Method and device for uterine fibroid treatment
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for minimally invasive treatment of uterine fibroids, said method comprising:
- introducing a sheath into a uterus having a uterine wall;
determining a location of a fibroid using a visualization element within or on the sheath;
steering a portion of the sheath to position at least two treatment needles at the determined location above the uterine wall;
deploying said at least two treatment needles from a side of the sheath through the uterine wall and into uterine tissue at spaced-apart locations on the uterine wall such that the needles converge or diverge from said spaced-apart wall locations as they enter the tissue so that said needles anchor in the tissue;
treating the fibroid with the needles while the needles remain anchored and substantially immobile; and
withdrawing the needles entirely back into the sheath when the treatment is complete.
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Abstract
Methods and devices for both imaging and treating uterine fibroid tumors in one real-time system are provided. One minimally invasive method comprises introducing a sheath into a uterus and determining a location of a fibroid using a visualization element within or on the sheath. Upon identification, a portion of the sheath is steered to position at least one treatment needle at the determined location. The needle is then anchored in uterine tissue and the fibroid treated with the needle.
235 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for minimally invasive treatment of uterine fibroids, said method comprising:
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introducing a sheath into a uterus having a uterine wall; determining a location of a fibroid using a visualization element within or on the sheath; steering a portion of the sheath to position at least two treatment needles at the determined location above the uterine wall; deploying said at least two treatment needles from a side of the sheath through the uterine wall and into uterine tissue at spaced-apart locations on the uterine wall such that the needles converge or diverge from said spaced-apart wall locations as they enter the tissue so that said needles anchor in the tissue; treating the fibroid with the needles while the needles remain anchored and substantially immobile; and withdrawing the needles entirely back into the sheath when the treatment is complete. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. Minimally invasive device for fibroid treatment, said device comprising:
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a single sheath having a distal end, a proximal end, and an axis, wherein the distal end is adapted for transcervical introduction into a uterus; a visualization element within or on a distal portion of the sheath, the visualization element capable of determining a location of a fibroid on a wall of the uterus while the sheath is in the uterus; and a needle deployment array consisting of two self-anchoring treatment needles which are deployable from spaced-apart locations on a side of the sheath proximal of the visualization element to converge or diverge within tissue over a fibroid within the field of view of the visualization element, wherein the needles are adapted to be withdrawn entirely back into the sheath after use. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification