Method for tubal electroligation

• US 5,556,396 A
• Filed: 03/28/1995
• Issued: 09/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ESC Medical Systems, Ltd (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Endovascular, Inc.
• Inventors: Kick, George F., Cohen, Donald, Acosta, George M., Daw, Derek J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sykes, Angela D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEFFLEY, MICHAEL F
• Application Number:
  US08/411,857
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 606/31-34, 606/37-42, 606/45-50, 607/100-102, 128/898
• US Class Current: 606/42
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00026 Conductivity or impedance, e.g. of tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00084 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22097 Valve removal in veins
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/4233 Operations on Fallopian tubes, e.g. sterilization A61B2017/1125 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00107 Coatings on the energy applicator
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00119 with metal oxide nitride
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00684 using lookup tables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00761 Duration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00779 Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00803 with temperature prediction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00827 Current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00869 Phase
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00875 Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00886 Duration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00892 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00982 combined with or comprising means for visual or photographic inspections inside the body, e.g. endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/044 : the surgical action being effected by a circulating hot fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 : for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension

Abstract

A minimally-invasive surgery apparatus for causing the lumen of a vein to collapse to prevent blood flow through the vein, e.g., a varicose vein or a side branch of the saphenous vein, includes an electrode which is electrically connected to a power source, and the electrode is percutaneously advanced into the vein. Then, the power source is activated to energize the electrode and thus the blood vein until the blood vein sufficiently collapses to block the lumen of the vein. A feedback loop is also provided for sensing electrical impedance of the tissue within the vein being energized and for deenergizing the electrode when the impedance reaches a predetermined value. The apparatus can also be used to block a fallopian tube.

Claims

1. A method for ligating a fallopian tube, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an electrically energizable electrode having a power supply;

(b) advancing the electrode into the fallopian tube such that the electrode is juxtaposed with the wall of the fallopian tube;

(c) establishing contact between the wall of the fallopian tube and the electrode;

(d) energizing the electrode until the fallopian tube collapses around the electrode to thereby block the fallopian tube;

(e) measuring at least one parameter selected from the group of preselected parameters consisting of;

power supply output voltage, time rate of change of power supply output voltage, power supply output power, time rate of change of power supply output power, power supply output current, time rate of change of power supply output current, power supply output electrical impedance, time rate of change of power supply output electrical impedance, phase difference between power supply voltage and current, electrode temperature;

(f) establishing a setpoint having a variable predetermined value, the predetermined value being a function of at least one of said preselected parameters; and

(g) decreasing energization of the electrode when the parameter reaches the setpoint.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the energizing step is accomplished without perforating the fallopian tube.