AN APPARATUS FOR THERMAL ABLATION

摘要

An apparatus for treating uterine disorders by effecting necrosis of the uterine endometrium. The apparatus comprises a catheter with a bladder which can be inflated with a hot medium. To prevent inflation of the bladder during heating of the medium, and therefore to prevent too early inflation, the apparatus operates the inflation means in the negative direction during heating of the inflation medium.

主权项

1. An apparatus for treating uterine disorders by effecting necrosis of a uterine endometrium, the apparatus comprising:
a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end; a bladder attached to the proximal end for insertion into uterus and being distendable upon introduction of an inflation medium; inflation means connected to said distal end and being operative in a positive direction for introducing the inflation medium into the bladder and thereby distending the bladder and in a negative direction for withdrawing the inflation medium from the bladder and thereby deflating the bladder; and heating means for heating the inflation medium to a temperature sufficient to effect tissue necrosis; wherein the inflation means is configured to counteract a change in pressure caused by thermal expansion of the inflation medium during heating.