Instrument and method of tubal insufflation

Claim 1

An instrument for determining patency of Fallopian tubes by tubal insufflation, the instrument comprising: (a) housing means constructed and arranged to hold gas under a pressure of less than 200 MM. Hg therewithin; (b) gas dispensing means for controllably releasing gas within said housing means to a disposable probe means, said gas dispensing means including spring means comprising a spring which urges a piston through a gas receiving cylinder within said housing means such that pressure is constantly applied to gas within said housing means; said dispensing means further including a patency indicator in operative connection to said spring means such that a change in gas volume within said housing means may be observed on the exterior of said housing means, said gas dispensing means further including valve means for charging and discharging said instrument with gas; (c) disposable probe means constructed and arranged for dispensing gas within said instrument to a uterine cavity, said probe means adapted to be connected to said housing means so as to receive gas through said valve means, said probe means further including separate lumens through which patency measuring gas may pass from said housing means out through the probe end beyond said expandable member, said probe including a second lumen which communicates with the interior of said expandable member and with means for collapsing and expanding said expandable member and (d) means for collapsing and expanding said expandable member, said means being constructed and arranged to include a piston and cylinder which may alternatively force air into or out of said expandable member when a probe is connected to said housing means which carries the collapsing and expanding means.

Claim 5

An apparatus for tubal insufflation of the Fallopian tubes of a female animal to determine patency comprising: (a) housing means carrying gas dispensing control means and expansion control means; (b) disposable probe means adapted to be connected to said housing means, said probe means carrying an expandable means at one end thereof and including first and second conduits, the second conduit being in fluid communication with said expandable means and said expansion control means, said expandable means and probe means including means positionable in the uterine cavity of a female and when expanded by said expansion control means, said expansion means being able to seal the opening to said cavity when so positioned; (c) said gas dispensing control means and said housing means being constructed and arranged such that a quantity of gas may be held within said housing means until released to said first conduit which communicates to the end of said probe means beyond said expandable means, said gas dispensing means including spring means which when released urges said gas within said housing through said first conduit, and said dispensing means further including a patency indicator in operative connection to said spring means such that a volumetric change of gas within said housing may be observed on the exterior of said housing means, so as to indicate the patency condition of a female and; (d) gas charging means for charging gas into said housing means, said gas charging means and said gas dispensing means including means such that said gas charging means will not function when said gas dispensing means is operated so as to provide a fail-safe mechanism.

Claim 6

An apparatus for tubal insufflation of the Fallopian tubes of a female animal to determine patency comprising: (a) housing means carrying gas dispensing control means and expansion control means; (b) disposable probe means adapted to be connected to said housing means, said probe means carrying an expandable means at one end thereof and including first and second conduits, the second conduit being in fluid communication with said expandable means and said expansion control means, said expandable means and probe means including means positionable in the uterine cavity of a female and when expanded by said expansion control means, said expansion means being able to seal the opening to said cavity when so positioned; (c) said gas dispensing control means and said housing means being constructed and arranged such that a quantity of gas may be held within said housing means until released to said first conduit which communicates to the end of said probe means beyond said expandable means, said gas dispensing means including spring means which when released urges said gas within said housing through said first conduit, and said dispensing means further including a patency indicator in operative connection to said spring means such that a volumetric change of gas within said housing may be observed on the exterior of said housing means, so as to indicate the patency condition of a female and; (d) gas charging means for charging gas into said housing means, said gas charging means and said gas dispensing means including means such that said gas charging means will not function when said gas dispensing means is operated so as to provide a fail-safe mechanism.