Abstract:
The subject matter discloses an apparatus for gradually dilating the cervix, comprising an elongated body having sidewalls, at least a portion of said elongated body is located in the cervix and an enlargement mechanism located within the elongated body being in communication with the sidewalls, for generating a movement of the sidewalls away from the central axis of the elongated body, The apparatus further comprises a generation unit located outside the elongated body, for maneuvering the enlargement mechanism such that the movement of the sidewalls is generated.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to gynecology in general, and to dilation and curettage in particular. 
         [0003]    2. Discussion of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Dilation, or dilatation, and curettage, literally refer to the dilation (opening) of the cervix and surgical removal of the contents of the uterus. It is a therapeutic gynecological procedure as well as a rarely used method of first trimester abortion. It is commonly referred to as a D&amp;C. Some sources use the term D&amp;C to refer more generally to any procedure that involves the processes of dilation and removal of uterine contents, which includes the more common suction curettage procedures of manual and electric vacuum aspiration. D&amp;Cs are commonly performed to resolve abnormal uterine bleeding, to remove the excess uterine lining in women who have conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome, to remove tissue in the uterus that may be causing abnormal vaginal bleeding, to remove retained tissue as a method of abortion. D&amp;C is also used in hysteroscopy. 
         [0005]    The related art further contains other treatments that require dilation of the cervix, for example Dilation and evacuation or any other treatment desired by a person skilled in the art. 
         [0006]    Known methods for dilation of the cervix require a set of vaginal dilators. Such dilators may have a conic or cylindrical shape. Each of the dilators of the set is likely to have another radius to introduce each dilator according to the size of dilation of the cervix. For example, a common set of vaginal dilators contains 8 dilators having radiuses of 2 millimeters (mm), 3 mm, 5 mm, 8 mm, 10 mm, 12 mm, 14 mm and 16 mm. Such set of dilators is used when the required cervix dilation is of about 16-17 mm. 
         [0007]    Use of such set requires a skillful medic to know how to introduce each of the dilators. Further, introducing a set of dilators may insert infections to the uterus or the cervix. Further, movement of the dilations performed by the medic may accidentally cause perforation of the cervix or the uterus. It is also inconvenience for the patient to lie while different metallic objects are introduced to such sensitive organs. 
         [0008]    It is thus required to provide a safe device and method for cervix dilation without introducing different objects into the uterus and cervix. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    It is an object of the subject matter to disclose an apparatus for gradually dilating the cervix, comprising: 
         [0010]    an elongated body having sidewalls, at least a portion of said elongated body is located in the cervix; 
         [0011]    an enlargement mechanism located within the elongated body being in communication with the sidewalls, for generating a movement of the sidewalls away from the central axis of the elongated body; 
         [0012]    a generation unit located outside the elongated body, for maneuvering the enlargement mechanism such that the movement of the sidewalls is generated. 
         [0013]    The apparatus of claim  1 , wherein the enlargement mechanism is a container injected with material by a pump. 
         [0014]    The apparatus of claim  2 , wherein the material is gas. 
         [0015]    The apparatus of claim  2 , wherein the pump is a syringe. 
         [0016]    The apparatus of claim  1 , wherein the elongated body is of a conic shape and the enlargement mechanism is an object inserted into a hollow portion within the elongated body. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    Exemplary non-limited embodiments of the disclosed subject matter will be described, with reference to the following description of the embodiments, in conjunction with the figures. The figures are generally not shown to scale and any sizes are only meant to be exemplary and not necessarily limiting. Corresponding or like elements are designated by the same numerals or letters. 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  schematically illustrates a feminine genital system; 
           [0019]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  show a cross section of an elongated apparatus inserted into the cervix for gradual dilation thereof; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  shows an apparatus for enlarging the cervix using a pump, according to some exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  shows an apparatus for enlarging the cervix using an object gradually inserted into a hollow volume in the apparatus, according to some exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  shows a cross section of a mechanism for pushing the sidewalls of an apparatus for dilation of the cervix, according to some exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0023]    The technical problem dealt with in the disclosed subject matter is to dilation of the service without repeatedly inserting objects and removing them from the uterus or from the cervix. 
