Introducer device with locking adaptor

1. An introducer device for a thermal ablation system, comprising:

a housing including a housing lumen sized and shaped to slidably receive a visualization device therein, the housing further including a slot extending therethrough from an interior surface defining the housing lumen to an exterior surface thereof, the slot sized to receive therein a projection extending from a visualization device received in the housing lumen radially away from the housing lumen and past the exterior surface of the housing;

a sheath extending distally from a handle, the sheath being sized and shaped for insertion through a natural body opening into a hollow body organ, the sheath including a fluid delivery lumen delivering heated fluid to the organ and a fluid return lumen withdrawing the fluid after it has been circulated through the organ;

a connector including a connector lumen aligned with the housing lumen and sized and shaped to slidably receive therein the visualization device;

a locking arrangement movably coupled to the housing, movement of the locking arrangement relative to the housing opening and closing the slot; and

an adjustment mechanism moving the connector relative to the housing to adjust a distance between a proximal end of the connector lumen and a distal end of the sheath.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the slot extends distally from a proximal end of the housing and wherein the locking arrangement is a substantially C-shaped member mounted rotatably around the proximal end of the housing.

3. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the C-shaped member includes a groove formed along an inner circumference thereof and wherein the housing includes a corresponding ridge mating with the groove.

4. The device according to claim 3 , wherein the ridge includes a series of spaced, projections mating with inlets formed on the groove, the mating of the projections and inlets maintaining the C-shaped member in a desired position relative to the housing.

5. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the C-shaped member includes first and second ends separated from one another by a channel sized to correspond to a width of the slot.

6. The device according to claim 5 , wherein a length of the channel along a circumference of the C-shaped member is no less than a width of the slot formed in the housing.

7. The device according to claim 5 , including a projection contacting surface extending along a path which extends further distally as a distance from the first end of the channel increases, an end of the projection contacting surface at the first end of the channel defining a minimum distal projection of the path.

8. The device according to claim 7 , wherein the path of the projection contacting surface extends a maximum distance distally at a point substantially equidistant from the first and second ends of the channel.

9. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the locking arrangement includes a latch movably coupled to the housing adjacent to the slot.

10. The device according to claim 9 , wherein the latch is coupled to the housing via a hinge, the latch including a tab at an end thereof opposite the hinge, the tab being insertable into a slit formed along a portion of the slit opposite the hinge.

11. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the latch is slidably coupled to the housing for movement proximally and distally relative to the slot.

12. The device according to claim 11 , further comprising a ratchet slide selectively locking the latch in any of a plurality of pre-defined positions.

13. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the visualization device is one of a hysteroscope, a cytoscope and an endoscope.

14. A coupling arrangement for detachably coupling a visualization device to a medical device, the arrangement comprising:

a housing including a housing lumen extending therethrough, the housing lumen being sized and shaped to slidably receive a visualization device therein and including a slot extending therethrough from an interior surface defining the housing lumen to an exterior surface thereof, the slot sized to receive therein a projection extending from the visualization device received within the housing lumen radially away from the housing lumen past the exterior surface;

a connector movably connected to the housing to adjust a distance between a proximal end of the connector and a distal end of the device, the connector defining a connector lumen in alignment with the housing lumen and being sized and shaped to slidably receive a visualization device therein; and

a locking arrangement securing the visualization device at a desired position within the housing.

15. The arrangement according to claim 14 , wherein the locking arrangement includes a locking element coupled rotatably to a proximal end of the housing.

16. The arrangement according to claim 14 , wherein the locking element is substantially C-shaped.

17. The arrangement according to claim 16 , wherein the locking element includes a groove mating with a ridge formed on the housing.

18. The arrangement according to claim 14 , wherein the locking element includes first and second ends separated from one another by a channel having a circumferential length substantially equal to a width of a channel formed in the housing.

19. The arrangement according to claim 15 , wherein the housing includes a channel extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis thereof, the locking element including an engaging surface angled relative to the longitudinal axis so that rotating the locking element relative to the housing varies an extent by which the locking element overlies the channel.

20. The arrangement according to claim 14 , wherein the locking arrangement includes a hinged latch.

21. The arrangement according to claim 20 , wherein the hinged latch is disposed in a first slot formed along a first length of a channel formed in the housing.

22. The arrangement according to claim 21 , wherein the hinged latch includes a tab at an end opposite a hinge, the tab being insertable into a second slot formed along a second length of the channel opposite the first length.

23. The arrangement according to claim 22 , wherein the hinge is slidable within the first slot and the tab, when inserted into the second slot, is slidable therein.

24. The arrangement according to claim 23 , wherein the tab and the second slot form a ratchet slide.

25. A coupling arrangement for detachably coupling a hysteroscope to an introducer device, the arrangement comprising:

a housing including a hysteroscope receiving lumen extending therethrough and a ridge formed on a proximal end of the housing, the housing defining a projecting element receiving channel for receiving therewithin a projecting element of the hysteroscope, the projection element receiving channel extending through the housing from an interior surface to an exterior surface thereof to receive a projecting element extending from a hysteroscope received within the lumen radially away from the lumen past the exterior surface; and

a locking element including a groove formed along an inner circumference thereof for mating with the ridge and rotatably coupling the locking element to the housing wherein, when in an unlocked state, a channel formed between ends of the locking element is aligned with a channel formed in the housing to allow the projecting element to be inserted into and removed from the channel and wherein, when in a locked state, the locking element closes the channel locking the projecting element within the channel.

26. The arrangement according to claim 25 , wherein the locking element includes a projecting element engaging surface shaped so that, as the locking element is rotated relative to the channel, the engaging surface moves proximally and distally relative to the channel.