US5437629A — Fluid delivery system for hysteroscopic endometri…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 232 words

A fluid delivery apparatus for use in performing hysteroscopic endometrial ablation, said system comprising: a chamber of known volume having graduated markings indicative of a plurality of fluid levels; a container of physiologically compatible solution in fluid communication with said chamber; a first valve for controlling the flow of physiologically compatible solution into said chamber from said container; a heater disposed downstream of said chamber for heating a flow of fluid passing therethrough; a first conduit disposed between said chamber and said heater; a hysteroscopic sheath capable of introducing heated physiologically compatible solution into the uterine cavity of a patient and being provided with an inlet port and an outlet port; a fill tube connecting said heater and said sheath inlet port; a discharge tube from said sheath outlet port; collection means connected to said discharge tube such that fluid discharged from said sheath collects therein; fluid pumping means in fluid communication with said collection means; a second conduit between said pump and said chamber to form a closed loop circulation system; a collection bottle containing a quantity of physiologically compatible solution disposed in fluid communication with said second conduit; a second valve disposed in said second conduit between said collection bottle and said chamber for controlling the flow of fluid into said chamber; and a third valve for controlling the flow of fluid from said collection bottle into said second conduit.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 232 words

A fluid delivery apparatus for use in performing hysteroscopic endometrial ablation, said system comprising: a chamber of known volume having graduated markings indicative of a plurality of fluid levels; a container of physiologically compatible solution in fluid communication with said chamber; a first valve for controlling the flow of physiologically compatible solution into said chamber from said container; a heater disposed downstream of said chamber for heating a flow of fluid passing therethrough; a first conduit disposed between said chamber and said heater; a hysteroscopic sheath capable of introducing heated physiologically compatible solution into the uterine cavity of a patient and being provided with an inlet port and an outlet port; a fill tube connecting said heater and said sheath inlet port; a discharge tube from said sheath outlet port; collection means connected to said discharge tube such that fluid discharged from said sheath collects therein; fluid pumping means in fluid communication with said collection means; a second conduit between said pump and said chamber to form a closed loop circulation system; a collection bottle containing a quantity of physiologically compatible solution disposed in fluid communication with said second conduit; a second valve disposed in said second conduit between said collection bottle and said chamber for controlling the flow of fluid into said chamber; and a third valve for controlling the flow of fluid from said collection bottle into said second conduit.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 28 words

The system of claim 1 further comprising a temperature monitor disposed in operative association with said heater for monitoring the temperature of fluid flowing into said hysteroscopic sheath.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 14 words

The system of claim 1 wherein said fluid pumping means is a peristaltic pump.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 32 words

The system of claim 1 wherein said collection means is a second chamber angles downwardly from an upper end disposed proximate said discharge tube to a lower end proximate said pumping means.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 20 words

The system of claim 4 wherein said chamber is disposed three to four feet above the level of said patient.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 14 words

The system of claim 1 wherein said chamber is provided with an air valve.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 24 words

The system of claim 6 wherein said air valve and said first, second and third valve comprise a single rotary valve for synchronous operation.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 25 words

The system of claim 1 wherein said first and second conduits, said fill and discharge tubes and said collection means is formed of insulated tubing.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 33 words

The system of claim 1 further including a sensor disposed in said chamber for sensing the level of fluid therewithin and producing a signal when said fluid level falls below a preset minimum.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 24 words

The system of claim 9 further comprising a switch in communication with said sensor for receiving said signal and terminating operation of said system.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 408 words

A method of recirculating and heating fluid used in performing hysteroscopic endometrial ablation, said method comprising: providing a recirculating system including: a chamber of known volume having graduated markings indicative of a plurality of fluid levels, said chamber being provided with an air valve; a container of physiologically compatible solution in fluid communication with said chamber; a first valve for controlling the flow of physiologically compatible solution into said chamber from said container; a heater disposed downstream of said chamber for heating a flow of fluid passing therethrough; a first conduit disposed between said upper chamber and said heater; a hysteroscopic sheath capable of introducing heated physiologically compatible solution into the uterine cavity of a patient and being provided with an inlet port and an outlet port; a fill tube connecting said heater and said sheath inlet port; a discharge tube from said sheath outlet port; collection means connected to said discharge tube such that fluid discharged from said sheath collects therein; fluid pumping means in fluid communication with said collection means; a second conduit between said pump and said chamber to form a closed loop circulation system; a collection bottle containing a quantity of physiologically compatible solution disposed in fluid communication with said second conduit; a second valve disposed in said second conduit between said collection bottle and said chamber for controlling the flow of fluid into said chamber; and a third valve for controlling the flow of fluid from said collection bottle into said second conduit; closing said air valve in said chamber and said second valve, and opening said first and third valves; allowing physiologically compatible solution to flow from said container into said chamber, said first conduit, and said heater; operating said heater to heat solution flowing therethrough; allowing said heated solution to fill said hysteroscopic sheath and circulate into said uterine cavity, and exit through said outlet port; allowing said discharged solution to drain into said collection means so that it is collected therein; operating said pumping means to draw said collected fluid from said collection means and pump it into said second conduit; allowing said pumped liquid to flow into said collection bottle until said system and said uterine cavity are totally filled with said physiologically compatible solution; and closing said first and third valves and opening said second valve and said air valve in said chamber to allow pumped solution to flow into said chamber for subsequent recirculation through said system.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 408 words

