CERVICAL CANAL DILATION DEVICE

Abstract

There is provided a cervical canal dilator device having a hollow shaft having proximal and distal ends. The shaft is covered on an end portion of the distal end by a slidable protective sleeve. There is at least one inflatable dilating balloon formed on the distal end of the shaft. There is at least one tube extending internally along the shaft and connected to the at least one balloon for inflation thereof, the tube having a connection port on the proximal end of the shaft. A camera is situated at the tip of the distal end of the shaft and a plurality of ejection orifices are formed on the shaft, adjacent to the camera, and anywhere else along it. The shaft is inserted into a patient's cervical canal while viewing the canal via the camera for guidance, and safe and easy placement of the hollow shaft during the insertion, and where the at least one balloon is inflated by introducing a substance via the connection port, the inflated balloon causing dilation of the cervical canal, the shaft being removed from the patient when the cervical canal is dilated.

Claims

1. A cervical canal dilator device comprising: a hollow shaft having proximal and distal ends, said shaft covered on an end portion of said distal end by a slidable protective sleeve; at least one inflatable dilating balloon formed on said distal end of said shaft; at least one tube extending internally along said shaft and connected to said at least one balloon for inflation thereof, said tube having a connection port on said proximal end of said shaft; at least one ejection orifice formed on said shaft; and a camera situated at the tip of said distal end of said shaft, wherein said shaft is inserted into a patient's cervical canal while viewing the canal via said camera for guidance, and safe and easy placement of said hollow shaft during said insertion, and wherein said at least one balloon is inflated by introducing a substance via said connection port, said inflated balloon causing dilation of the cervical canal, said shaft being removed from the patient when the cervical canal is dilated.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said device further comprises a light source situated at said distal end of said shaft, for the purpose of illuminating the cervical canal.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said device is connected to a power supply.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said device is connected to a screen displaying the view of said camera.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said ejection orifice is formed below said camera adjacently thereto, so that irrigation fluid is injected through said tube and out of said ejection orifice and onto said camera for the purpose of washing off cervical secretions that cloud said camera's view.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one inflatable dilating balloon constitutes a first balloon, said device further comprising a second inflatable dilating balloon formed upstream of said first balloon and wherein said second balloon is connected to a second tube extending internally along said shaft and being connected to a second connection port at said proximal end of said shaft.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said first balloon serves as an anchoring balloon for anchoring said hollow shaft to the orifice of the uterus.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein said device comprises a third inflatable dilating balloon formed upstream to said second balloon and wherein said third balloon is connected to a third tube extending internally said shaft and connected to a third connection port on said proximal end of said shaft.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said ejection orifice allows ejection of dilating substances and lubrication fluids into the cervical canal.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said power supply may be one of a battery and an AC outlet.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein said connection port controls said inflation and deflation of said at least one balloon.

12. The dilating substance of cervical canal dilator device according to claim 8, wherein said dilating substance has liquid characteristics.

13. The dilating substance of cervical canal dilator device according to claim 8, wherein said dilating substance has gel characteristics.

14. A method for dilating a cervical canal, said method comprising: providing a cervical canal dilator device comprising: a hollow shaft having proximal and distal ends, said shaft covered on an end portion of said distal end by a slidable protective sleeve; at least one inflatable dilating balloon formed on said distal end of said shaft; at least one tube extending internally along said shaft and connected to said at least one balloon for inflation thereof, said tube having a connection port on said proximal end of said shaft; at least one ejection orifice formed on said shaft; and a camera situated at the tip of said distal end of said shaft, inserting said shaft into a patient's cervical canal while viewing the canal via said camera for guidance, enabling safe and easy placement of said hollow shaft during said insertion, inflating said at least one inflatable dilating balloon by introducing a substance via said connection port, said inflated balloon causing dilation of the cervical canal, and removing said shaft from the patient when the cervical canal is dilated.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] For a better understanding of the invention with regard to the embodiments thereof, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals designate corresponding sections or elements throughout, and in which:

[0032] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a cervical canal dilation device of the present invention, shown with the end portion of its distal side covered by a protection sleeve;

[0033] FIG. 2 illustrates the cervical canal dilation device of FIG. 1, with the camera and dilating balloons exposed after the sliding of the protection sleeve;

