Dartmouth College

P Jack Hoopes

Stuart B Trembly

Paul Manganiello

The invention provides systems, methods for 14 treatment, and occlusion of the fallopian tube. An elongated catheter ( ) is placed into the isthmic region ( ) of the fallopian tube ( ) in a trans-cervical trans-uterine fashion, and a mono-pole antenna ( ) is disposed within a distal end of the catheter. The antenna radiates microwave energy in resonance to a drive frequency into tissue of the isthmic region without physical contact between the mono-pole antenna, and the tissue. This heating causes occlusion after a period of time. Typically, the catheter, and the mono-pole antenna are disposable after one treatment. In the preferred embodiment, the antenna is formed from an extension of the inner conductor of a coaxial cable coupled to a microwave generator. A power control section ( ) can be used to control, and apply the appropriate microwave power to the fallopian tube tissue. In addition, the invention preferably incorporates a microwave immune thermometry probe within the catheter to measure temperature of the tissue in real time.

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Hanover, NH, United States of America

P Jack Hoopes