US 8,007,449 B2Granted

Method and apparatus for uterine cavity length measurement

AssigneeCytyc Corporation

InventorsRobert Kotmel, J. Brook Burley, Russel M. Sampson, Estela H. Hilario

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Abstract

A uterine cavity length measuring device includes a first elongate member including a lumen and a plurality of apertures extending between the lumen and an exterior surface of the first elongate member, and a second elongate member including a lumen, and at least one aperture located at a distal end extending from the lumen of the second elongate member to an exterior surface, where the second elongate member is positioned within and is configured to move within the lumen of the first elongate member and where the first elongate member and second elongate member provide a fluid path from a proximal end of the lumen in the second elongate member, through the lumen in the second elongate member to the at least one aperture located at the distal end of the second elongate member and to at least one of the plurality of apertures in the first elongate member.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A uterine cavity length measuring device, comprising:

a first elongate member including a lumen and a plurality of apertures extending between the lumen and an exterior surface of the first elongate member, the first elongate member configured for insertion through a cervical canal with at least a portion of the first elongate member extending into a uterine cavity;
and
a second elongate member including a lumen, a distal end, and at least one aperture located at the distal end extending from the lumen of the second elongate member to an exterior surface of the second elongate member, where the second elongate member is positioned within and is configured to move within the lumen of the first elongate member;
wherein the first elongate member and second elongate member provide a fluid path from a proximal end of the lumen in the second elongate member, through the lumen in the second elongate member to the at least one aperture located at the distal end of the second elongate member and to at least one of the plurality of apertures in the first elongate member, the first elongate member and second elongate member being configured such that fluid flow through the fluid path and into the uterine cavity is permitted when the distal end of the second elongate member is positioned within a portion of the first elongate member that is positioned within the uterine cavity and such that fluid flow through the fluid path is restricted when the distal end of the second elongate member is positioned within a portion of the first elongate member that is positioned within the cervical canal.

1 more element

A uterine cavity length measuring device, comprising:

a first elongate member including a lumen, the first elongate member configured for insertion through a cervical canal with at least a portion of the first elongate member extending into a uterine cavity;
a second elongate member including a lumen, where the second elongate member is positioned within the lumen of the first elongate member and is configured to move within the lumen of the first elongate member;
an end cap connected to the distal end of the first elongate member, the end cap being in a closed position when the first elongate member is inserted into the uterine cavity and switching into an open position when a force applied to a distal tip of the end cap by uterine tissue exceeds a threshold force, where a surface area of the end cap projected onto a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first elongate member is enlarged in the open position as compared to in the closed position, and where the open position resists penetration of the end cap into uterine tissue;
and
a fluid flow sensor configured to indicate a change in fluid flow through the lumen in the second elongate member.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/314,051Filed 20 Dec 2005
Published: US 2007/0142750 A121 Jun 2007
Granted: 30 Aug 2011
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

A61B 5/1076
Measuring physical dimensions, e.g. size of the entire body or parts thereof: for measuring dimensions inside body cavities, e.g. using catheters
A61B 1/00091
Characterised by distal tip features: nozzles
A61B 1/015
Characterised by internal passages or accessories therefor: control of fluid supply or evacuation
A61B 1/12
Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g.…:…