[0034] FIG. 3A illustrates the cervical canal dilation device of FIG. 2, showing the anchoring and dilating balloons inflated;

[0035] FIG. 3B illustrates a blown-up section of the cervical canal dilation device shown in FIG. 3, showing in detail the camera and the inflated anchoring and dilating balloons;

[0036] FIG. 4 shows the cervical canal dilation device of FIG. 2 inserted into a cervical canal;

[0037] FIG. 5 shows the cervical canal dilation device having the three balloons inflated in the cervix;

[0038] FIG. 6 shows the cervical canal dilated by the cervical canal dilation device of FIG. 5;

[0039] FIG. 7 illustrates the cervical canal dilation device with the dilating balloons and a frontal-anchoring-balloon deflated and the cervix dilated;

[0040] FIG. 8 illustrates the cervical canal dilation device being retracted from the dilated cervix of the patient;

[0041] FIG. 9 shows another preferred embodiment of the cervical canal dilation device having only two dilating balloons in a deflated configuration, and a camera;

[0042] FIG. 10A shows the device of FIG. 9 with the two dilating balloons inflated; FIG. 10B shows a blown-up section of the cervical canal dilation device shown in FIG. 10A;

[0043] FIG. 11 shows an additional preferred embodiment of the cervical canal dilation device having only one dilating balloon in a deflated configuration;

[0044] FIG. 12A shows the device of FIG. 11 with the dilating balloon inflated; FIG. 12B shows a blown-up section of the cervical canal dilation device shown in FIG. 12A; and

[0045] FIG. 13 shows the device of FIG. 2 connected to a power source and a screen.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0046] Referring now to FIG. 1 there is shown cervical canal dilation device 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which has a hollow shaft 12 having proximal and distal ends. Prior to insertion into the cervical canal, the distal end of shaft 12 is covered by a slidable protective sleeve 34 which protect the balloons 22, 16 and 14 (shown in FIG. 2).

[0047] Referring now to FIG. 2 there is shown hollow shaft 12 with protective sleeve 34 slid to proximal side of shaft 12 to reveal balloons 22, 16, 14 in a deflated configuration, on the distal end. Dilating balloons 14 and 16 are connected to tube 20 which is connected to port 28. Frontal anchoring balloon 22 is connected to tube 26 which is connected to port 30. Tube 24 is connected at one end to port 32 on the proximal end of shaft 12, and on the distal end tube 26 connects to orifices 42. Connection port 32 connects to a syringe (not shown) for injecting cervix dilating fluid which pours out of orifices 42. Orifice 42 represents a plurality of orifices that may be formed anywhere on shaft 12. A camera 40 is positioned on the distal tip of shaft 12 for visualizing the cervical canal 36 (not shown here) during an examination procedure. Camera 40 is wired and provides its images as described further herein (see FIG. 13). Orifice 42 is formed on shaft 12 closely adjacent to camera 40 so that irrigation fluid may be poured out of orifice 42 and wash camera 40 from the secretions secreted by cervical canal 36 and uterus 37 (not shown here). Orifice 42 can also be formed anywhere else on shaft 12, such as the area between balloons 14 and 16 (as shown here).

[0048] Referring now to FIGS. 3A-B there is shown cervical canal dilation device 10 illustrating camera 40 situated on the tip of distal end of shaft 12. Camera 40 visualizes the journey of shaft 12 from its entrance to the cervical canal 36 (not shown here) till its destination at the uterus 37 (not shown here) of a patient. Camera 40 projects to screen 44 (shown in FIG. 13) so that the medical team performing the procedure can easily navigate through the cervical canal without injuring and causing pain to the patient.

[0049] Formed on distal end of shaft 12, closely adjacent to camera 40, is ejection orifice 42. Irrigation fluid is continually injected out of ejection orifice 42 and onto camera 40 for washing off cervical secretions that cloud camera's 40 view.

[0050] FIG. 3B is an enlargement of portion A marked in FIG. 3A.

[0051] Referring now to FIG. 4 there is shown a partial crosscut view of the reproductive organs of a human female, showing the upper inner-body section of the vagina, the cervical canal 36 and the region of entrance from the cervical canal 36 to the uterus 37. Cervical canal dilation device 10 is inserted in cervical canal 36, in its deflated configuration.

