TENACULUM-LIKE DEVICE FOR INTRAVAGINAL OPERATIONS

摘要

The invention is directed to tenaculum-like devices and systems for the intravaginal delivery of therapeutic or diagnostic devices and particularly for occluding a female patient~s uterine arteries in order to treat uterine disorders. Included are methods for grasping, manipulating and retaining tissue. The tenaculum-type device has a distal portion with a sound configur er to enter a cervical os without causing undue trauma or discomfort to the patient, and a retention or tissue grasping mechanism with a grasping elemen t such as a spike configured to engage and retain a patient~s cervix. The tenaculum-type devices embodying features of the invention may have an expandable distal tip to more securely be engaged within the patient~s uteri ne cervical canal.