Vasectomy devices and methods for their use
OwnerRobert A. VAN WYKinventor
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Abstract
Conventional vasectomy techniques suffer from a number of disadvantages, including, for example, a substantial risk for the development of hematomas and swelling, a potential for spontaneous regeneration and undesired resumption of fertility, a need for a highly skilled surgical professional, as well as a long recovery period, accompanied by severe limitations on post-surgical activity. The present invention overcomes the disadvantages and deficiencies of the prior art by providing a rapid, reliable, less invasive male sterilization procedure as well as vasectomy instruments and kits for use therewith.
Claims14
A method for performing a vasectomy comprising the steps of:
- a. locating a vas deferens within a scrotum;
- b. temporarily isolating a vas tissue that includes a length of a vas deferens and vas sheath in a tissue-clamping distal portion of an excising clamp or hook;
- c. providing a coagulating bipolar device having a proximal handle portion that defines a longitudinal axis of the device and a distal clamping portion characterized by a pair of opposingly-faced, upper and lower arcuate coagulating jaws that are (i) angularly offset from the longitudinal axis of the device, (ii) movable between open and closed positions, and (iii) provided with sharpened inner edges that engage to define a curved interior perimeter having a lateral opening that permits said upper and lower arcuate jaws to be positioned around said distal portion of said excising clamp or hook that retains said isolated vas tissue that includes said length of vas deferens and vas sheath;
- d. tightly closing said arcuate jaws about the distal portion of said excising hook or clamp, thereby defining (i) an arcuate area of clamped vas tissue disposed between said closed arcuate jaws and (ii) a convex area of unclamped vas tissue containing said isolated length of vas deferens retained with said curved interior perimeter;
- e. activating said bipolar coagulating device so as to coagulate said arcuate area of clamped vas tissue;
- f. sliding the distal portion of said excising clamp or hook relative to the U-shaped jaws of the bipolar coagulating device, whereby sharpened interior surfaces disposed on the distal portion of said excising clamp or hook interact with the sharpened inner edges of the coagulating jaws of said coagulating bipolar device so as to excise some or all of the convex area of unclamped vas tissue, including said isolated length of vas deferens;
- and
- g. removing said upper and lower clamping jaws from the isolated vas tissue immediately after step (f).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.