Method for ablating portions of the uterus

• US 6,277,089 B1
• Filed: 03/31/1998
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inbae Yoon
• Original Assignee: Inbae Yoon
• Inventors: Yoon, InBae
• Primary Examiner(s): RUHL, DENNIS WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US09/052,134
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 604/1-3, 604/11, 606/32, 606/37, 606/40, 606/49, 606/190, 600/101, 600/104
• US Class Current: 604/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0045 Devices for taking samples of body liquids devices for taking blood samples A61B5/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0057 Implements for plugging an opening in the wall of a hollow or tubular organ, e.g. for sealing a vessel puncture or closing a cardiac septal defect sutures A61B17/04; closing rectum or urethra near body surface A61F2/0009
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0218 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0281 Abdominal wall lifters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12022 Occluding by internal devices, e.g. balloons or releasable wires plugging an opening in the wall of an organ A61B17/0057; occluders for the cervical canal A61F6/146; vas deferens occluders A61F6/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12099 characterised by the location of the occluder
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1214 Coils or wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12163 having a string of elements connected to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1219 expandable in contact with liquids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3421 Cannulas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3439 with means for changing the inner diameter of the cannula, e.g. expandable A61B17/3423, A61B17/3431 take precedence; catheters A61M25/0662
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3462 with means for changing the diameter or the orientation of the entrance port of the cannula, e.g. for use with different-sized instruments, reduction ports, adapter seals expandable cannulas A61B17/3417
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3478 Endoscopic needles, e.g. for infusion biopsy needles A61B10/0233; catheters with injection needles A61M25/0067
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3498 Valves therefor, e.g. flapper valves, slide valves haemostasis valves A61M39/06; check valves A61M39/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/42 Gynaecological or obstetrical instruments or methods ligaturing clamps or clips for the umbilical cord A61B17/122; curettage A61B17/320708; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/4241 Instruments for manoeuvring or retracting the uterus, e.g. during laparoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22062 to be filled with liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2837 : with a locking ratchet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2927 : the angular position of the head being adjustable with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320012 : Brushes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3484 : Anchoring means, e.g. spreading-out umbrella-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3486 : Balloon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3492 : against the outside of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0815 : Implantable devices for insertion in between organs or other soft tissues
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0816 : for preventing adhesion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/306 : using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/00 : Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups A61B1/00 - A61B50/00, e.g. for luxation treatment or for protecting wound edges protective face masks A41D13/11; surgeon's or patient's gowns or dresses A41D13/12; devices for carrying-off, for treatment of, or for carrying-over, body liquids A61M1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 : Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30092 : using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0014 : using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1093 : having particular tip characteristics
• 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 25/1002 : characterised by balloon shape A61M25/1006, A61M25/1009 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/1011 : Multiple balloon catheters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 29/02 : Dilators made of swellable material balloon catheters for angioplasty A61M25/104
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/904 : Tampons

Abstract

A multifunctional device for use in an endoscopically performed operative procedure of the type where a narrow portal is established through the skin to provide access to an operative site and the multifunctional device is introduced to the operative site through the narrow portal. The multifunctional device is formed of an absorbent material, preferably expandable, having a substantially rigid dry state prior to introduction to the operative site and a soft, flexible wet state after absorbing fluids. The absorbent material can be formed with a spine therein of either a continuous or a discontinuous, segmented construction, and the spine can be branched and tubular or solid. The absorbent material can have portions or segments thereof expandable to different sizes to produce rounded protuberances to facilitate manipulation at the operative site and can have predetermined, non-straight configurations in the wet state, the predetermined configurations being controlled by the spine in the absorbent material or the method of forming the absorbent material. The multifunctional device can have a passage therethrough to accommodate laser, electrosurgical, biopsy or culturing instruments.

Claims

1. A method of ablating portions of a uterus, comprising the steps of:

inserting a sponge body into the uterus while the sponge body is in a compacted state;

expanding the sponge body to an expanded state after said inserting step; and

transferring energy between portions of the uterus and the sponge body with an ablation mechanism.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said expanding step comprises allowing the sponge body to absorb natural body fluids.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the ablation mechanism is disposed in the sponge body.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the ablation mechanism is disposed adjacent to an outer surface of the sponge body.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said transferring step comprises transferring heat generated by an electrosurgical instrument.

6. A method of ablating portions of a uterus, comprising the steps of:

inserting a moisture permeable member into the uterus;

expanding the moisture permeable member into an expanded state within the uterus to define a peripheral surface of the moisture permeable member in its expanded state; and

transferring energy between portions of the uterus and the moisture permeable member with an ablation mechanism.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, further comprising the step of allowing the moisture permeable member to absorb moisture.

8. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the ablation mechanism is disposed adjacent to the peripheral surface of the moisture permeable member.

9. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein said transferring step comprises transferring heat generated by an electrode.

10. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the ablation mechanism is a plurality of electrical conductors.

11. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the moisture permeable member is a sponge.

12. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the moisture permeable member is dry and rigid when it is inserted into the uterus and wet and flexible in the expanded state.

13. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the moisture permeable member comprises a electrically conductive trunk.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the moisture permeable member comprises electrical conductors extending from the trunk.

15. A method of ablating portions of a uterus, comprising the steps of:

inserting a moisture permeable member into the uterus;

expanding the moisture permeable member into an expanded state within the uterus to define a peripheral surface of the moisture permeable member in its expanded state;

transferring heat between portions of the uterus and the moisture permeable member with an electrode disposed adjacent to the peripheral surface of the moisture permeable member; and

removing moisture away from the uterus.

16. A method of ablating portions of a body organ, comprising the steps of:

inserting a moisture permeable member into the body organ;

expanding the moisture permeable member into an expanded state within the body organ to define a peripheral surface of the moisture permeable member in its expanded state; and

transferring energy between portions of the body organ and the moisture permeable member with an ablation mechanism.

17. A method as recited in claim 16, further comprising the step of allowing the moisture permeable member to absorb moisture.

18. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the ablation mechanism is disposed adjacent to the peripheral surface of the moisture permeable member.

19. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the ablation mechanism is disposed at the peripheral surface of the moisture permeable member.

20. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein said transferring step comprises transferring heat generated by an electrode.

21. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the ablation mechanism is a plurality of electrical conductors.

22. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the moisture permeable member is a sponge.

23. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the moisture permeable member is dry and rigid when it is inserted into the body organ and wet and flexible in the expanded state.

24. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the moisture permeable member comprises a electrically conductive trunk.

25. A method as recited in claim 24, wherein the moisture permeable member comprises electrical conductors extending from the trunk.