Deployment actuation system for intrafallopian contraception

• US 7,934,504 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2009
• Issued: 05/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Conceptus Incorporated (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Swann, Betsy, Barnhart, Monica, Silva-Torres, Roberto, Gurskis, Don, Lowe, Christian, Bacich, Steven, Khera, Ashish
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown; Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US12/506,953
• Publication Number:
  US 20090277463A1
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 128830-840, 606/191, 606/198
• US Class Current: 128/830
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2923 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2943 Toothed members, e.g. rack and pinion
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9517 handle assemblies therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 6/18 Inserters or removers ; Apparatus for loading an intra-uterine device into an insertion tube
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 6/225 transcervical

Abstract

Contraceptive methods, systems, and devices generally improve the ease, speed, and reliability with which a contraceptive device can be deployed transcervically into an ostium of a fallopian tube. The contraceptive device may remain in a small profile configuration while a sheath is withdrawn proximally, and is thereafter expanded to a large profile configuration engaging the surrounding tissues, by manipulating one or more actuators of a proximal handle with a single hand. This leaves the other hand free to manipulate a hysteroscope, minimizing the number of health care professional required to deploy the contraceptive device.

Claims

1. A catheter for delivering a contraceptive device within a fallopian tube, the catheter comprising:

an elongate tubular catheter body having a proximal portion adjacent a proximal end, a distal portion adjacent a distal end, and at least one lumen;

a contraceptive device releasably disposed at least partially within the lumen of the catheter near the distal portion; and

a deployment member in detachable engagement with the contraceptive device for deploying the contraceptive device from the catheter; and

a coil disposed along the catheter body nearer the distal end than the proximal end and encircling the lumen;

wherein the distal portion has an increasing amount of flexibility toward the distal end, and the distal portion comprises an inner layer, a middle layer comprising the coil, and an outer layer.

2. A catheter as in claim 1, wherein the distal portion of the catheter body includes a first segment and a second segment distal to the first segment, wherein the second segment is more flexible than the first segment.

3. A catheter as in claim 2, wherein the distal portion comprises at least one polyurethane material.

4. A catheter as in claim 3, wherein the at least one polyurethane material comprises two polyurethane materials for conferring varying levels of flexibility to the distal portion.

5. A catheter as in claim 4, first segment comprises a polyurethane material having a Shore durometer of 73 A, and the second segment comprises a polyurethane material having a Shore durometer of 55 A.

6. A catheter as in claim 2, first segment comprises a polyurethane material having a Shore durometer of 73 A, and the second segment comprises a polyurethane material having a Shore durometer of 55.

7. A catheter as in claim 1, wherein the outer layer comprises at least one polyurethane material.

8. A catheter as in claim 7, wherein the at least one polyurethane material comprises two polyurethane materials for conferring varying levels of flexibility to the distal portion.

9. A catheter as in claim 1, wherein the proximal portion of the catheter body comprises at least one polyether block amide.

10. A catheter as in claim 1, wherein the proximal portion of the catheter body includes at least one visualization marker near the distal portion for enhancing visualization of a proximal-most end of the distal portion.

11. The catheter as in claim 1, wherein said coil is a ribbon coil.

12. The catheter as in claim 1, wherein said inner layer comprises PTFE.

13. The catheter as in claim 1, wherein said lumen extends along the proximal portion and distal portion of the elongate tubular catheter body.

14. The catheter as in claim 13, wherein said lumen is inwardly tapered in the proximal portion of the elongate tubular catheter body.

15. A catheter comprising:

an elongate tubular catheter body having a proximal portion adjacent a proximal end, a distal portion adjacent a distal end, and at least one lumen; and

a coil disposed along the catheter body nearer the distal end than the proximal end and encircling the lumen;

wherein the distal portion of the catheter body includes a first segment comprising a first polyurethane material and a second segment comprising a second polyurethane material distal to the first segment, wherein the second segment is more flexible than the first segment, and the distal portion comprises an inner layer, a middle layer comprising the coil, and an outer layer.

16. The catheter as in claim 15, wherein the first polyurethane material has a Shore durometer of 73 A, and the second segment comprises a Shore durometer of 55 A.

17. The catheter as in claim 15, wherein the outer layer comprises the first polyurethane material and the second polyurethane material.

18. The catheter as in claim 15, wherein the proximal portion of the catheter body comprises at least one polyether block amide.

19. The catheter as in claim 15, wherein the inner layer comprises PTFE.

20. The catheter as in claim 15, wherein the coil is a ribbon coil.

21. A catheter comprising:

an elongate tubular catheter body having a proximal portion adjacent a proximal end, a distal portion adjacent a distal end, and at least one lumen extending along the proximal portion and distal portion, wherein the lumen is inwardly tapered in the proximal portion; and

a coil disposed along the catheter body nearer the distal end than the proximal end and encircling the lumen;

wherein the distal portion has an increasing amount of flexibility toward the distal end, and the distal portion comprises an inner layer, a middle layer comprising the coil, and an outer layer.

22. The catheter as in claim 21, wherein the distal portion of the catheter body includes a first segment and a second segment distal to the first segment, wherein the second segment is more flexible than the first segment.