Method and apparatus for tubal occlusion

• US 6,726,682 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2002
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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:
  US10/075,854
• Publication Number:
  US 20020072744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 606/27-30, 606/42, 606/43, 606/135, 128/830, 128/831
• 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 device for application of RF energy to a pathway within the body of a human female through which ovum travel from the ovaries to the uterus, said device comprising:

a catheter;

an electrode assembly releasably attached to the distal end of the catheter;

said electrode assembly comprising a plug and at least one electrode mounted on the plug, wherein said electrode assembly is configured to fit within the pathway to apply RF energy to the tissue of the pathway;

a release mechanism capable of releasing the electrode assembly from the distal end of the catheter, said release mechanism comprising;

at least one tang extending from the electrode assembly into the catheter, said tang being resiliently biased toward the center of the catheter;

at least one receiving hole disposed within the catheter near the distal end of the catheter for receiving the tang to lock the electrode assembly to the catheter; and

a slidable core extending from the proximal end of the catheter to the distal end of the catheter, said slidable core having a distal end with a first diameter, said slidable core disposed within the catheter and extending into obstructing relationship with the tang, thereby preventing the tang from resiliently bending toward the center of the catheter when obstructed by the core and maintaining the tang engaged with the receiving hole, said slidable core being slidable distally to move out of obstructing relationship with the tang.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the release mechanism further comprises:

a bore within the electrode assembly, said bore having a first diameter; and

a distally extending segment on the core, said distally extending segment extending from the distal end and having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter of the distal end, said second diameter sufficient to permit the distally extending segment to fit within the bore of the electrode.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the release mechanism is capable of transferring RF energy to the electrodes.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein the release mechanism is capable of transferring RF energy to the electrodes.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein the core is capable of transferring RF energy to the electrodes.

6. The device of claim 2 wherein the electrode assembly comprises at least two electrodes operable as bipolar electrodes.

7. The device of claim 2 wherein the at least one electrode is operable as a monopolar electrode.

8. The device of claim 2 further comprising:

at least one electrical contact extending from at least one of the electrodes, through the plug towards the bore of the plug, and adapted to be in electrical contact with the core;

wherein the distal end of the core is adapted for insertion into the bore and into electrical contact with the at least one electrical contact.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the core is capable of transferring RF energy to the electrodes.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the electrode assembly comprises at least two electrodes operable as bipolar electrodes.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the at least one electrode is operable as a monopolar electrode.

12. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a bore within the electrode assembly;

at least one electrical contact extending from at least one of the electrodes, through the plug towards the bore of the plug, and adapted to be in electrical contact with the core;

wherein the distal end of the core is adapted for insertion into the bore and into electrical contact with the at least one electrical contact.

13. A device for application of RF energy to a pathway within the body of a human female through which ovum travel from the ovaries to the uterus, said device comprising:

a catheter;

an electrode assembly releasably attached to the distal end of the catheter;

a bore within the electrode assembly, said bore having a first diameter;

said electrode assembly comprising a plug and at least one electrode mounted on the plug, wherein the electrode assembly is configured to fit within the pathway to apply RF energy to the tissue of the pathway;

at least one electrical contact extending inwardly through the plug towards a central bore such that a central conductor assembly, when inserted into the central bore, can provide RF energy to the electrode assembly;

a release mechanism capable of releasing the electrode assembly from the distal end of the catheter, said release mechanism comprising;

at least one tang extending from the electrode assembly into the catheter, said tang being resiliently biased toward the center of the catheter;

at least one receiving hole disposed within the catheter near the distal end of the catheter for receiving the tang to lock the electrode assembly to the catheter;

a slidable core having a distal end extending from the proximal end of the catheter to the distal end of the catheter, the distal end of the core having a first diameter and extending into obstructing relationship with the tang, thereby preventing the tang from resiliently bending toward the center of the catheter when obstructed by the core and maintaining the tang engaged with the receiving hole, and the distal end of the core adapted for insertion into the bore of the catheter; and

an electrical contact extending from at least one of the electrodes, through the plug towards the bore of the plug, and adapted to be in electrical contact with the core.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the release mechanism further comprises:

a distally extending segment on the core, said distally extending segment extending from the distal end and having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter of the distal end, said second diameter sufficient to permit the distally extending segment to fit within the bore of the electrode.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the release mechanism is capable of transferring RF energy to the electrodes.

16. The device of claim 14 wherein the core is capable of transferring RF energy to the electrodes.

17. The device of claim 14 wherein the at least one electrode comprises a bipolar electrode.

18. The device of claim 14 wherein the at least one electrode comprises a monopolar electrode.

19. The device of claim 14 wherein the core is adapted for insertion into the electrode assembly bore and into contact with the electrical contacts.

20. The device of claim 13 wherein the release mechanism is capable of transferring RF energy to the electrodes.

21. The device of claim 13 wherein the core is capable of transferring RF energy to the electrodes.

22. The device of claim 13 wherein the at least one electrode comprises a bipolar electrode.

23. The device of claim 13 wherein the at least one electrode comprises a monopolar electrode.

24. The device of claim 13 wherein the core is adapted for insertion into the electrode assembly bore and into contact with the electrical contacts.