Method and apparatus for the hysteroscopic non-surgical sterilization of

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for the non-surgical, reversible sterilization of females. In the method of the invention an operation-channel hysteroscope is employed for optical guidance of an obturator tip into alignment with the uterine end of the oviduct. The obturating tip is carried upon the inner of two concentric tubes and a curable elastomer-precursor composition is injected through the inner tube, through an aperture in the obturating tip and into the oviduct in an amount sufficient to fill and mechanically lock to the oviduct portion adjacent to the uterus. The elastomeric composition is allowed to solidify in situ where it adheres to and becomes integral with the tip. Maintaining the outer tube in fixed position, the inner tube is then withdrawn, forcing the obturating tip to be ejected from the inner tube where it now remains integral with the resultant oviduct block. The foregoing procedure is then repeated for the opposing oviduct. The resultant blocks prevent the passage of ovum from the ovaries to the uterus and sperm from entering the oviduct, thereby preventing contraception. The oviduct blocks can, if desired, be removed non-surgically by utilizing an apparatus which grips the tip portion and extracts the block. An arrangement is also disclosed wherein the obturating tip is formed simultaneously with the oviduct block, eliminating the need for a separate tip.