extending into the substantially rounded tip, the at least one elongate slot comprising at least two substantially longitudinal margins defining a space there between and through the hollow curetting head and providing a direct communication from the hollow interior to the outside of the elongate hollow curetting head, at least one curetting edge formed on at least one of the at least two substantially longitudinal margins at the outside surface; and suction means for creating a suction in the cylindrical bore and the interior of the curetting head at the at least one slot to suctionably draw an endometrial tissue sample into the space between the at least two margins; whereby rotating the cannula around the cannula longitudinal axis rotates the at least one curetting edge curetting the tissue sample free from the lining of the uterus and suctioning the tissue sample into the cylindrical hollow bore. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method of curetting an endometrial lining of a uterus, the method of curetting comprising the steps of:
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providing a hollow cylindrical curette having a distal tip substantially rounded in a longitudinal axis and at least one curetting edge positioned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hollow cylindrical curette, a portion of the at least one curetting edge extending into the distal tip; placing the curette into a uterus through the cervical with the at least one curetting edge adjacent the endometrial lining; suctioning at least a portion of the endometrial lining into the hollow cylindrical curette at the at least one curetting edge position; curetting the at least a portion of the endometrial lining comprising the step of rotating the hollow cylindrical curette around the longitudinal axis of the hollow cylindrical curette; and removing the curetted endometrial lining with suctioning through the hollow cylindrical curette.
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Specification