Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A system for ablating tissue in a body cavity, the system including: a source of inflation medium; an ablation device insertable into a body cavity, the ablation device fluidly coupled to the source of inflation medium for delivery of inflation medium into the body cavity; a source of ablation energy coupled to the ablation device; a pressure sensor positioned to detect a pressure within the body cavity; and feedback means coupled to the pressure sensor to activate a notification signal to alert a user if the pressure detected by the pressure sensor fails to remain above a predetermined level within a predetermined amount of time.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
105 words
A system for ablating tissue in a body cavity, the system including: a source of inflation medium; an ablation device insertable into a body cavity, the ablation device fluidly coupled to the source of inflation medium for delivery of inflation medium into the body cavity; a source of ablation energy coupled to the ablation device; a pressure sensor positioned to detect a pressure within the body cavity; and feedback means coupled to the pressure sensor to activate a notification signal to alert a user if the pressure detected by the pressure sensor fails to remain above a predetermined level within a predetermined amount of time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the feedback means is for activating an auditory notification signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
The system of claim 2 , further including: override means for permitting a user to treat a body cavity using the ablation device after the pressure sensor has been used to monitor for the presence of a perforation in the body cavity, and after the pressure monitored by the pressure sensor has failed to remain above the predetermined level within the predetermined amount of time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the feedback means is for activating a visual notification signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the feedback means includes: electronics electronically coupled to the pressure sensor, the electronics configured to generate a feedback signal in the event the detected pressure fails to remain above a predetermined level within the predetermined amount of time; and a feedback device coupled to the electronics, the feedback device responsive to the feedback signal for alerting a user to the presence of a perforation in the body cavity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 5 , further including: pre-test lockout means for preventing treatment of a body cavity using the ablation device until after the pressure sensor has been used to monitor for the presence of a perforation in the body cavity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
85 words
The system of claim 6 wherein the ablation device includes a closed position and an opened position, wherein the system includes means for detecting when the ablation device is in the closed position, and wherein the pre-test lockout means is further for preventing treatment of a body cavity using the ablation device until after the ablation device has been moved to an opened position and after the pressure sensor has been subsequently used to monitor for the presence of a perforation in the body cavity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
107 words
The system of claim 5 , further including: post-test lockout means for preventing treatment of a body cavity using the ablation device if the pressure monitored by the pressure sensor has failed to remain above the predetermined level within the predetermined amount of time; and override means for overriding the post-test lockout means, thereby permitting a user to treat a body cavity using the ablation device after the pressure sensor has been used to monitor for the presence of a perforation in the body cavity, and after pressure monitored by the pressure sensor has failed to remain above the predetermined level within the predetermined amount of time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the ablation device includes an ablation electrode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 9 , wherein the energy source is a source of RF energy.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 9 further including a vacuum source fluid coupled to the ablation device, the vacuum source operable during ablation using the ablation electrode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 , wherein the ablation device includes one or more electrodes formed of metallized fabric mesh.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 , further including a vacuum source fluidly coupled to the ablation device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the ablation device is an RF ablation device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the ablation device is a thermal ablation device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 15 wherein the ablation device includes an ablation element fluidly coupled to a source of heated fluid.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the ablation device includes an ablation element having a bicornal shape to approximate the interior shape of a uterus.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the inflation medium is a gas.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system of claim 18 wherein the gas is carbon dioxide.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the inflation medium is a liquid.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
10 words
The system of claim 20 wherein the liquid is saline.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the system is for uterine ablation and wherein the predetermined level is selected to be below a cracking pressure for fallopian tubes.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 1 further including a collar assembly on the ablation device for sealing an opening to the body cavity.