Method and apparatus for tubal occlusion
View Patent ↗A device for sterilizing females by occluding the uterotubal junction. The device includes a catheter with a releasable heat generating plug which is used to thermally damage the uterotubal junction and cause it to constrict around the plug, after which the plug is released from the catheter and left in place in the uterotubal junction.
1. A method of occluding the ovarian pathway of a female body, wherein the ovarian pathway is lined by an epithelium layer on the inner surface of the ovarian pathway, said method comprising the steps of:
inserting a catheter having a detachable non-expandable plug releasably mounted to a distal end of the catheter through the vagina and cervical canal into the uterine tube of the female;
applying sufficient energy to the uterine tube, through the plug, to cause damage to the uterine tube; and
engaging a release mechanism capable of releasing the non-expandable plug from the distal end of the catheter.
2. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in a configuration capable of fitting entirely within the uterine tube.
3. The method of claim 2 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in the form of an insulator and an electrode mounted in the insulator.
4. The method of claim 3 additionally comprising the step of providing the energy in the form of a source of electrical energy coupled to the electrode.
5. The method of claim 2 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in the form of a resistive heating element.
6. The method of claim 5 additionally comprising the step of providing the energy in the form of electrical energy coupled to the resistive heating element.
7. The method of claim 2 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in the form of a laser heating tip.
8. The method of claim 7 additionally comprising the step of providing the energy in the form of a source of laser energy coupled to the laser heating tip.
9. The method of claim 2 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in the form of a piezo-electric crystal.
10. The method of claim 9 additionally comprising the step of providing the energy in the form of a source of electrical energy coupled to the crystal.
11. The method of claim 2 additionally comprising the step of providing the release mechanism in the form of:
at least one tang extending from the plug into the catheter, said tang being resiliently biased toward the center of the catheter;
at least one receiving hole disposed within the catheter near the distal end of the catheter near the distal end of the catheter for receiving the tang to lock the plug to the catheter;
a slidable core extending from the proximal end of the catheter to the distal end of the catheter, said slidable core having a distal end with a first diameter, said slidable core disposed within the catheter and extending into obstructing relationship with the tang, thereby preventing the tang from resiliently bending toward the center of the catheter when obstructed by the core and maintaining the tang engaged with the receiving hole, said slidable core being slidable distally to move out of obstructing relationship with the tang; a bore within the plug, said bore having a first diameter; and
a distally extending segment on the core, said distally extending segment extending from the distal end and having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter of the distal end, said second diameter sufficient to permit the distally extending segment to fit within the bore of the electrode.
12. The method of claim 2 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in the form of porous material.
13. The method of claim 2 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in the form of at least one electrode operable as a monopolar electrode.
14. The method of claim 2 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in the form of at least two electrodes operable as bipolar electrodes.
15. The method of claim 2 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in the form of a power source capable of applying RF energy to the plug sufficient to cause damage to the uterine tube.
16. The method of claim 2 additionally comprising the step of providing the release mechanism is capable of transferring RF energy to the electrode.
17. The method of claim 2 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in the form of an in-growth promoting compound.
18. A method of sterilizing a female, said method comprising the steps of:
inserting a catheter having a detachable non-expandable plug releasably mounted to a distal end of the catheter through the vagina and cervical canal into the uterine tube of the female;
applying sufficient energy to the uterotubal junction, through the plug, to cause damage to the uterotubal junction; and
engaging a release mechanism capable of releasing the non-expandable plug from the distal end of the catheter.
19. The method of claim 18 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in a configuration capable of fitting entirely within the uterine tube.
20. The method of claim 19 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in the form of an insulator and an electrode mounted in the insulator.
21. The method of claim 20 additionally comprising the step of providing the energy in the form of a source of electrical energy coupled to the electrode.
22. The method of claim 19 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in the form of a resistive heating element.
23. The method of claim 22 additionally comprising the step of providing the energy in the form of electrical energy coupled to the resistive heating element.
24. The method of claim 19 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in the form of a laser heating tip.
25. The method of claim 24 additionally comprising the step of providing the energy in the form of a source of laser energy coupled to the laser heating tip.
26. The method of claim 19 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in the form of a piezo-electric crystal.
27. The method of claim 26 additionally comprising the step of providing the energy in the form of a source of electrical energy coupled to the crystal.
28. The method of claim 19 additionally comprising the step of providing the release mechanism in the form of:
at least one tang extending from the plug into the catheter, said tang being resiliently biased toward the center of the catheter;
at least one receiving hole disposed within the catheter near the distal end of the catheter near the distal end of the catheter for receiving the tang to lock the plug to the catheter;
a slidable core extending from the proximal end of the catheter to the distal end of the catheter, said slidable core having a distal end with a first diameter, said slidable core disposed within the catheter and extending into obstructing relationship with the tang, thereby preventing the tang from resiliently bending toward the center of the catheter when obstructed by the core and maintaining the tang engaged with the receiving hole, said slidable core being slidable distally to move out of obstructing relationship with the tang;
a bore within the plug, said bore having a first diameter; and
a distally extending segment on the core, said distally extending segment extending from the distal end and having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter of the distal end, said second diameter sufficient to permit the distally extending segment to fit within the bore of the electrode.
29. The method of claim 19 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in the form of porous material.
30. The method of claim 19 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in the form of at least one electrode operable as a monopolar electrode.
31. The method of claim 19 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in the form of at least two electrodes operable as bipolar electrodes.
32. The method of claim 19 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in the form of a power source capable of applying RF energy to the plug sufficient to cause damage to the uterine tube.
33. The method of claim 19 additionally comprising the step of providing the release mechanism is capable of transferring RF energy to the electrode.
34. The method of claim 19 additionally comprising the step of providing the plug in the form of an in-growth promoting compound.
35. A method of occluding the ovarian pathway of a female body, said method comprising the steps of:
inserting a catheter including at least one releasable plug through the vagina and cervical canal and into the uterine tube of the female;
maintaining the position of the catheter fixed relative to the uterine tube upon insertion;
applying sufficient energy to the uterine tube to cause damage to the uterine tube; and
engaging a release mechanism and releasing the plug from the catheter into a target location in the uterine tube while simultaneously maintaining the position of the catheter fixed relative to the uterine tube.
36. The method of claim 35 , wherein during the applying step, the energy is applied via the releasable plug.
37. The method of claim 35 additionally comprising the steps of:
inserting the catheter into a second uterine tube of the female;
maintaining the position of the catheter fixed relative to the second uterine tube upon insertion;
applying sufficient energy to the second uterine tube to cause damage to the second uterine tube; and
engaging a release mechanism and releasing the plug from the catheter into a target location in the second uterine tube while simultaneously maintaining the position of the catheter fixed relative to the second uterine tube.