US 12,274,557 B2
Methods and systems for evaluating the integrity of a uterine cavity
Akos Toth, Cupertino, CA (US); Robin Bek, Campbell, CA (US); and Dominique Filloux, Redwood City, CA (US)
Assigned to MINERVA SURGICAL, INC., Santa Clara, CA (US)
Filed by Minerva Surgical, Inc., Redwood City, CA (US)
Filed on Jan. 29, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/162,105.
Application 15/488,395 is a division of application No. 13/361,089, filed on Jan. 30, 2012, granted, now 9,655,557, issued on May 23, 2017.
Application 17/162,105 is a continuation of application No. 16/023,464, filed on Jun. 29, 2018, granted, now 10,932,712.
Application 16/023,464 is a continuation of application No. 15/488,395, filed on Apr. 14, 2017, granted, now 10,028,696, issued on Jul. 24, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/439,788, filed on Feb. 4, 2011.
Prior Publication US 2021/0345941 A1, Nov. 11, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 5/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/42 (2006.01); A61B 18/00 (2006.01); A61B 18/04 (2006.01); A61B 18/14 (2006.01); A61M 13/00 (2006.01); A61M 31/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 5/4325 (2013.01) [A61B 5/4836 (2013.01); A61B 18/042 (2013.01); A61B 18/1485 (2013.01); A61M 13/003 (2013.01); A61M 31/00 (2013.01); A61B 2017/4216 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00214 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00559 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00577 (2013.01); A61B 2018/00821 (2013.01); A61B 2018/147 (2013.01); A61B 2505/05 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for characterizing a patient's uterus, the system comprising:
a probe having an inflation lumen and a uterine flow lumen;
an inflatable member adapted for releasably sealing off the patient's cervical canal, the inflatable member fluidly coupled with the inflation lumen;
a source of inflation fluid fluidly coupled with the inflation lumen;
a source of a uterine flow fluid fluidly coupled with the uterine flow lumen;
a sensor fluidly coupled with the uterine flow lumen, the sensor adapted to provide a sensor output relating to flow of the uterine flow fluid; and
a controller that is operably coupled with the sensor and with the source of the uterine flow fluid, the controller adapted to control the flow of the uterine flow fluid in order to ascertain whether the patient's uterus has been compromised;
wherein the controller is adapted to determine that the patient's uterus is intact when the flow of the uterine flow fluid drops to near zero within a time period.