[0052] Referring now to FIG. 5 there is shown cervical canal dilation device 10 illustrating the three inflatable balloons 22, 14 and 16 in an inflated configuration. Each of balloons 22, 14 and 16 is inflated by injection of saline or any other suitable substance through their corresponding tubes 26 and 20. Connection ports 30, and 28 individually control the injection of the inflatable liquids or pressurized gas and the extraction thereof when deflating balloons 22, 14 and 16. Frontal anchoring balloon 22 is inflated first in order to anchor shaft 12 in the cervix orifice. Once shaft 12 is anchored in place, balloons 14 and 16 are gradually inflated up to approximately 6 atmospheres so that they press against the cervical canal 36, forcing it to dilate.

[0053] Uterus 37 is viewed by camera 40 also prior to inflation of balloons 22, 14, 16, so that in certain circumstances it can be decided that there is no need for dilating cervical canal 36 and shaft 12 may be extracted.

[0054] Referring now to FIG. 6 there is shown cervical canal 36 dilated after inflation of balloons 14, 16 as shown in FIG. 5. Camera 40 is inside uterus 37 so that uterus 37 may be explored and searched for any findings which are viewed on screen 44.

[0055] Referring now to FIG. 7 there are shown balloons 22, 14, 16 deflated within the dilated cervical canal 36, prior to extraction of shaft 12. Dilating balloons 14 and 16 are gradually deflated through tube 20 and port 28. With dilating balloons 14,16 deflated, the entrapped liquid freely flows out of cervical canal 36 through the outer-body orifice of the canal. Following the deflation of balloons 14 and 16 frontal-restriction-balloon 22 is deflated through tube 26 and port 30. After the three balloons 22, 14, 16 are deflated, cervical canal 36 remains open at both its orifices and they remain with a desired increased width for a considerable time period. The increased width allows the performance of medical treatment procedures to be carried out through the expanded canal.

[0056] Referring now to FIG. 8 there is shown shaft 12 being extracted from dilated cervical canal 36. Before the removal of shaft 12, slidable protective sleeve 34 is slid towards the distal end of shaft 12 to cover balloons 22, 14, 16. This is done to ensure the smoothness of the surface of shaft 12, thus minimizing the scratching of the wall of the cervical canal 36 upon withdrawing shaft 12.

[0057] The inflation of balloons 14, 16 in cervical canal 36 seals the inner and outer body entrances of the cervical canal 36 while increasing the width of the cervical canal 36 in accordance with the extent of the inflation of the balloons, as illustrated in the figure. There are optional graduated markings (not shown) along shaft 12 for facilitating better sealing control of the cervical canal of the treated patient by enabling the exact monitoring of the distances of insertion and withdrawal of cervical canal dilator device into the body of the patient. The graduated markings can be seen through the transparent wall of inflated balloon 16.

[0058] Referring now to FIG. 9 there is shown another preferred embodiment of the cervical canal dilation device 10 having only two dilating balloons 14, 16, without a frontal anchoring balloon 22. Camera 40 on the tip of distal end of shaft 12 enables display of the insertion of shaft 12 and the entire examination procedure so that the medical staff has a view of cervical canal 36 and uterus 37 so that there is no need for an anchoring balloon.

[0059] Referring now to FIGS. 10A-B there is shown shaft 12 having balloons 14, 16 in an inflated configuration. FIG. 10B is an enlargement of the distal end of shaft 12.

[0060] Referring now to FIG. 11 there is shown yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating shaft 12 having only a single inflatable balloon 14 in a deflated configuration. Single inflatable balloon 14 is longer than balloon 14 (as seen in previous Figs.).

[0061] Referring now to FIGS. 12A-B, there is shown shaft 12 having single balloon 14 in an inflated configuration.

[0062] Referring now to FIG. 12B there is shown an enlargement of distal end of shaft 12 of FIG. 12A, illustrating balloon 14, camera 40 and orifice 42.

[0063] Referring now to FIG. 13 there is shown dilating device 10 connected to power supply 46 which provides the power for the camera 40. Device 10 is also connected to screen 44 which displays the images taken by camera 40 so that the medical team can monitor the entire procedure.

[0064] Having described the invention with regard to particular embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the description is not meant as a limitation, since further modifications will now become apparent to those skilled in the art, and it is intended to cover such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.