Cervical Medical Device, System and Method

Abstract

A device and method for dilating a cervical canal. The device includes an elongated member with an expandable anchoring component attached to its distal tip. An expandable dilating member is attached to the elongated member proximally of the anchoring component for dilating the cervical canal. The anchoring component can be expanded after insertion of the device into the cervical canal to correctly position the device relative to the canal. A device and method for sealing a cervical canal is also provided. The device includes a tube having an expandable seal assembly attached to its distal end. The seal assembly has a ridged or corrugated surface when it is in an expanded condition to provide a seal for the cervical canal.

1 . A cervical canal dilator comprising: 
 an elongate member having a distal end and a proximal end, said distal end adapted for insertion into the endocervical canal of a patient;    an expandable dilating member disposed on the distal end of the elongate member, said expandable member being operable to selectively expand from a small diameter to a large diameter;    said expandable dilating member have a contoured outer surface adapted to engage the wall of the endocervical canal.    
   
   
       2 . The cervical canal dilator of  claim 1  wherein the elongate member is a tube having a lumen extending from the proximal end of the elongate member to the distal end of the elongate member.  
   
   
       3 . The cervical canal dilator of  claim 1  wherein the elongate member is a hysteroscope.  
   
   
       4 . The cervical canal dilator of  claim 1  wherein the elongate member is a hysteroscopic sheath adapted for passage of a hysteroscope.  
   
   
       5 . The cervical canal dilator of  claim 1  wherein the expandable dilating member is a corrugated balloon, having outwardly projecting corrugations.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable dilating member has an uneven outer surface when it is expanded.  
   
   
       7 . The cervical canal dilator of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable dilating member is a ridged balloon with outwardly projecting ridges when inflated.  
   
   
       8 . The cervical canal dilator of  claim 1 , wherein the expandable dilating member is a ridged balloon with a series of spaced annular ridges along a length of the expandable mechanism.  
   
   
       9 . The cervical canal dilator of  claim 1 , wherein expandable dilating member is a ridged balloon sized and dimensioned to fit entirely within a cervical canal of a patient.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the second expandable dilating member has a length between 40 millimeters and 100 millimeters when expanded.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the second expandable dilating member has a diameter between 5 millimeters and 20 millimeters when expanded.  
   
   
       12 . A method of accessing the uterus of a female patient through the cervical canal, said method comprising: 
 inserting a dilating device into the cervical canal, the dilating device comprising an elongate member having a lumen passing the elongate member, an expandable dilating member attached to a distal end of the elongate member, said expandable dilating member having means for engaging the wall of the cervical canal disposed on the outer surface thereof; expanding the expandable dilating member such that the means for engaging engages the wall of the cervix;    inflating the uterus with fluid and maintaining the expandable dilating member in an expanded configuration;    passing hysteroscopic instruments transcervically through the lumen of the elongate member while maintaining a substantially fluid tight seal between the wall of the cervical canal and the outer surface of the expandable dilating member.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the device further comprises an expansion mechanism coupled to expandable dilating member.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the expandable dilating member is expanded using a fluid-filled syringe coupled to the expandable dilating member.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second expandable components are expanded using a gas-filled syringe coupled to the first and second expandable components.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the expandable dilating member is rigid-walled balloon.