Device and method for medical treatment
First Claim
1. A method of thermal treatment of a human uterus cavity lining, comprising the steps:
- a) estimating the depth of said cavity;
b) adjusting and securing the distance between the axial ends of the heat-emitting part of an elastic bladder to match said cavity depth;
c) inserting the bladder prepared as per step b) above into said cavity;
d) inflating said bladder by introducing a fluid therein under pressure to bring said bladder into contact with substantially all of said lining;
e) heating said fluid to a treatment temperature and maintaining said temperature for a period of time resulting in necrosis of substantially all of said lining; and
f) removing said fluid from said bladder and withdrawing the latter in a collapsed state from said cavity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for carrying out hyperthermia in a mammalin uterus cavity, including an elongate, rigid distal section (3) and a flexible and elastic bladder (9) encompassing said distal section which, together with said bladder, is intended for insertion into said uterus cavity, further including means (27) for the supply of a heat-transmitting medium under pressure for the expansion of said bladder (9) within said uterus cavity, and heating means (29) for heating said medium, the device further having an intermediate section (5) whose distal part when inserted is positioned in a cervix canal belonging to said uterus, and a proximal section (7) for operating the device, said distal and intermediate sections (3,5) containing at least a central tube (17), whose distal part is surrounded by said bladder and is provided with at least one outlet (19) for said medium within said bladder, and whose intermediate part is surrounded by an axially displacable tube (21;35), onto whose distal end (23;51) the proximal end (25) of said bladder (9) is attached, characterized by means (15;45) for determining the axial position of the distal end (23;51) of said axially displacable tube and thereby also the axial position of the proximal end (25) of said bladder (9) so that the length of said bladder (9) matches the depth of a cavity subject to treatment, and means (13;47) for locking said tube (21;35) with its distal end (25;51) in such matching position; and the invention also involves methods of thermal treatment of human uterus cavity linings and a device for thermal treatment of mammalian body cavities or ducts, such as urethras.
100 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of thermal treatment of a human uterus cavity lining, comprising the steps:
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a) estimating the depth of said cavity;
b) adjusting and securing the distance between the axial ends of the heat-emitting part of an elastic bladder to match said cavity depth;
c) inserting the bladder prepared as per step b) above into said cavity;
d) inflating said bladder by introducing a fluid therein under pressure to bring said bladder into contact with substantially all of said lining;
e) heating said fluid to a treatment temperature and maintaining said temperature for a period of time resulting in necrosis of substantially all of said lining; and
f) removing said fluid from said bladder and withdrawing the latter in a collapsed state from said cavity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
using a sound probe to measure the depth of the cavity plus a length of a cervical canal.
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8. A method of thermal treatment of a human uterus cavity lining, comprising the steps:
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a) estimating the depth of said cavity;
b) inserting an axially extended elastic bladder into said cavity;
c) adjusting and maintaining during treatment the distance between the axial ends of the heat-emitting part of said bladder to match said cavity depth;
d) inflating said bladder by introducing a fluid therein under pressure to bring said bladder into contact with substantially all of said lining;
e) heating said fluid to a treatment temperature and maintaining said temperature for a period of time resulting in necrosis of substantially all of said lining; and
f) removing said fluid from said bladder and withdrawing the latter in a collapsed state from said cavity. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
using a sound probe to measure the depth of the cavity plus a length of a cervical canal.
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- 11. A device for carrying out hyperthermia in a mammalian uterus cavity, comprising an elongate, rigid distal section and a flexible and elastic bladder encompassing said distal section which, together with said bladder, is intended for insertion into said uterus cavity, further comprising means for the supply of a heat-transmitting medium under pressure for the expansion of said bladder within said uterus cavity, and heating means for heating said medium, the device further comprising an intermediate section whose distal part when inserted is positioned in a cervix canal belonging to said uterus, and a proximal section for operating the device, said distal and intermediate sections containing at least a central tube, whose distal part is surrounded by said bladder and is provided with at least one outlet for said medium within said bladder, and whose intermediate part is surrounded by an axially displacable tube, onto whose distal end the proximal end of said bladder is attached, characterized by means for determining the axial position of the distal end of said axially displacable tube and thereby also the axial position of the proximal end of said bladder so that the heat-emitting length of said bladder matches the depth of a cavity subject to treatment, and means for locking said tube with its distal end in such matching position.
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28. A device for thermal treatment of a mammalian urethra, comprising an elongate, rigid distal section and a flexible and elastic bladder encompassing said distal section which, together with said bladder, is intended for insertion into said urethra, further comprising means for the supply of a heat-transmitting medium under pressure for the expansion of said bladder within said urethra, and heating means for heating said medium, the device further comprising an intermediate section, and a proximal section for operating the device, said distal and intermediate sections containing at least a central tube, whose distal part is surrounded by said bladder and is provided with at least one outlet for said medium within said bladder, and whose intermediate part is surrounded by an axially displacable tube, onto whose distal end the proximal end of said bladder is attached, characterized by means for determining the axial position of the distal end of said axially displacable tube and thereby also the axial position of the proximal end of said bladder so that the heat-emitting length of said bladder matches the area subject to treatment, and means for locking said tube with its distal end in such matching position.
Specification