A method of recirculating and heating fluid used in performing hysteroscopic endometrial ablation, said method comprising: providing a recirculating system including: a chamber of known volume having graduated markings indicative of a plurality of fluid levels, said chamber being provided with an air valve; a container of physiologically compatible solution in fluid communication with said chamber; a first valve for controlling the flow of physiologically compatible solution into said chamber from said container; a heater disposed downstream of said chamber for heating a flow of fluid passing therethrough; a first conduit disposed between said upper chamber and said heater; a hysteroscopic sheath capable of introducing heated physiologically compatible solution into the uterine cavity of a patient and being provided with an inlet port and an outlet port; a fill tube connecting said heater and said sheath inlet port; a discharge tube from said sheath outlet port; collection means connected to said discharge tube such that fluid discharged from said sheath collects therein; fluid pumping means in fluid communication with said collection means; a second conduit between said pump and said chamber to form a closed loop circulation system; a collection bottle containing a quantity of physiologically compatible solution disposed in fluid communication with said second conduit; a second valve disposed in said second conduit between said collection bottle and said chamber for controlling the flow of fluid into said chamber; and a third valve for controlling the flow of fluid from said collection bottle into said second conduit; closing said air valve in said chamber and said second valve, and opening said first and third valves; allowing physiologically compatible solution to flow from said container into said chamber, said first conduit, and said heater; operating said heater to heat solution flowing therethrough; allowing said heated solution to fill said hysteroscopic sheath and circulate into said uterine cavity, and exit through said outlet port; allowing said discharged solution to drain into said collection means so that it is collected therein; operating said pumping means to draw said collected fluid from said collection means and pump it into said second conduit; allowing said pumped liquid to flow into said collection bottle until said system and said uterine cavity are totally filled with said physiologically compatible solution; and closing said first and third valves and opening said second valve and said air valve in said chamber to allow pumped solution to flow into said chamber for subsequent recirculation through said system.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 11 comprising the further step of monitoring the level of liquid in said chamber to assure that said level remains relatively constant.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method of claim 12 comprising the further step of stopping the circulation of solution through the system when the level of solution in said upper chamber begins to decline so as to prevent absorption of said solution by said patient.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 169 words

A system for recirculating physiologically compatible solution used in performing hysteroscopic endometrial ablation, said system comprising: a fluid conduit having a first end and a second end, said first end being attached to an inlet port of a hysteroscopic sheath and said second end being attached to an outlet port of said hysteroscopic sheath to form a closed loop fluid system; a source of physiologically compatible solution; a chamber for containing a portion of said physiologically compatible solution in fluid communication with said source and with said conduit at a location upstream of said hysteroscopic sheath; a heater disposed in said conduit medial said chamber and said sheath; a pumping means disposed in said conduit downstream of said sheath; a collection bottle in fluid communication with said conduit at a location medial of said pumping means and said chamber; and first, second and third valve means for controlling, respectively, fluid flow between said source and said chamber, said pump and said chamber, and said collection bottle and said conduit.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 169 words

A system for recirculating physiologically compatible solution used in performing hysteroscopic endometrial ablation, said system comprising: a fluid conduit having a first end and a second end, said first end being attached to an inlet port of a hysteroscopic sheath and said second end being attached to an outlet port of said hysteroscopic sheath to form a closed loop fluid system; a source of physiologically compatible solution; a chamber for containing a portion of said physiologically compatible solution in fluid communication with said source and with said conduit at a location upstream of said hysteroscopic sheath; a heater disposed in said conduit medial said chamber and said sheath; a pumping means disposed in said conduit downstream of said sheath; a collection bottle in fluid communication with said conduit at a location medial of said pumping means and said chamber; and first, second and third valve means for controlling, respectively, fluid flow between said source and said chamber, said pump and said chamber, and said collection bottle and said conduit.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 14 words

The system of claim 14 wherein said fluid conduit is formed of insulated tubing.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 111 words

A fluid delivery system for use in hysteroscopic procedures requiring the delivery of a fluid to the uterine cavity of a patient, said system comprising: a first conduit for introducing a first stream of physiologically compatible fluid of a known magnitude into a uterine cavity of a patient; a second conduit for drawing away a second stream of said fluid from said uterine cavity; means for measuring the magnitude of said second stream of fluid and determining a differential between said magnitude of said second stream and said known magnitude of said first stream; and means for terminating the flow of said first stream when said differential exceeds a preset value.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 111 words

A fluid delivery system for use in hysteroscopic procedures requiring the delivery of a fluid to the uterine cavity of a patient, said system comprising: a first conduit for introducing a first stream of physiologically compatible fluid of a known magnitude into a uterine cavity of a patient; a second conduit for drawing away a second stream of said fluid from said uterine cavity; means for measuring the magnitude of said second stream of fluid and determining a differential between said magnitude of said second stream and said known magnitude of said first stream; and means for terminating the flow of said first stream when said differential exceeds a preset value.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 15 words

The system of claim 16 further comprising means for heating the first stream of liquid.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1998-07-31	1999-01-30	1999-08-01	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2002-07-31	2003-01-30	2003-08-01	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2006-07-31	2007-01-30	2007-08-01	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Fluid delivery system for hysteroscopic endometrial ablation

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