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US 6,610,005 B1Granted
Catheter system for implanting embryos
OwnerJun Taoinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Described is a catheter system for implanting embryos into a woman's uterus. The catheter system utilizes a protective catheter sleeve for introducing a catheter into the uterus without mucus contamination of an inner catheter. Once the sleeve containing the inner catheter is introduced into the uterus, the protected inner catheter, carrying the embryos, is pushed through a swivelable distal end cap on the sleeve to a desired implanting location. The distal end of the inner catheter has a protective cap and a side opening for embryo release. Also, stiffness and indicia features of the outer sleeve and inner catheter assist in the physician's handling of the catheter system and in ensuring a desired uterus location for implanting.
Claims69
A catheter system for implanting embryos in a uterus, the system comprising:
- a. a substantially tubular inner catheter comprising a catheter port positioned proximal a rounded distal catheter end;
- and
- b. a catheter outer sleeve having a longitudinal cylindrical hollow within the catheter outer sleeve and extending from a sleeve proximal end to a sleeve distal end, the sleeve distal end having a rounded end and a slit in the sleeve distal end extending from an outer surface of the catheter outer sleeve to the cylindrical hollow, the rounded end being hingedly attached to the distal end and normally biased closed against the cylindrical hollow;
- wherein the slit is located at a first location on the distal end proximal a second location on the distal end, the second location having a second outer sleeve external diameter greater than or equal to a first outer sleeve external diameter of the first location;
- and
- wherein the cylindrical hollow is sized and shaped to receive the inner catheter therethrough, thereby providing catheter access to the uterus by the inner catheter pushing open the normally biased closed rounded end at the slit.
3 more elements
A catheter system for implanting embryos in a uterus, the system comprising:
- a. a substantially tubular inner catheter comprising a catheter port positioned proximal a rounded distal catheter end;
- and
- b. a catheter outer sleeve having a longitudinal cylindrical hollow within the outer sleeve and extending from a sleeve proximal end to a sleeve distal end, the sleeve distal end having a rounded end and a slit in the sleeve distal end extending from an outer surface of the catheter outer sleeve to the cylindrical hollow, the rounded end being hingedly attached to the distal end and normally biased closed against the cylindrical hollow;
- wherein the rounded distal end of the catheter outer sleeve located distally of the slit comprises a smooth surface and a region of the catheter outer sleeve proximal the slit comprises a rough surface adapted to trap mucus into which the catheter outer sleeve is placed;
- and
- wherein the cylindrical hollow is sized and shaped to receive the inner catheter therethrough, thereby providing catheter access to the uterus by the inner catheter pushing open the normally closed rounded end at the slit.
3 more elements
A catheter system for implanting embryos in a uterus, the system comprising:
- a. a substantially tubular inner catheter comprising a catheter port positioned proximal a rounded distal catheter end;
- and
- b. a catheter outer sleeve having a longitudinal cylindrical hollow within the outer sleeve and extending from a sleeve proximal end to a sleeve distal end, the sleeve distal end having a rounded end normally biased closed against the cylindrical hollow, the catheter outer sleeve further having a slit in the sleeve distal end extending from an outer surface of the catheter outer sleeve to the cylindrical hollow, wherein a transition between the catheter outer sleeve and the normally closed rounded end is continuous but for the slit, having a diameter which transitions smoothly from the catheter outer sleeve and the rounded distal end of the outer sleeve;
- wherein the cylindrical hollow is sized and shaped to receive the inner catheter therethrough for providing catheter access to the uterus by the inner catheter pushing open the normally closed rounded end at the slit.
1 more element
A catheter system for implanting embryos in a uterus, comprising:
- a. a substantially tubular inner catheter comprising a catheter port positioned proximal a rounded distal catheter end;
- and
- b. a catheter outer sleeve having a longitudinal cylindrical hollow within the catheter outer sleeve and extending from a sleeve proximal end to a sleeve distal end, the sleeve distal end having a rounded end and a slit in the sleeve distal end extending from an outer surface of the catheter outer sleeve to the cylindrical hollow, the rounded end being hingedly attached to the distal end and normally biased closed against the cylindrical hollow, the outer catheter sleeve further having a channel separate from but adjacent to the longitudinal cylindrical hollow within a wall of the catheter outer sleeve, the channel housing a wire extending substantially from the sleeve proximal end to the sleeve distal end;
- wherein the cylindrical hollow is sized and shaped to receive the inner catheter therethrough, thereby providing catheter access to the uterus by the inner catheter pushing open the normally biased closed rounded end at the slit.
1 more element
A catheter system for implanting embryos in a uterus, the system comprising:
- a. a substantially tubular inner catheter comprising a catheter port positioned proximal a rounded distal catheter end;
- and
- b. a catheter outer sleeve having a longitudinal cylindrical hollow within the catheter outer sleeve and extending from a sleeve proximal end to a sleeve distal end, the sleeve distal end having a rounded end and a slit in the sleeve distal end extending from an outer surface of the catheter outer sleeve to the cylindrical hollow, the rounded end being hingedly attached to the distal end and normally biased closed against the cylindrical hollow;
- wherein the outer catheter sleeve comprises a proximal sleeve portion having a sleeve first inner diameter and a distal sleeve portion having a sleeve second inner diameter, the distal sleeve portion being distally located from the proximal sleeve portion;
- wherein the inner catheter comprises an inner catheter proximal portion having an inner catheter first outer diameter and an inner catheter distal portion distally located from the inner catheter proximal portion, the inner catheter distal portion having an inner catheter second outer diameter;
- and
- wherein the sleeve second inner diameter is larger than the inner catheter second outer diameter and smaller than inner catheter first outer diameter and the sleeve first inner diameter such that the inner catheter is stopped from passing through the outer catheter sleeve when the inner catheter proximal portion contacts the distal sleeve portion.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.