Sterilization device and method
First Claim
1. A device configured for insertion into a fallopian tube, comprising:
- a distal end and a proximal end having a handle thereon;
an external electrode sheath having a lumen sized for housing a first porous implant at the distal end and along a long axis thereof, the external electrode sheath configured to slide distally and proximally along its long axis relative to the handle and including at least one ring electrode disposed about its outer diameter for wounding an epithelial layer of a fallopian tube;
an internal sheath longitudinally disposed within the lumen of the external electrode sheath at its distal end and having a lumen sized for housing a second porous implant along the long axis thereof; and
a positioning member slideably disposed within the lumen of the internal sheath proximal to the first and second porous implants along the long axis, the positioning member configured to slide relative to the handle and toward the distal end of the catheter;
wherein sliding at least one of the external electrode sheath or the positioning member relative to one another disposes the first porous implant within a first fallopian tube and disposes the second porous implant within a second fallopian tube.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Sterilization devices and methods for deploying porous implants within the fallopian tubes are disclosed. The devices include a catheter component including an external electrode sheath containing at least two deployable implants and a positioning member. Sliding the external sheath proximally disposes the implants within the fallopian tubes, while sliding both the positioning member and external electrode sheath distally reloads a second implant into the external electrode sheath. The devices further includes a handle component, which houses a chassis, external electrode sheath carrier, reciprocating shaft, positioning member carrier and first and second engaging members. The reciprocating shaft may be operated by a motor to slide distally and proximally along a long axis. The reciprocating shaft, external electrode sheath and its carrier, upon selective actuation, move together proportionally to deploy and reload the implants to facilitate occlusion of the fallopian tubes and complete sterilization.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A device configured for insertion into a fallopian tube, comprising:
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a distal end and a proximal end having a handle thereon; an external electrode sheath having a lumen sized for housing a first porous implant at the distal end and along a long axis thereof, the external electrode sheath configured to slide distally and proximally along its long axis relative to the handle and including at least one ring electrode disposed about its outer diameter for wounding an epithelial layer of a fallopian tube; an internal sheath longitudinally disposed within the lumen of the external electrode sheath at its distal end and having a lumen sized for housing a second porous implant along the long axis thereof; and a positioning member slideably disposed within the lumen of the internal sheath proximal to the first and second porous implants along the long axis, the positioning member configured to slide relative to the handle and toward the distal end of the catheter; wherein sliding at least one of the external electrode sheath or the positioning member relative to one another disposes the first porous implant within a first fallopian tube and disposes the second porous implant within a second fallopian tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A catheter device configured for insertion into a fallopian tube, comprising:
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a distal end and a proximal end having a handle thereon; an external electrode sheath having a lumen sized for housing two porous implants at the distal end and along a long axis thereof and configured to slide distally and proximally along its long axis relative to the handle; and a positioning member disposed within the lumen of the external electrode sheath proximal to the two porous implants along the long axis, the positioning member configured to slide relative to the handle; wherein sliding the external electrode sheath toward the proximal end of the catheter disposes at least one of the two porous implants within a fallopian tube. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for occluding two fallopian tubes using a single catheter containing two porous implants, comprising:
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inserting a catheter into a first fallopian tube, wherein the catheter comprises; a distal end and a proximal end having a handle thereon; an external electrode sheath having a lumen sized for housing two porous implants at the distal end and along a long axis thereof, the external electrode sheath having ring electrodes disposed about its outer diameter for wounding an epithelial layer of a fallopian tube; and a positioning member disposed within the lumen of the external electrode sheath proximal to the two porous implants along the long axis, the positioning member configured to slide relative to the handle; wounding an epithelial layer of a first fallopian tube using the ring electrodes on the external electrode sheath; sliding the external electrode sheath toward the proximal end of the catheter to dispose a first porous implant within a first fallopian tube where wounding occurred; removing the catheter from the first fallopian tube and inserting the catheter into a second fallopian tube; wounding an epithelial layer of a second fallopian tube using the ring electrodes on the external electrode sheath; and sliding the external electrode sheath toward the proximal end of the catheter to dispose a second porous implant within a second fallopian tube where wounding occurred. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification