Disposable bladder for intrauterine use
First Claim
1. A device for effecting necrosis of substantially all of the tissue lining a human uterus, which device includes:
- an introducer comprising a catheter for insertion into the human uterus, said catheter defining at least in part a liquid flow passageway and having a rigid, closed distal end portion;
a removable balloon subassembly, having a distendable balloon defining an enclosure in communication with said passageway and terminating in a rigid sleeve sealingly held on and removably secured to said rigid, closed distal end portion of said catheter, said balloon being secured to a distal end of said sleeve and projecting axially beyond the distal end of the catheter when distended, and being distendable to contact substantially all of the tissue lining the human uterus;
a source of liquid in fluid communication with said passageway for distending said balloon with a liquid; and
a heater for heating said liquid.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A catheter device with disposable bladder is provided for intrauterine use and comprises a reusable introducer, a disposable bladder subassembly, a liquid source for pressurizing the bladder with a liquid, and a heater for heating the liquid enclosed within the bladder to a desired treatment temperature. The reusable introducer includes a catheter with a proximal end portion thereof carrying the heater. The disposable bladder subassembly includes a distendable balloon that terminates in a hollow, elongated rigid sleeve. A contact seal exists between the disposable balloon and the introducer. The device is especially well suited for effecting necrosis of substantially all of the tissue lining human uterus, and is specifically configured for intrauterine use.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A device for effecting necrosis of substantially all of the tissue lining a human uterus, which device includes:
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an introducer comprising a catheter for insertion into the human uterus, said catheter defining at least in part a liquid flow passageway and having a rigid, closed distal end portion; a removable balloon subassembly, having a distendable balloon defining an enclosure in communication with said passageway and terminating in a rigid sleeve sealingly held on and removably secured to said rigid, closed distal end portion of said catheter, said balloon being secured to a distal end of said sleeve and projecting axially beyond the distal end of the catheter when distended, and being distendable to contact substantially all of the tissue lining the human uterus; a source of liquid in fluid communication with said passageway for distending said balloon with a liquid; and a heater for heating said liquid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A removable bladder subassembly for intrauterine use with a catheter having a distal end portion, said subassembly comprising:
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a distendable balloon terminating in a rigid sleeve attached to the balloon and having a proximal end portion; and a connector fitting on the proximal end portion of said rigid sleeve for removable securement of said rigid sleeve to said distal end portion of said catheter.
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26. A disposable bladder subassembly for an intrauterine catheter device, said disposable bladder subassembly comprising:
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a distendable enclosure attached to one end of a hollow rigid stem that defines a passageway, said rigid stem having an open opposite end and said enclosure being in communication with said open opposite end through said passageway; and a connector coupling at the open opposite end of said hollow rigid stem for removably connecting and sealing said hollow rigid stem to the catheter device. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
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30. A packaged array of disposable bladder subassemblies suitable for removable attachment to the distal end portion of a catheter suitable for intrauterine use, each disposable bladder subassembly in said array comprising:
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a distendable balloon defining an enclosure; and a hollow stem attached to the balloon at one end and adapted to be removably secured to the distal end portion of the catheter and defining a through passageway in communication with an enclosure defined by the distendable balloon. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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Specification