Surgery – Female reproductory tract shields – supports – or birth...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-07
2001-12-25
Brown, Michael A. (Department: 3733)
Surgery
Female reproductory tract shields, supports, or birth...
C128S832000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06332466
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to surgical contraception of the female and, more particularly, to ovarian capsules and methods of performing both permanent and temporary, reversible surgical contraception by ovarian encapsulation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Female contraception is widely practiced to prevent pregnancy, either permanently or temporarily. Various contraceptive methods and devices are used to prevent pregnancy in females including, for example, natural family planning methods such as the rhythm method and coitus interruptus, spermicides, barrier devices such as the diaphragm, sponge, cap and condom, chemical or hormonal treatments such as birth control pills, intrauterine devices (IUDs) and tubal occluding devices and methods such as plugs, adhesives and tubal ligation. Many of the contraceptive devices and methods currently in use are user dependent and, therefore, have relatively high rates of failure due to non-use and/or improper use. In addition, some user dependent contraceptive methods and devices, such as rhythm and coitus interruptus, are inherently unreliable. User dependent methods and devices of female contraception have various drawbacks ranging from inconvenience to serious medical complications. Birth control pills, for instance, have been associated with adverse side effects including cardiovascular disease and, in particular, stroke.
Although non-user dependent methods and devices of female contraception have lower rates of failure, they also have many drawbacks. The IUD, for example, has been associated with pelvic inflammatory disease and undesired sterility. Surgical contraception such as tubal ligation has the drawback of being difficult to reverse to allow for future pregnancy due to blockage or damage of the Fallopian tubes incurred as part of the tubal ligation procedure. On the other hand, surgical contraception presents the advantages of being highly effective in preventing pregnancy and of eliminating the need for user intervention. Furthermore, surgical advances have greatly increased the safety and efficacy of surgical female contraceptive procedures. However, the various advantages of surgical contraception may be outweighed by the disadvantage of permanence or irreversibility where permanent contraception is not desired.
Accordingly, the need exists for surgical female contraception that is reliable and effective in preventing pregnancy but which is capable of being reversed if desired to allow for future pregnancy and which can be performed endoscopically with minimal invasiveness and trauma. The need also exists for surgical female contraception in addition to that presently available to increase the family planning and contraceptive options available to women.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to overcome the aforesaid disadvantages of prior art devices and methods of female contraception.
Another object of the present invention is to encapsulate the ovaries of a female in the same ovarian capsule or in different ovarian capsules.
An additional object of the present invention is to prevent conception by encapsulating the ovaries of a female such that ova released by the ovaries cannot be fertilized.
It is also an object of the present invention to drain or release substances from an ovarian capsule in which an ovary is encapsulated.
The present invention has as another object to drain or release substances from an ovarian capsule into an anatomical space.
A further object of the present invention is to drain or release substances from an ovarian capsule into an anatomical space isolated from the abdominal cavity.
A still further object of the present invention is to drain or release substances from an ovarian capsule into a retroperitoneal space.
Yet another object of the present invention is to reverse contraception by ovarian encapsulation to allow for future pregnancy.
It is an additional object of the present invention to encapsulate the ovaries of a female endoscopically.
Some of the advantages of the present invention are that the ovarian capsules can be gently opened to receive one or more ovaries therein and can be gently closed to encapsulate the one or more ovaries therein without substantial force or pressure, the ovarian capsules can be made available in various sizes allowing a specific capsule to be selected in accordance with the size of the ovary or ovaries to be encapsulated therein, the ovarian capsules can be provided in a single size with the capsules being adjustable to accommodate one or more ovaries of various sizes, compression of the ovarian pedicles by the ovarian capsules is avoided, the ovarian capsules can be provided with engaging members for engagement with various instruments, such as forceps or graspers, used to hold the ovarian capsules and/or used to open and/or close the ovarian capsules in the patient's body, the ovarian capsules can be provided with various detent members for maintaining the ovarian capsules in a closed position following encapsulation of one or more ovaries therein, drains or outlets of varying lengths can extend from bodies of the ovarian capsules to drainage sites in the patient's body, the drains or outlets can be made of soft material atraumatic to tissue in the patient's body, the ovarian capsules can be applied to and/or withdrawn from one or more ovaries endoscopically, non-endoscopically or as a mini-lap procedure, and contraception via ovarian encapsulation according to the present invention can be permanent or temporary, reversible.
These and other objects, benefits and advantages are realized with the preset invention as characterized in an ovarian capsule including a capsule body enclosing an interior for receiving an ovary and defining a selectively openable and selectively closeable access. The access, when open, provides communication with the interior of the capsule body allowing an ovary to be introduced through the access into the interior of the ovarian capsule. When the access is closed, withdrawal of the ovary from the interior of the ovarian capsule is prevented such that the ovary is encapsulated by the ovarian capsule to prevent fertilization of ova released by the encapsulated ovary. The ovarian capsule has an opening through which the ovarian ligament or pedicle of the encapsulated ovary passes to extend externally of the ovarian capsule. The ovarian capsule can include an outlet or drain for draining substances such as fluid from the interior of the ovarian capsule, and such substances can be released at a selected drainage site in the patient's body. In one embodiment, the outlet or drain includes a tubular member extending from the capsule body and having a first end attached to the capsule body in communication with the interior thereof and an open, second end for being positioned at the drainage site. The open, second end of the tubular member can be buried within, beneath or behind anatomical tissue for drainage of substances in an anatomical pocket or space isolated from or not in communication with the abdominal cavity.
A method of encapsulating an ovary in the body of a patient includes the steps of introducing an ovarian capsule in the abdominal cavity of the patient, inserting an ovary of the patient through an access of the ovarian capsule and into the interior of the ovarian capsule and closing the access to encapsulate the ovary and prevent withdrawal of the ovary from the ovarian capsule. The ovarian capsule can be introduced in the abdominal cavity with the use of various instruments and can be opened and closed utilizing such instruments. Instruments used to open and close the ovarian capsule can be operated from externally of the abdominal cavity allowing ovarian encapsulation to be performed endoscopically with instruments introduced in the abdominal cavity through one or more small size ports or passages in the abdominal cavity wall.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become
Blank Rome Comisky & McCauley LLP
Brown Michael A.
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