US 11,730,516 B2
Functional uterine manipulator
Jon Einarsson, Boston, MA (US)
Assigned to The Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc., Boston, MA (US)
Filed by The Brigham And Women's Hospital, Inc., Boston, MA (US)
Filed on Jun. 30, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/917,120.
Application 16/917,120 is a continuation of application No. 15/463,743, filed on Mar. 20, 2017, granted, now 10,722,266.
Application 15/463,743 is a continuation of application No. 14/463,798, filed on Aug. 20, 2014, granted, now 9,629,660, issued on Apr. 25, 2017.
Application 14/463,798 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/375,200, granted, now 10,016,219, issued on Jul. 10, 2018, previously published as PCT/US2012/065584, filed on Nov. 16, 2012.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/592,125, filed on Jan. 30, 2012.
Prior Publication US 2020/0330130 A1, Oct. 22, 2020
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 17/42 (2006.01); A61B 34/00 (2016.01); A61B 17/32 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/42 (2013.01) [A61B 17/32 (2013.01); A61B 17/4241 (2013.01); A61B 34/70 (2016.02); A61B 2017/4216 (2013.01); A61B 2017/4225 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A uterine manipulator, comprising:
a shaft including a proximal end, and a distal end;
a manipulator handle coupled to the proximal end of the shaft;
a cutting assembly rotatably disposed about the shaft, the cutting assembly including:
a tube rotatably disposed about the shaft;
a cutting handle coupled to a proximal portion of the tube;
a cup to receive at least a portion of a fornix of a patient, the cup being coupled to a distal portion of the tube; and
a retractable cutter extendable distally with respect to the cup, the retractable cutter being movable from a retracted position to an extended position, wherein the retractable cutter extends distally beyond the cup when in the extended position, wherein the cutting assembly can be rotated about the shaft by the cutting handle to allow the retractable cutter to travel in a circle at a junction of a cervix and a vagina to permit transection of a uterus and a cervix from a vagina;
an outer tubular member surrounding the tube of the cutting assembly to permit the cutting assembly to be rotated within the outer tubular member while the outer tubular member is held stationary;
a pneumooccluder disposed on the outer tubular member, the pneumooccluder including an inflatable member coupled to a filling tube;
an electrical conductor extending proximally from the retractable cutter at a location that is radially outward with respect to an exterior surface of the tube of the cutting assembly and radially inward with respect to the pneumooccluder;
a further tubular member extending along a length of the manipulator, the further tubular member being located radially outwardly with respect to an exterior surface of the tube of the cutting assembly and radially inward with respect to the pneumooccluder, wherein the electrical conductor passes through a lumen defined at least in part by the further tubular member;
a mechanical actuator mechanically coupled to the retractable cutter, the mechanical actuator being operable to mechanically advance and retract the cutter between the extended position and retracted position; and
an electrical connector to electrically couple an electrosurgical unit to the retractable cutter through the electrical conductor.