US5709679A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Myoma removal technique and associated surgical device
Assignee: Wilk Patent Development Corp
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Filing: 1994-03-03
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Granted: 1998-01-20
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Expires: 2014-03-03
Abstract
Abstract In a method for removing a myoma, an antenna electrode is placed into a patient so that the antenna electrode is in contact with the patient's uterus. A cutting electrode is also inserted into the patient and placed into contact with uterine tissues about a myoma. The antenna electrode and the cutting electrode are energized with radio frequency energy so that the cutting electrode cuts through the uterine tissues.
Inventors
- 👤 Mitchell N. Essig
- 👤 Peter J. Wilk
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 09:42
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1485; A61B18/1482; A61B2018/00053; A61B2018/00059; A61B2018/00071; A61B2018/00083; A61B2018/00107; A61B2018/00148; A61B2018/00214; A61B2018/0022; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00559; A61B2018/1405; A61B2018/1425; A61B2018/1435; A61B2218/00; A61B2218/001; A61B2218/007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for removing a myoma, comprising the steps of: providing a first dissection and cauterization instrument with a first electrode at a first distal end and a second dissection and cauterization instrument with a second electrode at a second distal end, said first electrode taking the form of a cup; placing said first electrode in contact with tissues of a patient's uterus, said step of placing including the step of covering a portion of said myoma with said cup; positioning said second electrode in contact with uterine tissues proximate to a boundary between the myoma and normal tissues of said uterus; and operating said first and said second dissection and cauterization instrument so that said second dissection and cauterization instrument cuts through said uterine tissues proximate to said boundary between said myoma and normal tissues of said uterus.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for removing a myoma, comprising the steps of: providing a first dissection and cauterization instrument with a first electrode at a first distal end and a second dissection and cauterization instrument with a second electrode at a second distal end, said first electrode taking the form of a cup; placing said first electrode in contact with tissues of a patient's uterus, said step of placing including the step of covering a portion of said myoma with said cup; positioning said second electrode in contact with uterine tissues proximate to a boundary between the myoma and normal tissues of said uterus; and operating said first and said second dissection and cauterization instrument so that said second dissection and cauterization instrument cuts through said uterine tissues proximate to said boundary between said myoma and normal tissues of said uterus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of applying suction to said myoma via said cup.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of inserting said first dissection and cauterization instrument and said second dissection and cauterization instrument into a peritoneal cavity of the patient via laparoscopic trocar sleeves.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for removing a myoma, comprising the steps of: providing an antenna electrode and energization means operatively connected to said electrode for generating in said electrode a current having a radio frequency; placing said antenna electrode into a patient so that said antenna electrode is in contact with the patient's uterus; inserting a cutting electrode into the patient; placing said cutting electrode into contact with uterine tissues about a myoma; and energizing said antenna electrode and said cutting electrode with radio frequency energy so that said cutting electrode cuts through said uterine tissues.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for removing a myoma, comprising the steps of: providing an antenna electrode and energization means operatively connected to said electrode for generating in said electrode a current having a radio frequency; placing said antenna electrode into a patient so that said antenna electrode is in contact with the patient's uterus; inserting a cutting electrode into the patient; placing said cutting electrode into contact with uterine tissues about a myoma; and energizing said antenna electrode and said cutting electrode with radio frequency energy so that said cutting electrode cuts through said uterine tissues.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method defined in claim 4 wherein said antenna electrode is in the form of a balloon, said steps of placing said antenna electrode including the steps of inserting said balloon in a relatively collapsed configuration through a vagina of the patient and into the patient's uterus and inflating said balloon upon disposition thereof inside said uterus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method defined in claim 5, further comprising the step of inserting said cutting electrode into a peritoneal cavity of the patient via a laparoscopic trocar sleeve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method defined in claim 6, further comprising the steps of lifting the patient's abdominal wall and disposing said trocar sleeve in the lifted abdominal wall prior to said step of inserting said cutting electrode into the peritoneal cavity of the patient.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method defined in claim 4 wherein said antenna electrode takes the form of a cup, said step of placing said antenna electrode including the step of covering a portion of the patient's uterus with said cup.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method defined in claim 8, further comprising the step of applying suction to said myoma tissues via said cup.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
159 words
A method for removing a myoma, comprising the steps of: providing a first dissection and cauterization instrument with a first electrode at a first distal end and a second dissection and cauterization instrument with a second electrode at a second distal end, said first electrode taking the form of a balloon; placing said first electrode in contact with tissues of a patient's uterus, said step of placing including the steps of inserting said balloon in a relatively collapsed configuration through a vagina of the patient and into the patient's uterus and inflating said balloon upon disposition thereof inside said uterus; positioning said second electrode in contact with uterine tissues proximate to a boundary between the myoma and normal tissues of said uterus; and operating said first and said second dissection and cauterization instrument so that said second dissection and cauterization instrument cuts through said uterine tissues proximate to said boundary between said myoma and normal tissues of said uterus.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
159 words
A method for removing a myoma, comprising the steps of: providing a first dissection and cauterization instrument with a first electrode at a first distal end and a second dissection and cauterization instrument with a second electrode at a second distal end, said first electrode taking the form of a balloon; placing said first electrode in contact with tissues of a patient's uterus, said step of placing including the steps of inserting said balloon in a relatively collapsed configuration through a vagina of the patient and into the patient's uterus and inflating said balloon upon disposition thereof inside said uterus; positioning said second electrode in contact with uterine tissues proximate to a boundary between the myoma and normal tissues of said uterus; and operating said first and said second dissection and cauterization instrument so that said second dissection and cauterization instrument cuts through said uterine tissues proximate to said boundary between said myoma and normal tissues of said uterus.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method defined in claim 10, further comprising the step of inserting said second dissection and cauterization instrument into a peritoneal cavity of the patient via a laparoscopic trocar sleeve.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method defined in claim 11, further comprising the steps of lifting the patient's abdominal wall and disposing said trocar sleeve in the lifted abdominal wall prior to said step of inserting.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method defined in claim 7 wherein said first electrode is an antenna electrode, said step of operating including the step of generating radio-frequency current in one of said first electrode and said second electrode.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for removing a myoma, comprising the steps of: providing a first dissection and cauterization instrument with a first electrode at a first distal end and a second dissection and cauterization instrument with a second electrode at a second distal end, said first electrode taking the form of a screw; placing said first electrode in contact with tissues of a patient's uterus, said step of placing including the step of inserting said screw into said myoma; positioning said second electrode in contact with uterine tissues proximate to a boundary between the myoma and normal tissues of said uterus; and operating said first and said second dissection and cauterization instrument so that said second dissection and cauterization instrument cuts through said uterine tissues proximate to said boundary between said myoma and normal tissues of said uterus.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for removing a myoma, comprising the steps of: providing a first dissection and cauterization instrument with a first electrode at a first distal end and a second dissection and cauterization instrument with a second electrode at a second distal end, said first electrode taking the form of a screw; placing said first electrode in contact with tissues of a patient's uterus, said step of placing including the step of inserting said screw into said myoma; positioning said second electrode in contact with uterine tissues proximate to a boundary between the myoma and normal tissues of said uterus; and operating said first and said second dissection and cauterization instrument so that said second dissection and cauterization instrument cuts through said uterine tissues proximate to said boundary between said myoma and normal tissues of said uterus.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method defined in claim 14, further comprising the step of inserting said first dissection and cauterization instrument and said second dissection and cauterization instrument into a peritoneal cavity of the patient via laparoscopic trocar sleeves.
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