Uterine sound
OwnerRussel Sampson, Estela Hilario +1inventors
InventorsRussel Sampson, Estela Hilario, J. Burley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A uterine sound is configured having an open and a closed position. Under normal operating conditions, the uterine sound is in the closed position for insertion into a uterus to measure the length of the uterus. Under conditions where there is a risk of the uterine sound perforating a uterine wall, the uterine sound switches into an open position. The open position provides an enlarged surface area of a distal end of the uterine sound that is in contact with a uterine wall and resists perforation by the uterine sound of the uterine wall.
Claims24
A uterine sounding device comprising:
- an elongate member having a longitudinal axis, distal and proximal ends, the elongate member configured for insertion into a uterus;
- and
- an end cap connected to the distal end of the elongate member, the end cap being in a closed position when the elongate member is inserted into the uterus and switching into an open position when a force applied to a distal tip of the end cap by the uterus exceeds a threshold force, wherein a surface area of the end cap projected onto a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongate member is enlarged in the open position as compared to in the closed position, and wherein the open position resists penetration of the end cap into a wall of the uterus.
A uterine sounding device comprising:
- an elongate member having distal and proximal ends, the elongate member configured for insertion into a uterus and including graduations marked on at least a portion of a length of the elongate member for measuring a length of the uterus;
- an end cap connected to the distal end of the elongate member, the end cap being in a closed position when the elongate member is inserted into the uterus and switching into an open position when a force applied to a distal tip of the end cap by the uterus exceeds a threshold force, wherein a surface area of the end cap projected onto a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongate member is enlarged in the open position as compared to in the closed position, and wherein the open position resists penetration of the end cap into a wall of the uterus;
- and
- a handle connected to the elongate member substantially near the proximal end, the handle housing a deployment mechanism configured to switch the end cap from the closed position into the open position when the force applied to the distal tip of the end cap exceeds the threshold force.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.