Minimally invasive surgical stabilization devices and methods

• US 8,360,064 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2007
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC (Bayer AG)
• Original Assignee: Conceptus Incorporated (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Swann, Betsy, Stout, Christopher A., Chan, Ken, Cruzada, Julian, Tunstall, Kathryn A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): JACKSON, BRANDON LEE
• Application Number:
  US11/800,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20080041394A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,098 Days
• Field of Search: 128830-833, 128/839, 128/840, 600/101, 600/103, 600/106, 600/109, 600/112, 600/114, 600/117, 600/118, 600/125, 606/13, 606/14, 606/108, 606/135
• US Class Current: 128/831
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0014 Fastening element for attaching accessories to the outside of an endoscope, e.g. clips, clamps or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/018 for receiving instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/303 for the vagina, i.e. vaginoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/42 Gynaecological or obstetrical instruments or methods ligaturing clamps or clips for the umbilical cord A61B17/122; curettage A61B17/320708; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00238 Type of minimally invasive operation A61B2017/00805 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00336 with a protective sleeve, e.g. retractable or slidable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0034 adapted to be inserted through a working channel of an endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 6/06 for use by females A61F6/20 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0097 characterised by the hub connectors A61M39/10

Abstract

The various embodiments of the present inventions provide stabilization devices and methods for use of the stabilization devices with minimally invasive gynecological procedures such as methods of preventing pregnancy by inserting intrafallopian contraceptive devices into the fallopian tubes.

Claims

1. A minimally invasive method of sterilization, the method comprising:

coupling a handle of an elongated catheter to an endoscope, the endoscope having a handle and an elongated portion designed for insertion into a patient, and the elongated catheter having an outer portion, an inner portion within the outer portion, and a corewire within the inner portion, wherein the outer portion and inner portion are slideable relative each other;

inserting the elongated catheter and the endoscope into a uterus of the patient;

inserting a sterilization device coupled to a distal portion of the elongated catheter into a fallopian tube of the patient, the sterilization device having an outer expandable portion;

moving a release mechanism on the handle from a first incremented position having a first labeled operation to a second incremented position having a second labeled operation, the first and second labeled operations each referring to an operation in removing the sterilization device from the elongated catheter; and

wherein moving the release mechanism from the first incremented position to the second incremented position causes;

activating the outer expandable portion of the sterilization device to expand inside the fallopian tube; and

withdrawing the corewire from the expanded sterilization device to fully disengage the expanded sterilization device from the elongated catheter while keeping the endoscope and elongated catheter in a stable position rotationally relative to the patient.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the sterilization device is coupled to the elongated catheter by an interference fitting.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the sterilization device is linearly coupled to the corewire of the elongated catheter in an inner portion of the expandable sterilization device and withdrawing the corewire from the expanded sterilization device fully disengages the expanded sterilization device from the elongated catheter.

4. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising viewing an image generated by the endoscope, wherein the image is wirelessly transmitted to a display.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the display is a heads up display.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the image is wirelessly transmitted in an wide band frequency range.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the image is wirelessly transmitted by a camera which is coupled to the endoscope.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein the image is wirelessly transmitted by the endoscope.

9. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising aligning the sterilization device with the fallopian tube before activating.

10. A minimally invasive method of sterilization, the method comprising:

coupling a handle of an elongated catheter to a stabilization arm which is coupled to an endoscope, the endoscope having a handle and an elongated portion designed for insertion into a patient, and the elongated catheter having an outer portion, an inner portion within the outer portion, and a corewire within the inner portion, wherein the outer portion and inner portion are slideable relative each other;

inserting the elongated catheter and the endoscope into a uterus of the patient;

inserting a sterilization device coupled to a distal portion of the elongated catheter into a fallopian tube of the patient, wherein depth of insertion into the fallopian tube is limited by the stabilization arm relative to the endoscope; and

moving a release mechanism on the handle from a first incremented position having a first labeled operation to a second incremented position having a second labeled operation, the first and second labeled operations each referring to an operation in removing the sterilization device from the elongated catheter, and wherein moving the release mechanism from the first incremented position to the second incremented position causes;

activating an outer expandable portion of the sterilization device to expand inside the fallopian tube; and

withdrawing the corewire from the expanded sterilization device to fully disengage the expanded sterilization device from the elongated catheter while keeping the endoscope and elongated catheter in a stable position rotationally relative to the patient.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein inserting is at least aided in part by a stabilization arm handle which is coupled to the sterilization arm.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the stabilization arm handle is capable of supporting the endoscope.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein inserting may be performed by solely manipulating the stabilization arm handle.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the stabilization arm handle extends approximately perpendicular from the endoscope handle.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the stabilization arm prevents a too distal insertion of the sterilization device into the fallopian tube.

16. A minimally invasive method of sterilization, the method comprising:

inserting a distal portion of an elongated catheter and a sterilization device coupled to the elongated catheter into a fallopian tube;

moving a release mechanism on the handle from a first incremented position having a first labeled operation to a second incremented position having a second labeled operation, the first and second labeled operations each referring to an operation in removing the sterilization device from the elongated catheter; and

wherein moving the release mechanism from the first incremented position to the second incremented position causes;

expanding an expandable portion of the sterilization device; and

withdrawing a corewire from the expanded sterilization device to fully disengage the expanded sterilization device from the elongated catheter.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising coupling the handle of the elongated catheter to an endoscope.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein coupling the handle of the elongated catheter to the endoscope comprises coupling the handle to a stabilization arm which is coupled to the endoscope.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the sterilization arm prevents a too distal insertion when inserting the distal portion of the elongated catheter into the fallopian tube.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising moving the release mechanism from an initial position to the first incremented position.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein moving the release mechanism from the initial position to the first incremented position causes withdrawing an outer portion of the elongated catheter to expose the expandable portion of the sterilization device.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising rotating a thumbwheel from the initial position until the thumbwheel stops at the first incremented position, pressing a safety button, and rotating the thumbwheel until the thumbwheel stops at the second incremented position.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising rotating the thumbwheel in a proximal direction.

24. The method of claim 23, where rotating the thumbwheel in the proximal direction comprises rotating the thumbwheel in a direction of arrow marks on the handle.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein withdrawing the corewire from the expanded sterilization device comprises axially withdrawing the corewire from a frictional interference fitting with the expanded sterilization device without rotating the endoscope or elongated catheter.