Method and apparatus for tissue ablation
First Claim
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1. A method of ablating endometrial tissue comprising the steps of:
- providing an ablation device comprising;
a catheter having a hollow shaft through which an ablative agent can travel;
a first positioning element attached to said catheter;
a second positioning element attached to said catheter and positioned on said catheter distal to said first positioning element, wherein said second positioning element is a disc shaped wire mesh and has a diameter in a range of 0.1 mm to 10 cm;
at least one infusion port on said catheter for delivery of said ablative agent to said endometrial tissue; and
a controller comprising a microprocessor for controlling the delivery of said ablative agent;
inserting said catheter through a cervix and into a uterus of a patient such that said first positioning element is positioned in said cervix and said second positioning element is positioned proximate a fundus or body of said uterus;
deploying said first and second positioning elements such that said first positioning element contacts said cervix, said second positioning element contacts a portion of said uterus proximate said fundus or body, and said catheter and at least one infusion port are positioned within a uterine cavity of said patient; and
delivering said ablative agent through said at least one infusion port to ablate said endometrial tissue.
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Abstract
Methods of ablating endometrial tissue are disclosed. The methods include providing an ablation device that has a catheter with a hollow shaft through which an ablative agent can travel, a first positioning element, and a second positioning element positioned on the catheter distal to the first positioning element. The second positioning element is a disc shaped wire mesh and has a diameter in a range of 0.1 mm to 10 cm.
671 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of ablating endometrial tissue comprising the steps of:
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providing an ablation device comprising; a catheter having a hollow shaft through which an ablative agent can travel; a first positioning element attached to said catheter; a second positioning element attached to said catheter and positioned on said catheter distal to said first positioning element, wherein said second positioning element is a disc shaped wire mesh and has a diameter in a range of 0.1 mm to 10 cm; at least one infusion port on said catheter for delivery of said ablative agent to said endometrial tissue; and a controller comprising a microprocessor for controlling the delivery of said ablative agent; inserting said catheter through a cervix and into a uterus of a patient such that said first positioning element is positioned in said cervix and said second positioning element is positioned proximate a fundus or body of said uterus; deploying said first and second positioning elements such that said first positioning element contacts said cervix, said second positioning element contacts a portion of said uterus proximate said fundus or body, and said catheter and at least one infusion port are positioned within a uterine cavity of said patient; and delivering said ablative agent through said at least one infusion port to ablate said endometrial tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of ablating endometrial tissue comprising the steps of:
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providing an ablation device comprising; a catheter having a hollow shaft through which an ablative agent can travel; a first positioning element attached to said catheter; a second positioning element attached to said catheter and positioned on said catheter distal to said first positioning element, wherein said second positioning element is a disc shaped wire mesh and has a diameter in a range of 0.1 mm to 10 cm; at least one infusion port on said catheter for delivery of said ablative agent to said endometrial tissue; at least one mechanism for measuring at least one dimension of a uterine cavity; and a controller comprising a microprocessor for controlling the delivery of said ablative agent; inserting said catheter through a cervix and into a uterus of a patient such that said first positioning element is positioned in said cervix and said second positioning element is positioned in the uterine cavity; deploying said first and second positioning elements such that said first positioning element contacts said cervix, said second positioning element contacts a portion of said uterus within said uterine cavity, and said catheter and at least one infusion port are positioned within said uterine cavity of said patient; operating said at least one mechanism to measure the at least one dimension of said uterine cavity; using said at least one dimension to determine an amount of ablative agent to deliver to said endometrial tissue; and delivering said ablative agent through said at least one infusion port to ablate said endometrial tissue.
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Specification