# US 2009/0266366 A1 · Devices and methods for occluding a fallopian tube

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- Number: US 2009/0266366 A1
- Document ID: US20090266366A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/110,145
- Filed: 2008-04-25
- Published: 2009-10-29
- Earliest claimed: 2008-04-25
- Assignees: Conceptus, Inc.
- Inventors: Betsy Swann; Christopher A. Stout; Julian Cruzada; Vidya Gopal; Charlotte Hermanto
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090266366A1

## CPC

- A61F 6/225: {transcervical}
- A61B 6/12: Arrangements for detecting or locating foreign bodies
- A61B 6/485: {involving fluorescence X-ray imaging}
- A61M 25/00: Catheters; Hollow probes (dilators A61M29/00; {peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00} ; for measuring or testing A61B; {materials for catheters A61L29/00})
- A61M 25/10: Balloon catheters ({A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02;} inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 {; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00})
- 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)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}

## Abstract

Devices and method for occluding a fallopian tube. The devices, in one embodiment, may include a plurality of expandable occluding members coupled by respective dissolvable connecting members.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A medical device for occluding a fallopian tube; the medical device comprising,
an elongated member;
a plurality of occlusion members removably coupled to the elongated member;
at least one dissolvable connecting member connected between at least two occlusion members of the plurality of occlusion members.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The medical device of claim 1 wherein each dissolvable connecting member is removably coupled to the elongated member.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The medical device of claim 1 wherein the at least one connecting member is electrolytically dissolvable.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The medical device of claim 1 additionally comprising fibers woven throughout the occlusion devices.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The medical device of claim 1 wherein the occlusion members comprise radially expandable stents or tubular structures.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The medical device of claim 1 wherein the occlusion members comprise cylindrical coils.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The medical device of claim 4 wherein the occlusion members comprise a mesh structure.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The medical device of claim 4 wherein the occlusion members comprise spider members.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The medical device of claim 1 wherein the at least one dissolvable connecting member is expandable.

### Claim 10

A medical device for occluding a fallopian tube; the medical device comprising:
an elongated member including an outer surface with a plurality of elongated circumferential indentations within the outer surface;
a plurality of expandable occlusion members, each respectively coupled within an indentation, wherein the outer surface of each of the plurality of expandable occlusion devices is even with the outer surface of the elongated member.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The medical device of claim 10 additionally comprising a means for heating the plurality of occlusion devices coupled to the elongated member.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The medical device of claim 10 additionally comprising a mechanically expanding means for expanding the plurality of occlusion devices coupled to the elongated member.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The medical device of claim 10 additionally comprising fibers coupled to the plurality of expandable occlusion devices.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The medical device of claim 10 wherein the plurality of expandable occlusion members are coupled to the elongated center member by flexible fibers.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The medical device of claim 14 wherein the elongated member floats within the expandable occlusion members when the expandable occlusion members are expanded such that the elongated member does not transfer force between individual expandable occlusion members.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The medical device of claim 10 wherein the expandable occlusion devices comprise cylindrical coils.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The medical device of claim 10 wherein the expandable occlusion devices comprise a mesh structure.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The medical device of claim 10 wherein the expandable occlusion devices comprise spider assemblies.

### Claim 19

A method for occluding a fallopian tube, the method comprising:
inserting a distal portion of an elongated delivery member transcervically into a fallopian tube, the distal portion carrying a plurality of expandable occlusion members;
delivering the plurality of expandable occlusion members into the fallopian tube, wherein the expandable occlusion members are coupled by a respective plurality of connecting members;
expanding the plurality of expandable occlusion members inside the fallopian tube;
decoupling the plurality of connecting members from the plurality of expandable occlusion devices.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19 wherein expanding the plurality of expandable occlusion members comprises heating the expandable occlusion devices.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19 wherein expanding the plurality of expandable occlusion devices comprises mechanically expanding the expandable occlusion devices through self expansion.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21 wherein mechanically expanding comprises balloon expansion.

### Claim 23 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19 wherein decoupling the plurality of connecting members comprises passing a current to the plurality of connecting members.

### Claim 24 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19 wherein the current electrolytically dissolves at least a portion of the connecting members.

### Claim 25 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19 wherein the expandable occlusion members become decoupled from the elongated delivery member after expanding the plurality of expandable occlusion members.

### Claim 26 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19 wherein the expandable occlusion members remain coupled to the elongated delivery member after expanding the plurality of expandable occlusion members.