Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus to establish access into the uterus and the fallopian tubes of a female for diagnostic or therapeutic procedures includes a cervical access catheter, an ostial access catheter insertable through the cervical access catheter, and a fallopian access catheter insertable through the ostial access catheter. The cervical access catheter incorporates a distally located intrauterine balloon which is inflatable after insertion into the uterus. The cervical access catheter also incorporates a cervical retention disk which can be slid into position against the anterior lip of the cervix to anchor the cervical access catheter into the cervical canal between the intrauterine balloon and the cervical disk. Once the cervical access catheter is properly anchored, the ostial access catheter is inserted through the cervical access catheter. The ostial access catheter has a guidable distal portion which, after the distal portion has passed through the cervical access catheter, can be positioned into the ostium of the fallopian tube. If desired, a contrast media can then be injected through the ostial access catheter. Further, if additional information is required, the fallopian access catheter can be inserted through the ostial access catheter and advanced into the fallopian tube for injection of a contrast media directly into the fallopian tube.

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First Claim