Apparatus and method for ultrasonic imaging of the uterus and fallopian tubes using air and saline
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a pump assembly including first and second pumps, the pumps having independently operable actuators that allow independent operation of the pumps; and
the first pump is adapted to inject a solution of sterile saline to a location in a body and the second pump is adapted to inject sterile air into the saline to generate air bubbles in the saline, wherein the saline solution and the air bubbles generated therein permit sonographic observation of the location and condition of the body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for sonographically observing a location and condition of the body. The apparatus has a pump assembly and a catheter assembly fluidly coupled to the pump assembly. The pump assembly includes a first pump for pumping a solution of sterile saline into the catheter assembly and a second pump for pumping micro-filtered air into the catheter assembly. The catheter assembly injects the solution of sterile saline and the sterile saline mixed with micro-filtered air into a location of a body. Further, a method for sonographically observing a location and condition of a body using the above apparatus. The method comprises the steps of inserting the catheter assembly into the location of the body, injecting the solution of sterile saline into the location of the body using the first pump of the pump assembly and the catheter assembly, injecting the micro-filtered air into the saline using the second pump of the pump assembly and the catheter assembly to generate air bubbles in the saline; injecting the saline with the air bubbles generated therein into the location of the body using the first and second pumps of the pump assembly and the catheter assembly; and ultrasonically imaging the location of the body to sonographically observe the location of the body using the bubbles generated in the saline.
69 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a pump assembly including first and second pumps, the pumps having independently operable actuators that allow independent operation of the pumps; and
the first pump is adapted to inject a solution of sterile saline to a location in a body and the second pump is adapted to inject sterile air into the saline to generate air bubbles in the saline, wherein the saline solution and the air bubbles generated therein permit sonographic observation of the location and condition of the body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for sonographically observing a location and condition of a body using an apparatus having a pump assembly and a catheter assembly fluidly coupled to the pump assembly, the pump assembly including a first pump for pumping a solution of sterile saline and a second pump for pumping micro-filtered air, the method comprising the steps of:
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inserting the catheter assembly into the location of the body;
injecting the solution of sterile saline into the location of the body using the first pump of the pump assembly and the catheter assembly;
injecting the micro-filtered air into the saline using the second pump of the pump assembly and the catheter assembly to generate air bubbles in the saline;
injecting the saline with the air bubbles generated therein into the location of the body using the first and second pumps of the pump assembly and the catheter assembly; and
ultrasonically imaging the location of the body to sonographically observe the location of the body using the bubbles generated in the saline. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for sonographically observing the uterus and its associated fallopian tubes using an apparatus having a pump assembly and a catheter assembly fluidly coupled to the pump assembly, the pump assembly including a first pump for pumping a solution of sterile saline and a second pump for pumping micro-filtered air, the method comprising the steps of:
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inserting the catheter assembly into the uterus;
injecting the solution of sterile saline into the uterus using the first pump of the pump assembly and the catheter assembly;
injecting the micro-filtered air into the saline using the second pump of the pump assembly and the catheter assembly to generate air bubbles in the saline;
injecting the saline with the air bubbles generated therein into the uterus using the first and second pumps of the pump assembly and the catheter assembly; and
ultrasonically imaging the uterus and fallopian tubes to sonographically observe the condition of the fallopian tubes using the bubbles generated in the saline.
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Specification