Assembly and kit for marking tubal ostia

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and kit for marking the opening between the fallopian tube and the uterus (tubal ostia) are provided. A marking dye provided in a marking assembly including a fluid dispenser coupled to a catheter having an open end and a guide wire. The catheter is inserted into the uterus and to a position adjacent the tubal ostia. When properly inserted, the fluid dispenser is activated to cause fluid to flow through the catheter and to the wall of the uterus to provide a mark. Once the mark is provided, endometrial ablation process can be provided in the uterus. The marks can then be used to guide the insertion of tubal occlusion devices.

1 . An assembly for marking one or more tubal ostium prior to endometrial ablation to enable a medical practitioner to locate the ostium after ablation and before the insertion of a tubal occlusion device, the assembly comprising:
 a marking dye;   a fluid dispenser pre-filled with the marking dye;   a catheter sized and dimensioned for positioning in a uterus to extend to a tubal ostium, the catheter being coupled to the dispenser at a first end for receiving the dye from the dispenser and including an opening at the second end for dispensing the dye to mark a position of the tubal ostium; and   a guide wire provided in the catheter for guiding the catheter to the tubal ostium.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the marking dye is a surgical marking dye. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the marking dye is methylene blue. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the marking dye is indigo carmine. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the catheter is further sized and dimensioned to be received in a hysteroscope. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an adapter for coupling the fluid dispenser to the catheter. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly as recited in  claim 6 , further comprising a port seal coupled between the adapter and the catheter. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the fluid dispenser comprises a container formed integrally with the catheter. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the fluid dispenser is a syringe. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the catheter includes a diameter in a range extending substantially between 3 and 4 French. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein the catheter has a length of substantially fifty centimeters. 
     
     
         12 . A kit for marking a tubal ostium prior to endometrial ablation to identify the tubal ostium for insertion of a tubal occlusion device, the kit comprising:
 a fluid dispenser pre-filled with a marking dye;   a catheter sized and dimensioned for positioning in a uterus and to extend substantially to the tubal ostium, the catheter being coupled to the fluid dispenser at a first end for receiving the marking dye and including an open second end for dispensing the marking dye;   a guide wire provided within the catheter and extending substantially from the first end of the catheter to the second end of the catheter, wherein the catheter is selectively positionable in the uterus with the second end adjacent the tubal ostium, and the fluid dispenser is selectively activated to cause the marking dye to flow through the catheter to a wall of the uterus to provide a mark indicating the position of the tubal ostium on the wall; and   instructions for marking the position of the tubal ostium on the wall of the uterus.   
     
     
         13 . The kit as recited in  claim 12  wherein the catheter is further sized and dimensioned to be received in a hysteroscope. 
     
     
         14 . The kit as recited in  claim 12  wherein the marking dye is a surgical marking dye. 
     
     
         15 . The kit as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the surgical marking dye is at least one of an indigo carmine dye and a methylene blue dye. 
     
     
         16 . The kit as recited in  claim 12  further comprising at least one tubal occlusion device. 
     
     
         17 . The kit as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the tubal occlusion device comprises a metal tubal occlusion coil. 
     
     
         18 . The kit as recited in  claim 12  wherein the fluid dispenser includes a container that is formed integrally with the catheter. 
     
     
         19 . The kit as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the catheter includes a diameter in a range extending substantially between 3 and 4 French. 
     
     
         20 . The kit as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the catheter has a length of substantially fifty centimeters. 
     
     
         21 . The kit as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the instructions further include instructions for marking both of the tubal ostia, performing an endometrial ablation, locating the tubal ostia after the endometrial ablation and inserting the tubal occlusion devices at the tubal ostia.