FUNCTIONAL UTERINE MANIPULATOR
A uterine manipulator can include a shaft including a first end, a second end, and a channel along an axis of the shaft, a handle coupled to the first end of the shaft, and a triangular balloon coupled to the second end of the shaft. The triangular balloon can be configured to inflate upon insertion into a vagina via a fluid injected into the channel of the shaft. 19511854v1
1 . A uterine manipulator, comprising:
a shaft including a first end, a second end, and a channel along an axis of the shaft, wherein the shaft includes a groove;
a handle coupled to the first end of the shaft;
a balloon coupled to the second end of the shaft;
a cup, the cup including a projection that interfaces with the groove of the shaft and is configured to be positioned at a juncture between a cervix and the vagina;
a fluid reservoir including fluid disposed therein in fluid communication with the balloon; and
an actuator operably coupled to the fluid reservoir.
2 . The uterine manipulator of claim 1 , further comprising:
a pneumooccluder coupled to the shaft;
a first end of a filling tube coupled to a fluid inlet; and
a second end of the filling tube coupled to the pneumooccluder.
3 . The uterine manipulator of claim 1 , wherein the tip assembly is pivotable about the first axis a range of degrees to enable both raising and lowering the uterus.
4 . The uterine manipulator of claim 1 , wherein the shaft is constructed of a non-rigid, flexible material.
5 . The uterine manipulator of claim 1 , wherein the cup portion includes a cutter wire configured to be articulated around the circumference of the cup portion.
6 . The uterine manipulator of claim 5 , wherein the cup portion includes a projection that initially pushes the cutter wire through the tissue when the cup portion is positioned at the juncture between the cervix and the vagina.
7 . The uterine manipulator of claim 5 , wherein the cutter wire includes a looped tip configured to engage a laparoscopic instrument.
8 . A method of performing a hysterectomy on a patient with a uterine manipulator including a cutting assembly rotatably disposed about a main shaft of the uterine manipulator, the cutting assembly including a cup portion, a cutting handle and a cutter wire, the method comprising:
inserting the uterine manipulator into the vagina until the cup portion reaches a juncture between the patient's vagina and the patient's cervix; and
rotating the cutter about the shaft to separate the patient's vagina from the patient's cervix by manipulating the cutting handle.
9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising piercing tissue at the juncture of the cervix and the vagina with the cutter wire.
10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising advancing the cutter outwardly from the cup portion in order to pierce the tissue.
11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising retracting the cutter inwardly and inserting the uterine manipulator further into the uterus.
12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the cutter is electrified with electrical current.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the electrical current is applied using a monopolar configuration.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the electrical current is applied using a bipolar configuration.