Uterine manipulator

Abstract

A uterine manipulator can include a shaft including a first end, a second end, and a channel along an axis of the shaft, a handle coupled to the first end of the shaft, and a triangular balloon coupled to the second end of the shaft. The triangular balloon can be configured to inflate upon insertion into a vagina via a fluid injected into the channel of the shaft.

1 . A uterine manipulator, comprising:
 a shaft including a first end, a second end, and a channel along an axis of the shaft;   a handle coupled to the first end of the shaft;   a fluid reservoir including fluid disposed therein;   an actuator operably coupled to the fluid reservoir; and   a triangular balloon coupled to the second end of the shaft, the triangular balloon having two distal tips, the triangular balloon being configured to match the shape of an inner portion of a uterus upon inflation, wherein:
 the triangular balloon is configured to be selectively inflated upon insertion into a uterus; 
 the two distal tips of the triangular balloon each include at least one aperture defined therethrough; and 
 actuation of the actuator causes the fluid to flow through the at least one aperture defined at each of the distal tips of the triangular balloon and toward the fallopian tubes of a patient when the triangular balloon is deployed. 
   
     
     
         2 . The uterine manipulator of  claim 1 , wherein a proximal tip of the triangular balloon is connected to the shaft, and further wherein the two distal tips are located at outward corners of the triangular balloon pointing along a direction that is generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the shaft, wherein, upon inflation of the triangular balloon, the distal tips of the triangular balloon are sized and shaped to be located near the entrances to a patient's fallopian tubes. 
     
     
         3 . The uterine manipulator of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid includes dye. 
     
     
         4 . The uterine manipulator of  claim 1 , wherein fluid to inflate the triangular balloon and fluid for ejecting through the distal tips of the triangular balloon are two separate fluids in two separate fluid flow systems. 
     
     
         5 . The uterine manipulator of  claim 1 , wherein fluid to inflate the triangular balloon and fluid for ejecting through the distal tips of the triangular balloon are the same fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The uterine manipulator of  claim 3 , wherein the dye is suitable for use in a chromppertubation procedure. 
     
     
         7 . The uterine manipulator of  claim 1 , further comprising a light source coupled to the second end of the shaft configured to illuminate an interior volume of the uterus. 
     
     
         8 . The uterine manipulator of  claim 7 , wherein the light source is positioned internally with respect to the triangular balloon. 
     
     
         9 . The uterine manipulator of  claim 8 , wherein the light source includes at least one LED. 
     
     
         10 . The uterine manipulator of  claim 8 , wherein the light source includes a plurality of LEDs operably coupled to a controller, the controller being configured to mix the colors of the LEDs to achieve a desired light output. 
     
     
         11 . The uterine manipulator of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of LEDs include LEDs having differing color output attributes. 
     
     
         12 . The uterine manipulator of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft includes a groove, and further wherein the uterine manipulator further includes a cup, the cup including a projection that interfaces with the groove of the shaft and is configured to be positioned at a juncture between a cervix and the vagina. 
     
     
         13 . The uterine manipulator of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pneumooccluder coupled to the shaft;   a first end of a filling tube coupled to a fluid inlet; and   a second end of the filling end coupled to the pneumooccluder.   
     
     
         14 . The uterine manipulator of  claim 3 , wherein the dye includes at least one of methylene blue and indigo carmine. 
     
     
         15 . A uterine manipulator, comprising:
 a shaft including a first end, a second end, and a first channel along an axis of the shaft;   a handle coupled to the first end of the shaft;   a triangular balloon coupled to the second end of the shaft, the triangular balloon being configured and arranged to match the shape of an inner portion of a uterus upon inflation, wherein the triangular balloon is in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir containing inflation fluid by way of the channel, the fluid reservoir being coupled to an actuator, and further wherein the triangular balloon is configured to be selectively inflated with fluid upon insertion into a uterus by actuating the actuator to cause the triangular balloon to conform to an inner surface of the uterus; and   a second channel coupled to the second end of the shaft, the first channel and a corner of the triangular balloon, and positioned internal to the triangular balloon, the second channel being configured to inject a dye into an opening of a fallopian tube.   
     
     
         16 . The uterine manipulator of  claim 15 , further comprising a light source coupled to the second end of the shaft configured to illuminate an interior volume of the uterus. 
     
     
         17 . The uterine manipulator of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a pneumooccluder coupled to the shaft;   a first end of a filling tube coupled to a fluid inlet; and   a second end of the filling end coupled to the pneumooccluder.   
     
     
         18 . A method of diagnosing a medical condition, comprising:
 providing a uterine manipulator including a triangular balloon located at a distal region thereof;   introducing the triangular balloon into the patient's uterus;   illuminating a light source within the patient's uterus to illuminate at least the inside of the patient's uterus; and   inspecting the patient's uterus externally to search for fibroids, wherein the light source is of sufficient intensity to illuminate the uterus when the uterus is viewed from outside to facilitate said inspection.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising viewing an inner surface of the uterus using an optic to examine the endometrial lining of the uterus.