Methods and systems for evaluating the integrity of a uterine cavity

• US 9,655,557 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2012
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Minerva Surgical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Minerva Surgical, Inc.
• Inventors: Filloux, Dominique, Toth, Akos, Bek, Robin
• Primary Examiner(s): HINDENBURG, MAX F
• Application Number:
  US13/361,089
• Publication Number:
  US 20130158428A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,940 Days
• Field of Search: 600560, 600300, 600591, 600587, 606 32- 41, 606190, 606192, 128898
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/042 using additional gas becoming plasma
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1485 having a short rigid shaft for accessing the inner body through natural openings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/4216 Operations on uterus, e.g. endometrium
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00214 Expandable means emitting energy, e.g. by elements carried thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00559 Female reproductive organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00821 measured by a thermocouple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/147 Electrodes transferring energy by capacitive coupling, i.e. with a dielectricum between electrode and target tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/05 Surgical care
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4325 of the uterine cavities, e.g. uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 13/003 Blowing gases other than for carrying powders, e.g. for inflating, dilating or rinsing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/00 Devices for introducing or retaining media, e.g. remedies, in cavities of the body A61M25/00 takes precedence ; introducing or retaining ophthalmic products into the ocular cavities A61F9/0008

Abstract

Methods, systems and devices for evaluating the integrity of a uterine cavity. A method comprises introducing transcervically a probe into a patient'"'"'s uterine cavity, providing a flow of a fluid (e.g., CO₂) through the probe into the uterine cavity and monitoring the rate of the flow to characterize the uterine cavity as perforated or non-perforated based on a change in the flow rate.

Claims

1. A method of characterizing a patient'"'"'s uterus, comprising:

providing a probe having a first lumen, a second lumen and a working end which carries a balloon-like member having a fluid-tight interior chamber;

positioning the working end in a patient'"'"'s uterine cavity;

inflating the balloon-like member within the uterine cavity by introducing an inflation media into the fluid-tight interior chamber through the first lumen;

introducing a flow of a gas through the second lumen into a uterine cavity exterior of the working end; and

measuring a flow rate of inflation media outward from the inflated balloon-like member in response to the gas flow into the uterine cavity.

2. A method of characterizing a patient'"'"'s uterus, comprising:

providing a probe having a first lumen, a second lumen and a working end which carries a balloon-like member having a fluid-tight interior chamber;

positioning the working end in a patient'"'"'s uterine cavity;

inflating the balloon-like member within the uterine cavity by introducing an inflation media into the fluid-tight interior chamber through the first lumen;

introducing a flow of a gas through the second lumen into a uterine cavity exterior of the working end; and

measuring a change in volume of inflation media outflow from the inflated balloon in response to the gas flow into the uterine cavity.

3. A method of characterizing a patient'"'"'s uterus, comprising:

providing a probe having a first lumen, a second lumen and a working end which carries a balloon-like member having a fluid-tight interior chamber;

positioning the working end in a patient'"'"'s uterine cavity;

inflating the balloon-like member within the uterine cavity by introducing an inflation media into the fluid-tight interior chamber through the first lumen;

introducing a flow of a gas through the second lumen into a uterine cavity exterior of the working end; and

measuring a change in pressure of inflation media in the inflated balloon-like member in response to the gas flow into the uterine cavity.