WO1994026345A1

WO1994026345A1 - Heating device particularly useful for gynecological purposes

Info

Publication number: WO1994026345A1
Application number: PCT/US1994/004941
Authority: WO
Inventors: Avner Spector
Original assignee: Medispec Ltd.
Priority date: 1993-05-07
Filing date: 1994-05-04
Publication date: 1994-11-24
Also published as: AU6782394A; IL105626A0

Abstract

A heating device for introduction into a body cavity for heating tissue thereat includes an elongated tube (2) having an open distal end (29) and a closed proximal end (26), passages extending through the tube (2) and joined at the closed proximal end (26) for conducting a heating fluid through the tube, and a base secured to the distal end of the tube and formed with inlet and outlet ports (6, 7) for the heating fluid. In one described construction, the tube is of metal for its complete length; and in another described construction, the tube is of thermally insulating material except for its closed proximal end which is of metal.

Description

HEATING DEVICE PARTICULARLY USEFUL FOR GYNECOLOGICAL PURPOSES

The present invention relates to heating devices, and particularly to heating devices useful for treating gynecological disorders.

Many gynecological disorders, such as ureteritis involving the inflammation of the ureter, urethritis involving inflammation of the urethra, vaginitis involving the inflammation of the vagina, urethrocystitis involving inflammation of the urethra and bladder, and urethrotrigonitis involving inflammation of the urethra and trigone of the bladder, are generally treated by antibiotics. Many of these disorders could also be treated by heat in order to dry out the tissue involved, to destroy the bacteria or fungus thereat, or even in some cases, to partially destroy tissue of the subject (cold coagulation). However, the difficulty in precisely applying the heat only to the surfaces or tissues involved has limited the use of heat treatment for treating these disorders.

An object of the present invention is to provide heating devices particularly useful for treating the above gynecological disorders.

The present invention provides a heating device for introduction into a body cavity for heating tissue thereat. The device comprises: an elongated tube having an open distal end and a closed proximal end; first and second passages extending through the tube and joined at the closed proximal end for conducting a heating fluid through the first passage from the distal end of the tube to its proximal end, and through the second passage from the proximal end back to the distal end; and a base secured to the distal end of the elongated tube and formed with inlet and outlet ports communicating with the first and second passages, respectively.

According to further features in one described embodiment, the tube is of metal for its complete length including its closed proximal end, and is of a length enabling the device to be used particularly for heating the female urethra.

According to a second described embodiment, the tube is of thermally-insulating material for its complete length except for its closed proximal end which is of metal, and is of a length enabling the device to be used particularly for heating the female cervix at a relatively high temperature and the vagina at a relatively lower temperature.

According to further features in another described embodiment, the tube is made of metal for its complete length except for its closed proximal end which is made of thermally-insulating material. More particularly, the proximal end of the tube is made of a flexible thermally- insulating material enabling it to adapt its shape to the tissue engaged thereby. Such a heating device is particularly useful for applying heat to the tissues lining the female vagina.

According to further features in some of the described embodiments, the heating device further includes an enlarged shield around the distal end of the tube engageable with the outer surface of the female vulva. The shield is of thermally-insulating material and is adjustable along the length of the tube to enable presetting the effective length of the tube between the shield and the proximal end of the tube.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description below.

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating one form of heating device particularly useful for applying heat to treat the female urethra;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of another form of heating device particularly useful for applying heat for treating the female cervix;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view illustrating a third form of heating device particularly useful for applying heat for treating the female vagina; and Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a variation in the device of Fig. 3. The heating device illustrated in Fig. 1 includes an elongated tube, generally designated 2, having an open distal end 2a and a closed proximal end 2b. An enlarged base 3 is secured to its open distal end 2a. The tube 2 is further formed with a central passage 4 and an outer annular passage 5 both extending for the complete length of the tube and interconnected at its proximal end 2b. Passages 4 and 5 are used for conducting a heating fluid, such as hot water, through the tube 2. For this purpose, base 3 is formed with an inlet port 6 communicating with the inlet end of passage 4, and with an outlet port 7 communicating with the outlet end of passage 5.

