Method and apparatus for performing hysterosalpingography

A method for performing hysterosalpingography on a patient, said method comprising:

• providing a catheter assembly including (1) an inner catheter having a balloon near its distal end and (2) a sleeve catheter disposed coaxially over the inner catheter;
• introducing the catheter assembly through the patient's vagina so that the balloon is positioned past the cervix and in the uterus while a distal end of the sleeve catheter remains outside of and proximal to the cervix;
• inflating the balloon to seal against the cervix;
• introducing contrast media through the inner catheter into the uterus;
• imaging the uterus;
• optionally advancing a distal end of the sleeve catheter over the inner catheter through the cervix and optionally withdrawing the inner catheter from the sleeve catheter to leave an access lumen in the sleeve catheter through the cervix into the uterus;
• introducing a uterine catheter through the lumen of the sleeve catheter and into the uterus after the sleeve catheter has been advanced into the uterus and the inner catheter removal from the sleeve catheter;
• and
• guiding a distal end of the uterine catheter to the os at the entrance to a fallopian tube.

A method for performing hysterosalpingography on a patient, said method comprising:

• providing a catheter assembly including (1) an inner catheter having a balloon near its distal end and (2) a sleeve catheter disposed coaxially over the inner catheter;
• introducing the catheter assembly through the patient's vagina so that the balloon is positioned past the cervix and in the uterus while a distal end of the sleeve catheter remains outside of and proximal to the cervix;
• inflating the balloon to seal against the cervix;
• introducing contrast media through the inner catheter into the uterus;
• imaging the uterus;
• optionally advancing a distal end of the sleeve catheter over the inner catheter through the cervix and optionally withdrawing the inner catheter from the sleeve catheter to leave an access lumen in the sleeve catheter through the cervix into the uterus;
• and
• infusing of aspirating a fluid or material through the sleeve catheter into the uterus after the sleeve catheter has been advanced into the uterus and the inner catheter removed from the lumen of the sleeve catheter.

A method for performing hysterosalpingography on a patient, said method comprising:

• providing a catheter assembly including (1) an inner catheter having a balloon near its distal end and (2) a sleeve catheter disposed coaxially over the inner catheter;
• introducing the catheter assembly through the patient's vagina so that the balloon is positioned past the cervix and in the uterus while a distal end of the sleeve catheter remains outside of and proximal to the cervix;
• inflating the balloon to seal against the cervix;
• introducing contrast media through the inner catheter into the uterus;
• imaging the uterus;
• optionally advancing a distal end of the sleeve catheter over the inner catheter through the cervix and withdrawing the inner catheter from the sleeve catheter to leave an access lumen in the sleeve catheter through the cervix into the uterus;
• and
• a stiffening rod that is removably received in a lumen of the inner catheter, wherein the stiffening rod is in place when the catheter system is introduced through the vagina and cervix and thereafter removed.