Assessing fallopian tubal patency
A method of assessing Fallopian tubal patency includes introducing a distension medium into a patient's uterus, introducing a contrasting medium into the uterus, and observing the contrasting medium, for example, via a hysteroscope, to determine whether the contrasting medium flows into one or both Fallopian tubes. A device for assessing Fallopian tubal patency includes a chamber for receiving contrast media, a flow path through the chamber for delivering distension media to a patient's uterus, and a flow controller for regulating the flow of distension media to the patient's uterus. The flow path is configured to permit flow of contrast media from the chamber into the flow path.
1. A method of assessing Fallopian tubal patency, comprising:
directly coupling an inflow connector to a port of a hysteroscope;
introducing a distension medium through the inflow connector to the hysteroscope and into a patient's uterus to distend the uterus;
introducing a contrasting medium through the inflow connector to the hysteroscope and into the distended uterus; and
observing the contrasting medium via the hysteroscope to determine whether the contrasting medium flows into a Fallopian tube.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the hysteroscope has a diameter of 2.5 mm or smaller.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein introducing a contrasting medium comprises introducing a total of less than 2 milliliters of contrasting medium into the distended uterus.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the distension medium comprises saline.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the contrasting medium comprises air.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the contrasting medium comprises water insoluble oil.
7. A hysteroscopic system, comprising:
a hysteroscope; and
a device fluidly coupled to the hysteroscope, the device having a flow path with an outlet configured to be coupled to the hysteroscope and an inlet configured to be coupled to a source of distension medium, the device containing contrast media introducible into the flow path.
8. The system of claim 7 wherein the device comprises a chamber for receiving contrast media.
9. The system of claim 8 wherein the flow path extends through the chamber.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein the flow path comprises tubing passing through the chamber.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein the tubing is perforated to permit flow of the contrast media from the chamber into the tubing.
12. The system of claim 8 wherein the flow path is configured to permit flow of contrast media from the chamber into the flow path.
13. The system of claim 7 further comprising a flow controller for regulating the flow of distension media to the patient's uterus.
14. The system of claim 13 wherein the flow controller comprises an adjustable clamp.
15. The system of claim 14 wherein the adjustable clamp is hand controllable.
16. The system of claim 8 wherein the chamber is configured to be held in an operator's hand.
17. The system of claim 16 wherein the flow controller is configured to be operated by the same hand holding the chamber for one-handed operation.
18. The system of claim 7 wherein the flow path comprises perforated tubing.
19. The system of claim 18 wherein the perforated tubing comprises unidirectional porous tubing.
20. The system of claim 7 wherein the flow path comprises tubing having a porosity of 1 mm.
21. The system of claim 7 wherein the hysteroscope has a diameter of 2.5 mm or smaller.
22. The system of claim 7 wherein the flow path comprises perforated tubing.
23. The system of claim 22 wherein the perforated tubing comprises unidirectional porous tubing.
24. A hysteroscopic system, comprising:
a hysteroscope; and
a device having a flow path with an outlet to the hysteroscope and an inlet configured to be coupled to a source of distension medium, the device containing contrast media introducible into the flow path.
25. The system of claim 24 wherein the device comprises a chamber for receiving contrast media.
26. The system of claim 25 wherein the flow path extends through the chamber.
27. The system of claim 26 wherein the flow path comprises tubing passing through the chamber.
28. The system of claim 27 wherein the tubing is perforated to permit flow of the contrast media from the chamber into the tubing.
29. The system of claim 25 wherein the flow path is configured to permit flow of contrast media from the chamber into the flow path.
30. The system of claim 25 wherein the chamber is configured to be held in an operator's hand.
31. The system of claim 30 wherein the flow controller is configured to be operated by the same hand holding the chamber for one-handed operation.
32. The system of claim 24 further comprising a flow controller for regulating the flow of distension media to the patient's uterus.
33. The system of claim 32 wherein the flow controller comprises an adjustable clamp.
34. The system of claim 33 wherein the adjustable clamp is hand controllable.
35. The system of claim 24 wherein the flow path comprises tubing having a porosity of 1 mm.
36. The system of claim 24 wherein the hysteroscope has a diameter of 2.5 mm or smaller.