A rubber sheath 8 of natural or synthetic elastomeric material encloses tube 2 and part of its base 3. The distal end of sheath 8 is open and is formed with an enlarged bead 8a to facilitate the application of the sheath to the base. The proximal end 8b of the sheath is closed and encloses the proximal end 2b of tube 2.

The heating device illustrated in Fig. 1 is particularly useful for heating the female urethra.

Accordingly, tube 2 is made of metal, such as brass or stainless steel, to provide good heat conductivity from the heating fluid circulated through passages 4 and 5. Tube 2 is of a length and diameter enabling it to be inserted into the female urethra for heating the tissue lining the urethra. Base 3 is of an insulating material and is of a substantially larger diameter than tube 2 such that when the tube is inserted into the female urethra, base 3 extends externally thereof and permits the heating liquid, such as hot water, to be introduced via the inlet port 6 and to be removed via the outlet port 7.

The rubber sheath 8 is applied primarily to maintain the tube 2 sterile. Thus, the heating device may be sterilized after the sheath has been applied, and the sheath removed just before use.

Fig. 2 illustrates a heating device particularly useful for heating the female cervix. This heating device also includes an elongated tube 22 having an open distal end 22a and a closed proximal end 22b; a large base 23 secured to the distal end of the tube; a central passage 24 and an outer annular passage 25 through the tube 22 for conducting therethrough a heating fluid; an inlet port 26 and an outlet port 27 in the base 23 for circulating the heating fluid through passages 24 and 25; and an outer removable rubber sheath 28 for maintaining the heating device sterile until use. The heating device illustrated in Fig. 2, however, further includes a tube 29 of thermally-insulating material enclosing the metal tube 22, but not enclosing its proximal end 22b. The outer surface of the proximal end 22b of the metal tube 22 is shaped substantially to conform to the shape of the female cervix. For this purpose, the proximal end 22b is formed with a central axial projection 22c circumscribed by an annular recess 22d. The heating device illustrated in Fig. 2 is thus particularly useful for heating the female cervix at a relatively high temperature because of the metal proximal end 22b, while at the same time heating the vagina at a relatively lower temperature because of the heat-insulating outer layer 29 over the outer surface of the metal tube 22. For example, the proximal tip 22b of the tube may be heated to a temperature of about 60-100C° for heating the cervix, whereas the outer surface of the insulating layer 29 of the tube may be maintained at a temperature of approximately 46°C for heating the vagina in order to dry it of moisture.

Fig. 3 illustrates a further heating device particularly useful for heating the vagina. This device also includes an outer metal tube 32, and an insulating base 33 secured to the open distal end 32a of the tube. In this case, however, the proximal end 32b of the metal tube 32 is also open, but is closed by the closed end 38b of the outer rubber sheath 38. For this purpose, the closed end 38b of sheath 38 may be thickened, as shown in Fig. 2.

The probe illustrated in Fig. 3 is further formed with a central passage 34 communicating with an outer annular passage 35 at the proximal end of the tube. The two passages are connected, at the distal end of the tube, with a water inlet port 36 and a water outlet port 37 formed in base 33. When using the heating device illustrated in

Fig. 3, the outer rubber sheath 38 would of course not be removed. Thus, the thickened closed end 38b of the outer sheath, being made of heat-insulating material, serves as the closed proximal end of the tube 32 and thereby protects the cervix from being heated to a high temperature, as would be the case in the heating device of Fig. 2. However, since the thickened end 38b of the sheath 38 is of flexible rubber material, it enables the end of the probe to adapt its shape to that of the cervix. Thus, when using the heating device of Fig. 3, the rubber sheath 38, and its thickened tip 38b, protect the tissues lining the vagina and also the cervix from being unduly heated by the heating liquid circulated through passages 34 and 35 of the tube 32.

The heating device illustrated in Fig. 3 further includes a heat shield 39 of thermally-insulating material. Heat shield 39 is of the configuration of a disc and has an outer diameter which is many times (at least greater by one order) the thickness of the disc. The heat-shielding disc 39 is formed with a central opening 39a enabling it to be adjustably received along the length of the tube 32, and with an annular recess 39b surrounding opening 39a on the side of the shield facing the proximal end of the tube. The thermal shield 39 is thus adjustable along the length of the tube 32 enabling it to preset the effective length of the tube between the shield and its proximal end inserted into the female vagina. The annular recess 39b around the central opening 39a of the shield imparts a configuration to that surface according to the shape of the outer surface of the female vulva, thereby further protecting it from undue heating.

