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Reversible tubal contraceptive device

  • US 9,247,942 B2
  • Filed: 02/06/2012
  • Issued: 02/02/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2010
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for preventing passage of sperm through a reproductive structure of a patient, comprising:

  • positioning a first elongate member within a first lumen of the reproductive structure, the first elongate member comprising a first helical frame and a central longitudinal axis, the first helical frame comprising (i) a distal portion and a proximal portion, (ii) a shape-memory material expandable from a compressed configuration to a deployed configuration such that when unrestrained, the distal portion comprises a plurality of windings whose diameters are successively smaller in a distal direction, and (iii) a withdrawal component coupled to a smallest winding of the plurality of windings, and wherein in the deployed configuration, the withdrawal component extends at least partially along the central longitudinal axis proximally beyond the proximal portion;

    expanding the first helical frame within the first lumen;

    expanding a first flow reducing member coupled to the distal portion of the first helical frame, such that the first flow reducing member impedes passage of sperm through the first lumen with the first flow reducing member; and

    proximally retracting the withdrawal component to proximally invert the smallest winding through other windings of the plurality of windings such that the distal portion extends proximal to the proximal portion in an inverted configuration having a cross-sectional diameter smaller than a cross-sectional diameter of the proximal portion in the deployed configuration to permit removal of the first helical frame.

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