Method and apparatus for tubal occlusion

• US 6,346,102 B1
• Filed: 05/26/2000
• Issued: 02/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cytyc Corporation (Hologic Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Adiana, Inc. (Hologic Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bowman, Brett, Harrington, Douglas C., Breining, Peter M.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRUONG, KEVIN THAO
• Application Number:
  US09/579,976
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 606/28, 606/48, 606/27, 606/42, 606/43, 606/135, 128/831, 128/898
• US Class Current: 606/28
• 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 17/12109 in a blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12159 Solid plugs; being solid before insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1485 having a short rigid shaft for accessing the inner body through natural openings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1815 using microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/003 Steerable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00559 Female reproductive organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00666 using a threshold value
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00678 upper
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00708 switching the power on or off
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00738 Depth, e.g. depth of ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00755 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00815 measured by a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00821 measured by a thermocouple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1253 monopolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/126 : bipolar
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1437 : whereby the windings of the spiral touch each other such as to create a continuous surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1467 : using more than two electrodes on a single probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3925 : ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 : Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 6/225 : transcervical

Abstract

A device for sterilizing females by occluding the uterotubal junction. The device includes a catheter with a releasable heat generating plug which is used to thermally damage the uterotubal junction and cause it to constrict around the plug, after which the plug is released from the catheter and left in place in the uterotubal junction.

Claims

1. A method for sterilizing a female patient using an elongated instrument assembly having a distal end, said method comprising the steps of:

inserting the distal end of the elongated instrument assembly into the uterine tube of the female patient, the distal end of the elongated instrument having a detachable plug;

applying tissue damaging means from the plug to the uterine tube thereby causing the tissue of the uterine tube to collapse on the plug;

detaching the plug from the distal end of the elongated instrument assembly; and

removing the remaining portion of the elongated instrument assembly from the female patient.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the tissue damaging means is selected from the group consisting of radio frequency energy, laser light, electrical energy, cryogenic cooling and ultrasonic waves.

3. A method for sterilizing a female patient using an elongated instrument assembly having a distal end, the female patient being supported, during the procedure, on an operating table and access to the uterus is facilitated by installation of a speculum in the vagina of the female patient, said method comprising the steps of:

clamping the speculum to the operating table;

inserting the distal end of the elongated instrument assembly into the uterine tube of the female patient, the distal end of the elongated instrument having a detachable plug;

locking the elogated instrument assembly to the speculum;

applying tissue damaging means from the plug to the uterine tube thereby causing the tissue of the uterine tube to collapse on the plug;

detaching the plug from the distal end of the elongated instrument assembly; and

removing the remaining portion of the elongated instrument assembly from the female patient.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the tissue damaging means is selected from the group consisting of radio frequency energy, laser light, electrical energy, cryogenic cooling and ultrasonic waves.