# US 11,076,982 B2 · Fallopian biocompatible plug with differently expandable portions > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,076,982 B2 - Document ID: US11076982B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/857,915 - Filed: 2017-12-29 - Published: 2019-07-04 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-29 - Assignees: Gyrus ACMI, Inc. - Applicants: Gyrus ACMI, Inc. - Inventors: Joey Magno; Eric A. Gilbert; Rachel M. McGuire - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11076982B2 ## CPC - A61F 6/22: implantable in tubes {(occluding by internal devices A61B17/12022)} - A61B 1/018: for receiving instruments - A61B 1/3132: {for laparoscopy} - A61B 17/12159: {Solid plugs; being solid before insertion} - A61B 17/12163: {having a string of elements connected to each other} - A61B 17/1219: {expandable in contact with liquids} - A61L 31/042: {Polysaccharides} - A61L 31/044: {Collagen} - A61L 31/045: {Gelatin} - A61L 31/047: {Other specific proteins or polypeptides not covered by A61L31/044 - A61L31/046} - A61L 31/14: Materials characterised by their function or physical properties {, e.g. injectable or lubricating compositions, shape-memory materials, surface modified materials} - A61L 31/146: {Porous materials, e.g. foams or sponges} - A61L 31/148: {Materials at least partially resorbable by the body} - A61B 1/303: for the vagina, i.e. vaginoscopes - A61B 2017/00004: {(bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable or resorptive} - A61B 2017/0034: {adapted to be inserted through a working channel of an endoscope} - A61B 2017/1205: {Introduction devices} - A61B 2017/4216: {Operations on uterus, e.g. endometrium} - A61L 2430/36: for embolization or occlusion, e.g. vaso-occlusive compositions or devices - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) ## Abstract A fallopian biocompatible plug can include differently expandable portions. A method of treating a uterine abnormality of a patient includes: providing an endoscope having a working channel; inflating a uterine cavity with a fluid; delivering a biocompatible plug into an ostium of a fallopian tube of the patient, wherein the biocompatible plug is substantially cylindrical in form and configured to be radially expandable, wherein the biocompatible plug is configured to expand in the ostium of the fallopian tube to seal the fallopian tube from the uterine cavity; delivering a resection device through the working channel; and resecting the uterine abnormality. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A medical device for use with assembly comprising an endoscope having a working channel and a delivery tube configured to be received in the working channel, the device, comprising: a substantially cylindrical plug configured to be deliverable through a uterine cavity and into a fallopian tube of a patient by way of the delivery tube, the plug including a substantially cylindrical mandrel flexible in a longitudinal direction, a nose portion comprising a closed forward end and a substantially cylindrical member, and at least one body portion comprising a ring member having a forward end arranged against a rearward end of the nose portion, the nose portion and the at least one body portion mounted on an outer surface of the mandrel; wherein the plug is configured to expand to internally seal the fallopian tube of the patient following its delivery into the fallopian tube; wherein the flexibility of the mandrel allows the nose portion and the at least one body portion to bend out of alignment in the longitudinal direction, conforming to a curvature of the fallopian tube; and wherein at least one of: a first portion of the mandrel is configured to expand relative to the nose portion to expand the rearward end of the nose portion and a second portion of the mandrel is configured to expand relative to the at least one body portion to expand a rearward end of the at least one body portion; or material at the rearward end of the nose portion is configured to expand more relative to material at the forward end of the nose portion, and wherein material at a rearward end of the at least one body portion is configured to expand more relative to material at the forward end of the at least one body portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The medical device of claim 1, wherein the plug is biocompatible. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The medical device of claim 2, wherein the plug is bioresorbable. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The medical device of claim 1, wherein the plug is fabricated from one or more of chitosan, cellulose, collagen, elastin, gelatin, keratin, and polymer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The medical device of claim 1, further comprising at least one of the endoscope or the delivery tube. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The medical device of claim 1, wherein material at the rearward end of the nose portion is configured to expand more relative to material at the forward end of the nose portion, and wherein material at a rearward end of the at least one body portion is configured to expand more relative to material at the forward end of the at least one body portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The medical device of claim 6, wherein an expansion of material of the mandrel is configured to cause a radial expansion of the rearward end of the nose portion and a radial expansion of the rearward end of the at least one body portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The medical device assembly of claim 5, wherein the forward end of the nose portion is rounded. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The medical device assembly of claim 5, wherein the nose portion is tapered such that the forward end is thicker than the rearward end. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The medical device assembly of claim 9, wherein the at least one body portion is tapered such that the forward end is thicker than a rearward end thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The medical device of claim 1, wherein a first portion of the mandrel is configured to expand relative to the nose portion to expand the rearward end of the nose portion and a second portion of the mandrel is configured to expand relative to the at least one body portion to expand a rearward end of the at least one body portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The medical device assembly of claim 1, wherein the nose portion and the at least one body portion of the plug are fabricated from a closed cell foam. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The medical device assembly of claim 12, wherein the mandrel is fabricated from an open cell foam. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The medical device assembly of claim 1, wherein the rearward end of the nose portion and a rearward end of the at least one body portion each comprise a plurality of end slots. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The medical device assembly of claim 1, wherein the nose portion and the at least one body portion are frictionally retained on the outer surface of the mandrel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The medical device assembly of claim 1, wherein the plug has a diameter between about 0.15 inches and about 0.2 inches, and wherein the plug has a length between about 0.75 inches and about 1.0 inches. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The medical device assembly of claim 1, wherein the mandrel is expandable to form a barb feature between the rearward end of the nose portion and the forward end of the at least one body portion. ### Claim 18 A medical device assembly, comprising: an endoscope having a working channel; a delivery tube configured to be received in the working channel; and a substantially cylindrical plug comprising a substantially cylindrical mandrel flexible in a longitudinal direction and configured to be deliverable through a uterine cavity and into a fallopian tube of a patient by way of the delivery tube; wherein the plug is configured to expand to internally seal the fallopian tube of the patient following its delivery into the fallopian tube; wherein the plug comprises a nose portion and at least one body portion on the substantially cylindrical mandrel, the nose portion comprising a substantially cylindrical member closed at a forward end, and the at least one body portion comprising a ring member having a forward end arranged against a rearward end of the nose portion, wherein the nose portion and the at least one body portion are mounted on an outside of the mandrel; and wherein a first portion of the mandrel is configured to expand relative to the nose portion to expand the rearward end of the nose portion and a second portion of the mandrel is configured to expand relative to the at least one body portion to expand a rearward end of the at least one body portion. ### Claim 19 A medical device assembly, comprising: an endoscope having a working channel; a delivery tube configured to be received in the working channel; and a substantially cylindrical plug comprising a substantially cylindrical mandrel flexible in a longitudinal direction and configured to be deliverable through a uterine cavity and into a fallopian tube of a patient by way of the delivery tube; wherein the plug is configured to expand to internally seal the fallopian tube of the patient following its delivery into the fallopian tube; wherein the plug comprises a nose portion and at least one body portion on the substantially cylindrical mandrel, the nose portion comprising a substantially cylindrical member closed at a forward end, and the at least one body portion comprising a ring member having a forward end arranged against a rearward end of the nose portion, wherein the nose portion and the at least one body portion are mounted on an outside of the mandrel; and wherein material at the rearward end of the nose portion is configured to expand more relative to material at the forward end of the nose portion, and wherein material at a rearward end of the at least one body portion is configured to expand more relative to material at the forward end of the at least one body portion. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The medical device assembly of claim 19, wherein an expansion of material of the mandrel is configured to cause a radial expansion of the rearward end of the nose portion and a radial expansion of the rearward end of the at least one body portion.