Method and System for Transcervical Tubal Occlusion
A medical device and procedure is described for occluding a fallopian tube. A tubal occlusion device is inserted into a uterine cavity. The device includes an RF applicator head including an electrode carrier with one or more bipolar electrodes thereon. During insertion, the RF applicator head can be in a closed position. The RF applicator head is positioned at a tubal ostium of a fallopian tube, such that a distal tip of the RF applicator head advances into the tubal ostium. The RF applicator head is deployed into an open position such that the RF applicator head approximates the shape of the uterine cavity in a region of the tubal ostium. Current is passed through the one or more bipolar electrodes to the tubal ostium to destroy tissue to a known depth, which precipitates a healing response in surrounding tissue that over time scars and occludes the fallopian tube.
1 . A method for fallopian tubal occlusion, comprising:
inserting a tubal occlusion device including an RF applicator head comprising an electrode carrier with one or more bipolar electrodes thereon into a uterine cavity, the RF applicator head being in a closed position;
positioning the RF applicator head at a tubal ostium of a fallopian tube such that a distal tip of the RF applicator head advances into the tubal ostium and deploying the RF applicator head into an open position such that the RF applicator head approximates the shape of the uterine cavity in a region of the tubal ostium; and
passing current through the one or more bipolar electrodes to the tubal ostium to destroy tissue to a known depth and to precipitate a healing response in surrounding tissue that over time scars and occludes the fallopian tube.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein passing current through the one or more bipolar electrodes to the tubal ostium to destroy tissue comprises vaporizing endometrium and destroying superficial myometrium.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein inserting a tubal occlusion device into a uterine cavity comprises inserting the tubal occlusion device with the RF applicator head in a closed position, the method further comprising:
before passing current through the one or more bipolar electrodes, deploying the RF applicator head into the open position.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
applying suction through the electrode carrier to draw the surrounding tissue into contact with the electrodes and to draw moisture generated during ablation away from the electrodes to substantially prevent the formation of a low impedance liquid layer at the electrodes.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein passing current through the one or more bipolar electrodes comprises delivering radio frequency energy to the one or more bipolar electrodes.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
automatically terminating the flow of current into the tissue once ablation has approximately reached a predetermined depth of ablation.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
before positioning the RF applicator head at the tubal ostium, insufflating the uterine cavity; and
before passing current through the one or more bipolar electrodes, ceasing insufflating the uterine cavity and allowing the uterine cavity to collapse onto the RF applicator head.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein deploying the RF applicator head into an open position includes removing a sheath to expose the electrode carrier.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrode carrier includes a fabric having conductive metallized regions and one or more non-conductive regions formed thereon to create the one or more bipolar electrodes.
10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
advancing an illuminator and an optical instrument into the uterine cavity; and
wherein positioning the RF applicator head at the tubal ostium of a fallopian tube includes using the optical instrument to visualize the tubal ostium.