Apparatus for tubal occlusion
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A device for occluding the ovarian pathway of a female body comprising:
- a catheter body having a distal end and a proximal end;
a wounding segment extending distally from the distal end of the catheter body and movable relative to the catheter body between an extended position and a retracted position;
a wounding element disposed on the wounding segment;
at least one plug housed within at least one of the wounding segment and catheter body and sized and dimensioned to be implanted into a target site within the ovarian pathway leading from the ovaries to the uterus of a female body, the at least one plug defining numerous interconnecting pores;
a holding rod longitudinally fixed and disposed at least partially within the catheter body, the holding rod being positioned proximal to the at least one plug to prevent movement of the at least one plug relative to the target site during proximal movement of the wounding segment from the extended position toward the retracted position; and
wherein the device is operable so that proximal movement of the wounding segment from the extended position toward the retracted position disposes the at least one plug at the target site without moving, and without requiring movement of, the catheter body relative to the female body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a device adapted for occluding the ovarian pathway of a female body for sterilization purposes. The device delivers RF energy to wound tissue at a desired location within at least one fallopian tube and implants a porous foam plug adjacent to the wounded tissue at said location. Depending on the plug'"'"'s pore sizes, vascularized tissue may grow into the plug to prevent or discourage the formation of scar tissue around the plug and/or a vascularized capsule may form around the plug, which limits the patient'"'"'s foreign body response so that the capsule does not constrict around the plug.
219 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A device for occluding the ovarian pathway of a female body comprising:
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a catheter body having a distal end and a proximal end; a wounding segment extending distally from the distal end of the catheter body and movable relative to the catheter body between an extended position and a retracted position; a wounding element disposed on the wounding segment; at least one plug housed within at least one of the wounding segment and catheter body and sized and dimensioned to be implanted into a target site within the ovarian pathway leading from the ovaries to the uterus of a female body, the at least one plug defining numerous interconnecting pores; a holding rod longitudinally fixed and disposed at least partially within the catheter body, the holding rod being positioned proximal to the at least one plug to prevent movement of the at least one plug relative to the target site during proximal movement of the wounding segment from the extended position toward the retracted position; and wherein the device is operable so that proximal movement of the wounding segment from the extended position toward the retracted position disposes the at least one plug at the target site without moving, and without requiring movement of, the catheter body relative to the female body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for occluding the ovarian pathway of a female body comprising:
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an occlusion device comprising; a catheter body having a distal end and a proximal end; a wounding segment extending distally from the distal end of the catheter body and movable relative to the catheter body between an extended position and a retracted position; a wounding element disposed on the wounding segment, wherein the wounding element comprises an RF electrode array; at least one plug housed within at least one of the wounding segment and catheter body and sized and dimensioned to be implanted into a target site within the ovarian pathway leading from the ovaries to the uterus of a female body, the at least one plug defining numerous interconnecting pores; a holding rod longitudinally fixed and disposed within the catheter body, the holding rod being positioned proximal to the at least one plug to prevent movement of the at least one plug relative to the target site during proximal movement of the wounding segment from the extended position toward the retracted position; wherein the occlusion device is operable so that proximal movement of the wounding segment from the extended position toward the retracted position disposes the at least one plug at the target site without moving, and without requiring movement of, the catheter body relative to the female body; and a power supply for supplying power to the RF electrode array. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A device for occluding the ovarian pathway of a female body comprising:
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a catheter body having a distal end and a proximal end; a wounding segment positioned distally from the distal end of the catheter body and movable relative to the catheter body between an extended position and a retracted position; a wounding element disposed on the wounding segment; a plug housed within the wounding segment to be implanted into a target site within the ovarian pathway leading from the ovaries to the uterus of a female body; a holding rod longitudinally fixed and disposed at least partially within the catheter body, the holding rod being positioned proximal to the plug to prevent movement of the plug relative to the target site during proximal movement of the wounding segment from the extended position toward the retracted position; and wherein the device is operable so that proximal movement of the wounding segment from the extended position toward the retracted position disposes the plug at the target site without moving, and without requiring movement of, the catheter body relative to the female body. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification