Method and apparatus for tubal occlusion

A method of occluding the ovarian pathway of a female body, wherein the ovarian pathway is lined by an epithelial layer on the inner surface of the ovarian pathway, said method comprising the steps of:

• applying a catheter-mounted RF electrode array to a target segment of the ovarian pathway and operating the catheter-mounted RF electrode array to generate RF energy which causes a wound in the segment of the ovarian pathway that necroses the epithelial layer;
• controlling the RF energy applied to the ovarian pathway by maintaining a temperature in the ovarian pathway in the range of approximately 40-80° C. for at least about 5 seconds;
• installing a foam plug comprising a reticulated foam into the wounded segment of the pathway;
• and
• allowing the wounded segment of the pathway to heal with the foam plug installed.

A method of occluding the ovarian pathway of a female body, wherein the ovarian pathway is lined by an epithelial layer on the inner surface of the ovarian pathway, said method comprising the steps of:

• applying a wounding element in the form of a catheter-mounted heating element and a catheter mounted temperature sensor positioned on the catheter in proximity to the heating element to a target segment of the pathway, and operating the wounding element to cause a wound that necroses the epithelial layer in the segment of the pathway;
• limiting the severity of the wound created by the wounding element by controlling the heating element to heat the ovarian pathway to a temperature range of approximately 52-58° C. as sensed by the temperature sensor, for a period of at least about 40 seconds;
• installing a foam plug comprising a reticulated foam into the wounded segment of the pathway;
• and
• allowing the wounded segment of the pathway to heal with the foam plug installed.

A method of occluding the ovarian pathway of a female body, wherein the ovarian pathway is lined by an epithelial layer on the inner surface of the ovarian pathway, said method comprising the steps of:

• applying a catheter-mounted RF electrode array to a target segment of the ovarian pathway and operating the catheter-mounted RF electrode array to generate RF energy which causes a wound in the segment of the ovarian pathway that necroses the epithelial layer;
• controlling the RF energy applied to the ovarian pathway by maintaining a temperature in the ovarian pathway in the range of 52-58° C. for at least 40 seconds;
• installing a foam plug comprising a reticulated foam into the wounded segment of the pathway;
• and
• allowing the wounded segment of the pathway to heal with the foam plug installed.

A method of occluding the ovarian pathway of a female body, wherein the ovarian pathway is lined by an epithelial layer on the inner surface of the ovarian pathway, said method comprising the steps of:

• applying a wounding element in the form of a catheter-mounted heating element and a catheter mounted temperature sensor positioned in proximity to the heating element to a target segment of the pathway, and operating the wounding element to cause a wound that necroses the epithelial layer in the segment of the pathway;
• limiting the severity of the wound created by the wounding element by controlling the heating element to heat the ovarian pathway to a temperature of approximately 70° C. as sensed by the temperature sensor, for a period of at least about 7 seconds;
• installing a foam plug comprising a reticulated foam into the wounded segment of the pathway;
• and
• allowing the wounded segment of the pathway to heal with the foam plug installed.

A method of occluding the ovarian pathway of a female body, wherein the ovarian pathway is lined by an epithelial layer on the inner surface of the ovarian pathway, said method comprising the steps of:

• applying a catheter-mounted RF electrode array to a target segment of the ovarian pathway and operating the catheter-mounted RF electrode array to generate RF energy which causes a wound in the segment of the ovarian pathway that necroses the epithelial layer;
• controlling the RF energy applied to the ovarian pathway by maintaining a temperature in the ovarian pathway at approximately 70° C. for approximately at least about 7 seconds;
• installing a foam plug comprising a reticulated foam into the wounded segment of the pathway;
• and
• allowing the wounded segment of the pathway to heal with the foam plug installed.

A method of occluding the ovarian pathway of a female body, wherein the ovarian pathway is lined by an epithelial layer on the inner surface of the ovarian pathway, and wherein the ovarian pathway is further characterized by a lamina propria layer surrounding the epithelial layer, a circular muscle layer surrounding the lamina propria layer and a longitudinal muscle layer surrounding the circular muscle layer, said method comprising the steps of:

• applying a wounding element in the form of a catheter-mounted heating element and a catheter mounted temperature sensor positioned on the catheter in proximity to the heating element to a target segment of the pathway, and operating the wounding element to cause a wound in the segment of the pathway that necroses the epithelial layer;
• limiting the outward extent of the wound to the circular muscle layer by controlling the heating element to heat the ovarian pathway to a temperature range of 40-80° C. as sensed by the temperature sensor, for a period of at least about 5 seconds;
• installing a foam plug comprising a reticulated foam into the wounded segment of the pathway;
• and
• allowing the wounded segment of the pathway to heal with the foam plug installed.

A method of occluding the ovarian pathway of a female body, wherein the ovarian pathway is lined by an epithelial layer on the inner surface of the ovarian pathway, and wherein the ovarian pathway is further characterized by a lamina propria layer surrounding the epithelial layer, a circular muscle layer surrounding the lamina propria layer and a longitudinal muscle layer surrounding the circular muscle layer, said method comprising the steps of:

• applying a catheter-mounted RF electrode array to a target segment of the ovarian pathway and operating the catheter-mounted RF electrode array to generate RF energy which causes a wound in the segment of the ovarian pathway that necroses the epithelial layer;
• controlling the RF energy applied to the ovarian pathway to limit the outward extent of the wound to the circular muscle layer by maintaining a temperature in the ovarian pathway in the range of approximately 40-80° C. for at least about 5 seconds;
• installing a foam plug comprising a reticulated foam into the wounded segment of the pathway;
• and
• allowing the wounded segment of the pathway to heal with the foam plug installed.

A method of occluding the ovarian pathway of a female body, wherein the ovarian pathway is lined by an epithelial layer on the inner surface of the ovarian pathway, and wherein the ovarian pathway is further characterized by a lamina propria layer surrounding the epithelial layer, a circular muscle layer surrounding the lamina propria layer and a longitudinal muscle layer surrounding the circular muscle layer, said method comprising the steps of:

• applying a wounding element in the form of a catheter-mounted heating element and a catheter mounted temperature sensor positioned on the catheter in proximity to the heating element to a target segment of the pathway, and operating the wounding element to cause a wound that necroses the epithelial layer in the segment of the pathway;
• limiting the outward extent of the wound to the circular muscle layer by controlling the heating element to heat the ovarian pathway to a temperature range of approximately 52-58° C. as sensed by the temperature sensor, for a period of at least about 40 seconds;
• installing a foam plug comprising a reticulated foam into the wounded segment of the pathway;
• and
• allowing the wounded segment of the pathway to heal with the foam plug installed.

A method of occluding the ovarian pathway of a female body, wherein the ovarian pathway is lined by an epithelial layer on the inner surface of the ovarian pathway, and wherein the ovarian pathway is further characterized by a lamina propria layer surrounding the epithelial layer, a circular muscle layer surrounding the lamina propria layer and a longitudinal muscle layer surrounding the circular muscle layer, said method comprising the steps of:

• applying a catheter-mounted RF electrode array to a target segment of the ovarian pathway and operating the catheter-mounted RF electrode array to generate RF energy which causes a wound in the segment of the ovarian pathway that necroses the epithelial layer;
• controlling the RF energy applied to the ovarian pathway to limit the outward extent of the wound to the circular muscle layer by maintaining a temperature in the ovarian pathway in the range of 52-58° C. for at least 40 seconds;
• installing a foam plug comprising a reticulated foam into the wounded segment of the pathway;
• and
• allowing the wounded segment of the pathway to heal with the foam plug installed.

A method of occluding the ovarian pathway of a female body, wherein the ovarian pathway is lined by an epithelial layer on the inner surface of the ovarian pathway, and wherein the ovarian pathway is further characterized by a lamina propria layer surrounding the epithelial layer, a circular muscle layer surrounding the lamina propria layer and a longitudinal muscle layer surrounding the circular muscle layer, said method comprising the steps of:

• applying a wounding element in the form of a catheter-mounted heating element and a catheter mounted temperature sensor positioned in proximity to the heating element to a target segment of the pathway, and operating the wounding element to cause a wound that necroses the epithelial layer in the segment of the pathway;
• limiting the outward extent of the wound to the circular muscle layer by controlling the heating element to heat the ovarian pathway to a temperature of approximately 70° C. as sensed by the temperature sensor, for a period of at least about 7 seconds;
• installing a foam plug comprising a reticulated foam into the wounded segment of the pathway;
• and
• allowing the wounded segment of the pathway to heal with the foam plug installed.

A method of occluding the ovarian pathway of a female body, wherein the ovarian pathway is lined by an epithelial layer on the inner surface of the ovarian pathway, and wherein the ovarian pathway is further characterized by a lamina propria layer surrounding the epithelial layer, a circular muscle layer surrounding the lamina propria layer and a longitudinal muscle layer surrounding the circular muscle layer, said method comprising the steps of:

• applying a catheter-mounted RF electrode array to a target segment of the ovarian pathway and operating the catheter-mounted RF electrode array to generate RF energy which causes a wound in the segment of the ovarian pathway that necroses the epithelial layer;
• controlling the RF energy applied to the ovarian pathway to limit the outward extent of the wound to the circular muscle layer by maintaining a temperature in the ovarian pathway at approximately 70° C. for approximately at least about 7 seconds;
• installing a foam plug comprising a reticulated fawn into the wounded segment of the pathway;
• and
• allowing the wounded segment of the pathway to heal with the foam plug installed.