Fig. 4 illustrates a further construction, which is very similar to that of Fig. 3. Instead of the tube, therein designated 42, being closed at its proximal end by an insulating material (namely the thickened tip 38b of the rubber sheaths 38), it is closed by a metal tip, thereby providing more intense heat to the cervix engaged by the closed proximal end of the tube, as in the Fig. 2 construction. In Fig. 4, like Fig. 2, the outer surface of the closed proximal end 42b of tube 42 is also shaped according to the configuration of the cervix with which it engages, namely including a central axial projection 42c circumscribed by an annular recess 42d. The probe illustrated in Fig. 4, however, differs from that described above with respect to Fig. 2, in that the main section of the tube 42 is of metal, so that both the vagina and the cervix will be heated to the higher temperature by the heating liquid circulated through passages 44 and 45 of the device.

The device of Fig. 4 also includes a shield 49 of thermally-insulating material, corresponding to the construction, and for the same purpose, as shield 39 in the Fig. 3 embodiment. In all the described embodiments, the heating device could include a thermal sensor for sensing the temperature at its various regions, and also a control for controlling the temperature, or rate of circulation, of the heating liquid circulated through the device according to the sensed temperature. Also, instead of hot water, other heat sources could be used, e.g., an electrical-resistor heater, a high-frequency heater, etc.

While the invention has been described with respect to several preferred embodiments, it will therefore be appreciated that these are set forth merely for purposes of example, and that many other variations, modifications and applications of the invention may be made.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A heating device for introduction into a body cavity for heating tissue thereat, comprising: an elongated tube having an open distal end and a closed proximal end; first and second passages extending through said tube and joined at said closed proximal end for conducting a heating fluid through said first passage from the distal end of the tube to its proximal end, and through said second passage from said proximal end back to said distal end; and a base secured to the distal end of the elongated tube and formed with inlet and outlet ports communicating with said first and second passages, respectively.

2. The heating device according to Claim 1 , wherein said tube is of metal for its complete length including its closed proximal end, and is of a length enabling the device to be used particularly for heating the female urethra.

3. The heating device according to Claim 1 , wherein said tube is of thermally-insulating material for its complete length except for its closed proximal end which is of metal, and is of a length enabling the device to be used particularly for heating the female cervix at a relatively high temperature and the vagina at a relatively lower temperature.

4. A heating device for introduction into a body cavity for heating tissue thereat, comprising: an elongated tube having a distal end and a proximal end; and heating means within said tube for heating tissue within the body cavity when the proximal end of the tube is inserted into the body cavity with the distal end extending externally of the body cavity; said tube being of thermally-insulating material for its complete length except for its proximal end, which proximal end is of metal, thereby enabling the heating device to be used for heating the female cervix at a relatively high temperature and the vagina at a relatively lower temperature.

5. The heating device according to either of Claims 3 or 4, wherein the outer surface of the proximal end of the tube is of a shaped configuration including a central axial projection circumscribed by an annular recess, conforming to the shape of the female cervix.

6. A heating device for introduction into a body cavity for heating tissue thereat, comprising: an elongated tube having a distal end and a proximal end; and heating means within said tube for heating the tissue within the body cavity when the proximal end of the tube is inserted into the body cavity and the distal end is located externally of the body cavity; said tube being made of metal for its complete length except for its proximal end, which proximal end is made of thermally-insulating material.

7. The heating device according to either of Claims 5 or 6, wherein said proximal end of the tube is made of a flexible thermally-insulating material enabling it to adapt its shape to the tissue engaged thereby.

8. The heating device according to Claim 7, wherein the proximal end of the tube is integrally formed with a sheath of flexible, thermally-insulating material applied over said tube.

9. The heating device according to any one of Claims 1-8, further including an enlarged shield of thermally-insulating material around the distal end of the tube engageable with the outer surface of the female vulva.

10. The heating device according to Claim 9, wherein said shield is adjustable along the length of the tube to enable presetting the effective length of the tube between the shield and the proximal end of the tube.