Cervical occluder

1. A device for occluding a cervix of a human through a vagina, comprising:

an elongated straight conduit sized and shaped to extend from a proximal end outside the vagina to a distal end near the cervix;

a loop sized to fit around an exocervix, the loop being sufficiently flexible to be tightened and loosened around the exocervix, wherein a portion of the loop is disposed inside the conduit and a portion of the loop protrudes from the distal end of the conduit;

a hysteroscope that passes through the loop before the loop is tightened around the exocervix; and

an actuator for causing the loop to be tightened and loosened around the exocervix.

2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a lock for maintaining a position of the actuator to inhibit the loop from tightening or loosening after the loop has been positioned.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the lock includes teeth and a spring.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the conduit further comprises a handle proximate to the proximal end.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes a rod disposed inside the conduit, the rod having a distal end and a proximal end, the loop joined to the distal end, and wherein moving the rod longitudinally relative to the conduit tightens or loosens the loop.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the actuator further comprises a thumbslide coupled to the proximal end of the rod for moving the rod in a longitudinal direction.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the loop includes synthetic mesh.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the loop includes polypropylene.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is a single use disposable device.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device consists essentially of the elongated straight conduit, the loop, and the actuator.

11. The device of claim 1 , further comprising an opening in the conduit through which the actuator protrudes, wherein the conduit is a monolithic unit that has a smaller diameter at the distal end of the conduit than at the end with the opening.

12. A method comprising:

inserting an occluding device into a patient's vagina, the occluding device comprising:

an elongated straight conduit sized and shaped to extend from a proximal end outside the vagina to a distal end near the cervix;

a loop sized to fit around an exocervix, the loop being sufficiently flexible to be tightened and loosened around the exocervix, wherein a portion of the loop is disposed inside the conduit and a portion of the loop protrudes from the distal end of the conduit; and

an actuator for causing the loop to be tightened and loosened around the exocervix;

positioning the loop of the occluding device around the patient's exocervix;

inserting a hysteroscope into the patient's uterus through the patient's cervix and through the loop;

and operating the actuator to tighten the loop around the exocervix.

13. A method comprising:

inserting an occluding device into a patient's vagina, the occluding device comprising:

an elongated conduit sized and shaped to extend from a proximal end outside the vagina to a distal end near the cervix;

a loop sized to fit around an exocervix, the loop being sufficiently flexible to be tightened and loosened around the exocervix, wherein a portion of the loop is disposed inside the conduit and a portion of the loop protrudes from the distal end of the conduit; and

an actuator for causing the loop to be tightened and loosened around the exocervix;

positioning the loop of the occluding device around the patient's exocervix;

operating the actuator to tighten the loop around the exocervix; and

distending the patient's uterus cavity after the loop is tightened.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the elongated conduit of the occluding device is straight.

15. A method comprising:

inserting an occluding device into a patient's vagina, the occluding device comprising:

an elongated conduit sized and shaped to extend from a proximal end outside the vagina to a distal end near the cervix;

a loop sized to fit around an exocervix, the loop being sufficiently flexible to be tightened and loosened around the exocervix, wherein a portion of the loop is disposed inside the conduit and a portion of the loop protrudes from the distal end of the conduit; and

an actuator for causing the loop to be tightened and loosened around the exocervix;

inserting a hysteroscope into the patient's uterus through the patient's cervix;

positioning the loop of the occluding device around the patient's exocervix; and

operating the actuator to tighten the loop around the exocervix such that the hysteroscope remains extending into the uterus.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the elongated conduit of the occluding device is straight.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising inserting a speculum into the patient's vagina.

18. A method comprising:

inserting a speculum into a patient's vagina;

inserting an occluding device into the patient's vagina through the speculum, the occluding device comprising:

an elongated conduit sized and shaped to extend from a proximal end outside the vagina to a distal end near the cervix;

a loop sized to fit around an exocervix, the loop being sufficiently flexible to be tightened and loosened around the exocervix, wherein a portion of the loop is disposed inside the conduit and a portion of the loop protrudes from the distal end of the conduit; and

an actuator for causing the loop to be tightened and loosened around the exocervix;

positioning the loop of the occluding device around the patient's exocervix; and

operating the actuator to tighten the loop around the exocervix.

19. the method of claim 18 , wherein the elongated conduit of the occluding device is straight.