Surgical method and associated instrument assembly

摘要

A surgical sterilization method utilizes an elongate operating instrument assembly having a distal end portion which is inserted into a patient's Fallopian tube. The instrument assembly is operated to destroy cells along an inner surface of the Fallopian tube essentially throughout a segment thereof, while maintaining an outer surface of the Fallopian tube intact. Upon operation of the instrument assembly to destroy cells along the inner surface of the Fallopian tube segment, the tube is collapsed along the treated segment, thereby adhering the inner surface of the Fallopian tube to itself to seal the tube.