Method for permanent occlusion of fallopian tube

• US 8,333,201 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2011
• Issued: 12/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Karabey, Halil I., Prestezog, Anna G., Mirizzi, Michael S., Rodriguez, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh, Loan
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, TARLA R
• Application Number:
  US13/175,732
• Publication Number:
  US 20110259343A1
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 128/830, 128/831, 128/832, 128/833, 128/834, 128/838, 128/839, 128/840, 128/843, 424/400, 424/422, 424/430, 606/213, 623/23.75, 623/1.54, 623/1.49, 623/1.11
• US Class Current: 128/831
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06 Needles ; Sutures; Needle-suture combinations; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials puncturing needles A61B17/34; hypodermic needles A61M5/32 ; sewing needles D05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12022 Occluding by internal devices, e.g. balloons or releasable wires plugging an opening in the wall of an organ A61B17/0057; occluders for the cervical canal A61F6/146; vas deferens occluders A61F6/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12031 complete occlusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12036 partial occlusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1204 temporary occlusion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12109 in a blood vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12136 Balloons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12159 Solid plugs; being solid before insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12172 having a pre-set deployed three-dimensional shape methods of manufacturing A61B2017/00526
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12181 formed by fluidized, gelatinous or cellular remodelable materials, e.g. embolic liquids, foams or extracellular matrices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12186 liquid materials adapted to be injected
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1219 expandable in contact with liquids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/122 Clamps or clips , e.g. for the umbilical cord for the vas deferens A61F6/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00898 expandable upon contact with fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0474 Knot pushers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06176 with protrusions, e.g. barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1205 Introduction devices

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and apparatus of contraception. The apparatus can include an implant sized for insertion into a fallopian tube. The implant can comprise a plurality of loose, bulked fibers. The fibers can be formed from one or more bioabsorbable materials, for example, the method can include inserting the implant into a fallopian tube and occluding the fallopian tube with the implant.

Claims

1. A method of contraception comprising:

delivering into a fallopian tube an implant comprising a plurality of loose, bioabsorbable fibers that are radially bulked when in an unstressed condition, the fibers having a crimped appearance in the unstressed condition such that each fiber includes a plurality of closely spaced radial or angular bends along its length, the bends making each fiber radially self-expanding upon removal of a compressive force, the fibers extending generally longitudinally from a proximal end of the implant to a distal end thereof, the fibers being textured enough in aggregate to span the cross-section of the fallopian tube, the fibers forming a radially outermost, tissue-engaging surface of the implant, the tissue-engaging surface surrounding the implant;

radially expanding the implant within the fallopian tube; and

occluding the fallopian tube with the implant.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the fibers are joined at at least one of the distal end and the proximal end of the implant.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the fibers are joined only at one of the distal end and the proximal end of the implant, and are not joined anywhere else along the length of the implant.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the fibers are joined at at least one of the proximal end and the distal end of the implant and are loosely arranged, non-knit and non-woven between the proximal end and the distal end.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein radially expanding the implant further comprises shortening a length of the implant.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering the implant comprises employing a continuous feed system to deliver the implant.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering the implant comprises delivering the implant from a length of implant material which is significantly longer than the implant when the implant is in its post-delivery state.

8. A method of contraception comprising:

delivering into a fallopian tube a bioabsorbable implant having an implant body comprising a plurality of biodegradable fibers that have a crimped configuration when in an unstressed condition such that each fiber includes a plurality of closely spaced radial or angular bends along its length, the bends making each fiber radially self-expanding upon removal of a compressive force, each of the fibers extending from a proximal end of the implant body to a distal end thereof, the fibers being joined at at least one of the proximal end and the distal end of the implant body and being loosely arranged, non-knit and non-woven between the proximal end and the distal end;

radially expanding the implant within the fallopian tube; and

occluding the fallopian tube with the implant.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the fibers form a radially outermost, tissue-engaging surface of the implant body and the tissue-engaging surface surrounds the implant body.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the fibers are thick enough in aggregate to fill the cross-section of the fallopian tube.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the fibers extend longitudinally along the implant body, generally parallel to each other.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the fibers are joined only at one of the distal end and the proximal end of the implant body, and are not joined anywhere else along the length of the implant body.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein radially expanding the implant further comprises shortening a length of the implant.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the implant further comprises a string that extends generally longitudinally from a location along the implant body to the proximal end, and proximally from the proximal end;

each of the fibers extends the length of the implant body to the distal end, and is joined to the string at the distal end; and

shortening the implant body comprises pulling the string proximally.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein shortening the implant body further comprises applying a force against the proximal end of the implant body with a tip of a sheath.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the implant further comprises a string that extends generally longitudinally from a location along the implant body to the proximal end, and proximally from the proximal end;

each of the fibers extends the length of the implant body to the distal end, and is joined to the string at the distal end; and

shortening the implant body comprises applying tension to the string to inhibit distal movement of the distal end of the implant body.

17. The method of claim 8, wherein delivering the implant comprises employing a continuous feed system to deliver the implant.

18. The method of claim 8, wherein delivering the implant comprises delivering the implant from a length of implant material which is significantly longer than the implant body in its post-delivery state.

19. A method of contraception comprising:

delivering into a fallopian tube an implant having an implant body comprising a plurality of biodegradable fibers that have a crimped configuration when in an unstressed condition such that each fiber includes a plurality of closely spaced radial or angular bends along its length, the bends making each fiber radially self-expanding upon removal of a compressive force, the fibers extending from a proximal end of the implant body to a distal end thereof, the fibers forming a radially outermost, tissue-engaging surface of the implant body; and

after delivering, shortening the implant body by moving at least one of the proximal end and distal end of the implant body toward the other.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein:

the implant further comprises a string that extends generally longitudinally from a location along the implant body to the proximal end, and proximally from the proximal end;

each of the fibers extends the length of the implant body to the distal end, and is joined to the string at the distal end; and

shortening the implant body comprises pulling the string proximally.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein:

the implant further comprises a string that extends generally longitudinally from a location along the implant body to the proximal end, and proximally from the proximal end;

each of the fibers extends the length of the implant body to the distal end, and is joined to the string at the distal end; and

shortening the implant body comprises applying tension to the string to inhibit distal movement of the distal end of the implant body.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein shortening the implant body includes making the implant body thicker.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising occluding the fallopian tube with the implant.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the fibers extend longitudinally along the implant body, generally parallel to each other.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the fibers are joined at at least one of the proximal end and the distal end of the implant body and are loosely arranged, non-knit and non-woven between the proximal end and the distal end.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the fibers a joined only at one of the distal end and the proximal end of the implant body, and are not joined anywhere else along the length of the implant body.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein delivering the implant comprises delivering the implant from a length of implant material which is significantly longer than the implant body in its post-delivery state.