Access catheter apparatus for use in minimally invasive surgery and diagnostic procedures in the uterus and fallopian tubes

• US 6,802,825 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2001
• Issued: 10/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Coopersurgical Incorporated (The Cooper Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Coopersurgical Incorporated (The Cooper Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Landis, Robert M., Ackerman, Bernard
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Cris L.
• Application Number:
  US09/898,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20030009128A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,197 Days
• Field of Search: 604/174, 604/178, 604/514, 604/515, 604/517, 604/104, 604/96.01, 604/103.03, 604/103.07, 604/167.06, 604/170.01, 604/170.02, 604/167.01, 604/264, 604/523, 604/528, 604/533, 604/537, 604/284, 604/915, 604/916, 604/920, 604/912, 606/193-195, 606/158
• US Class Current: 604/174
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1052 for temporarily occluding a vessel for isolating a sector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1063 having only one lumen used for guide wire and inflation, e.g. to minimise the diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/1433 Uterus
• 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 39/0613 with means for adjusting the seal opening or pressure A61M39/0693 takes precedence

Abstract

A catheter apparatus for gaining access into the uterine cavity in order to perform minimally invasive surgery or diagnostic procedures related to a uterus and fallopian tubes, includes a single-lumen catheter; and an elongated balloon disposed distally on the single-lumen catheter for insertion into a cervical canal of the uterus. The balloon has opposing portions which occlude openings of the cervical canal when inflated. A fluid displacement sleeve is slidably disposed over the single-lumen catheter. The sleeve is moveable over the elongated balloon to inflate the portions of the balloon which are adjacent the opposite openings of the cervical canal when the balloon is inserted therein. Because there is no need for a balloon inflation lumen, the outer diameter of the catheter can be minimized and the cost of the apparatus is reduced.

Claims

1. A catheter apparatus for gaining access into the uterine cavity in order to perform minimally invasive surgery or diagnosis in a uterus and its associated fallopian tubes, the catheter apparatus comprising:

a single-lumen catheter;

an elongated balloon disposed distally on the single-lumen catheter for insertion into a cervical canal of the uterus, the balloon sealed containing a fixed internal residual volume of fluid;

a fluid displacement sleeve slidably disposed over the single-lumen catheter, the sleeve being moveable over the elongated balloon to displace the fluid from a proximal portion of the balloon to opposing portions of the balloon which are adjacent the opposite openings of the cervical canal when the balloon is inserted therein, to inflate the opposing portions of the balloon; and

a surgical instrument insertion adapter assembly disposed at a proximal end of the single-lumen catheter.

2. The catheter apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the single-lumen catheter is flexible.

3. The catheter apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a removable stylet for stiffening the single-lumen catheter to facilitate insertion thereof in the cervical canal.

4. The catheter apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fluid displacement sleeve is semi-rigid.

5. The catheter apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inflated portions of the balloon define a barbell-shape balloon structure when inflated in the cervical canal.

6. The catheter apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the surgical instrument insertion adapter assembly includes a compressible sealing element for creating a substantial fluid tight seal around a surgical instrument.

7. The catheter apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the surgical instrument insertion adapter assembly includes a port for introducing a contrast medium into the uterine cavity via the single-lumen catheter.

8. The catheter apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the surgical instrument insertion adapter assembly includes a port for introducing a contrast medium into the uterine cavity via the single-lumen catheter.