Granted Patent B2

US 12,207,844 · App. 18/407,835 · Granted Jan 28, 2025

Inventor: Csaba Truckai (Saratoga, CA)

Assignee: Minerva Surgical, Inc.

A61B17/42A61B18/042A61B18/1206A61B18/14A61B18/1485A61B2017/4225A61B2018/0022A61B2018/00232A61B2018/00285A61B2018/00559A61B2018/00577A61B2018/0063A61B2018/00791A61B2018/00863A61B2018/122A61B2090/064A61B2218/007

Abstract

Claims (26)

1. A method of treating a uterine cavity of a patient, the method comprising:

advancing a cervical seal through a cervix of the patient, the cervical seal including a distal balloon and a ridged region extending proximal of the distal balloon, the ridged region including a plurality of ridges and valleys alternatingly disposed along a length thereof;

thereafter, inflating the distal balloon to seal the uterine cavity and axially compressing the ridged region to radially expand the plurality of ridges; and

thereafter, performing an endometrial ablation procedure with an ablation probe positioned in the uterine cavity distal of the distal balloon.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of inflating the distal balloon includes using a syringe to inject an inflation fluid into the distal balloon.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ridges are annular ridges.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ridges are helical ridges.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the distal balloon is inflated within the uterine cavity just beyond the patient's cervical os.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ablation probe is introduced through the cervical seal and into the uterine cavity after inflating the distal balloon.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ridged region is positioned through a cervical canal of the patient.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the ridged region is positioned through the cervical canal of the patient prior to inflating the distal balloon.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of valleys have a higher durometer than the plurality of ridges.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein upon inflation of the distal balloon, the distal balloon extends to a larger radial extent than the plurality of ridges of the ridged region.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cervical seal is secured to a sleeve, wherein the ablation probe is axially movable through a lumen of the sleeve.

12. A method of treating a uterine cavity of a patient, the method comprising:

advancing a cervical seal through a cervical canal of the patient, the cervical seal including a distal balloon and a ridged region extending proximal of the distal balloon, the ridged region including a plurality of ridges and valleys alternatingly disposed along a length thereof;

thereafter, sealing the uterine cavity by inflating the distal balloon against an internal os of the cervical canal while the ridged region extends beyond an external os into a vagina of the patient; and

thereafter, performing an endometrial ablation procedure with an ablation probe positioned in the uterine cavity distal of the distal balloon.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of ridges are annular ridges.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of ridges are helical ridges.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein upon inflation of the distal balloon, the distal balloon extends to a larger radial extent than the plurality of ridges of the ridged region.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the ablation probe is introduced through the cervical seal and into the uterine cavity after inflating the distal balloon.

17. The method of claim 12 , further comprising axially compressing the ridged region to radially expand the plurality of ridges.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the cervical seal is secured to a sleeve, wherein the ablation probe is axially movable through a lumen of the sleeve.

19. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

inflating the ridged region against the cervical canal.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (6)

References Cited (51)