         [0024]    One technical solution suggested in the subject matter is an elongated apparatus comprising sidewalls that can expand their size, such that the radius of the elongated apparatus is enlarged. The elongated apparatus may be of a generally cylindrical shape. A pump that enlarges a container within the inner layer of the elongated apparatus may perform the enlargement. Enlargement of the container results in pushing the sidewalls away from the central axis of the apparatus to the side walls of the cervix and dilate the cervix. Other methods for enlarging the radius of the apparatus may be inserting an object into a hollow volume within the elongated apparatus shaped as a cone, and gradually moving the object into the narrow portion of the cone, such that the object pushes the sidewalls externally and gradually dilate the cervix. Other methods for gradually enlarging the cervix are disclosed below. The apparatus of the disclosed subject matter may be of disposable materials, such as plastics, or made of sterilized materials, such as metal, for example stainless steel. 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  schematically illustrates a feminine genital system. The feminine genital system comprises a uterus  110 , a vagina  120  and a cervix  115 . When a medical procedure requires removal of a tissue from the uterus or general examination of the uterus, it is sometimes required to enlarge the cervix in order to remove the tissue if the size of the tissue is larger than the normal opening of the cervix, about 2-3 millimeters. Gradual extension of the cervix, as suggested in the disclosed subject matter, enables a safe, faster and less painful procedure. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  show a cross section of an elongated apparatus  200  inserted into the cervix for gradual dilation thereof. The elongated apparatus  200  may be cylindrical, polygonal or a combination of both. The elongated apparatus comprises sidewalls  210  to be extended to the external direction, away from the central axis  220  of the elongated apparatus  200 . for enlarging and dilating the cervix. The sidewalls  210  may be assembled of elastic materials such as rubber, plastics, or another material desired by a person skilled in the art. Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 2B , the sidewalls  210  may be assembled of two or more pieces  232 ,  234 ,  236 ,  238  of rigid material such as metal, for example aluminum, connected by elastic elements  242 ,  244 ,  246 ,  248 , such as springs or rubber. As such, activating the enlarging mechanism, such as a pump, results in pushing the sidewalls  210  towards the circumference of the elongated apparatus  200 , away from the central elongated axis  230  of the elongated apparatus  200 . In such case, the two or more pieces  232 ,  234 ,  236 ,  238  of rigid material are pushed away from the central elongated axis  220  and the elastic material is stretched. 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  shows an apparatus for enlarging the cervix using a pump, according to some exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. The apparatus  300  is of an elongated shape. At least a portion of the apparatus  300  is inserted to the cervix  320 . The apparatus  300  comprises sidewalls  310  to be pushed and expand the cervix  320 , an activation mechanism and an inner layer to push the sidewalls  310  away from the central axis  330  of the apparatus  300 . The inner layer of the embodiment in  FIG. 3  is a container  335  inflated by an inflation unit via an aperture  340 . A pump  350  inflates the container  335  by pumping material, such as air or fluid into the container  335  via an aperture  340 . In some cases, the material is transferred via a tube  345  between the pump  350  to the container  335 . The container  335  may be made of an elastic material, such as a sealed nylon bag. A person skilled in the art may desire other materials used for the expandable container  335 . 
         [0028]    A person, such as a medic, who inflates the container  335 , may operate the pump  350 . Such operation may comprise squeezing air into the pump  350 . Alternatively, the pump  350  may be used as a syringe, gradually injecting material into the container  335 . In other embodiments, the pump is used mechanically or electronically, such that the amount of air or fluid or other material injected into the air bag is controlled by the operator of the apparatus  300  or by a control unit (not shown). In other cases, a sensing unit (not shown) is used to detect the size of the apparatus  300 , especially the distance between the sidewalls  310  and the central axis  330 , and inject material accordingly. The expansion of the container  335  is performed gradually, thus enlarging the cervix gradually. In some exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, the pump  350  injects 100 milliliter of material every minute to enlarge the cervix  320  by 2 millimeters in every minute. 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  shows an apparatus for enlarging the cervix using an object gradually inserted into a hollow volume in the apparatus, according to some exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. The apparatus  400  comprises sidewalls  410  movable towards the circumference of the apparatus  400  by an enlargement mechanism  420 . According to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the enlargement mechanism  420  is inserted into a hollow volume  425  within the apparatus  400 , between the sidewalls  410 . The apparatus  400  comprises an inlet  440  through which the enlargement mechanism  420  is inserted into the hollow volume  425 . The apparatus  400  may be elliptical or polygonal, and is generally conic, as the distance between the sidewalls and the central longitudinal axis of the apparatus  400  decreases as moving towards the cervix  402 . When inserting the enlargement mechanism  420  into the hollow volume  425 , the enlargement mechanism  420  touches the inner portion  412  of the sidewalls. A user, such as a medic can maneuver the enlargement mechanism  420  using a handle  440  and a rod  435 . The movement of the enlargement mechanism  420  may be linear, directed in the axis between the inlet  440  to the cervix  402 . Alternatively, the movement of the enlargement mechanism  420  may be circular, by screwing the enlargement mechanism  420  on a screw thread  430 . As such, for example, every round of the enlargement mechanism  420  on the screw thread  430  provides for enlargement of the cervix  402  by 12 millimeters. A sensing unit (not shown may detect enlargement of the cervix  402  by detecting the length of penetration of the enlargement mechanism  420  into the apparatus  400 . Alternatively, the sensing unit (not shown) may detect the distance between the sidewalls  410 , or the angle between the sidewalls  410  that increases as the enlargement mechanism  420  introduces the hollow volume  425 , 
         [0030]      FIG. 5  shows a cross section of a mechanism for pushing the sidewalls of an apparatus for dilation of the cervix, according to some exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. The apparatus  500  for dilation of the cervix comprises sidewalls  520 ,  522  pushed by a mechanism operated from outside the apparatus  500 . The mechanism comprises one or more tubes, such as tubes  507 ,  517 , within which a rigid material is maneuvered from outside the apparatus  500  to push the sidewalls  520 ,  522  away from the center of the apparatus  500 . The one or more tubes consist of two main segments, the first segment of each tube is generally parallel to the central axis of the apparatus  500 , and the second segment is perpendicular to the sidewalls, to be able to push the sidewalls. Tube  507  is limited by borderlines  508  and  509  and tube  517  is limited by borderlines  518  and  519 . The tubes may be cylindrical or polygonal, as long as the material such as  501  may flow via the first segment and the second segment. The material is maneuvered by the user or by a control unit connected to a power device to generate movement of the material. 
         [0031]    The material may be a plurality or a sequence of metal or rigid pieces as long as a portion of the pieces may move from the first segment to the second segment. The first segment of tube  507  is limited by borderlines  508 ,  509  and the second segment of tube  507  is limited by borderlines  502 ,  504 . The first segment of tube  517  is limited by borderlines  518 ,  519  and the second segment of tube  517  is limited by borderlines  512 ,  514 . In some exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, the material is soft, such as a mixture of clay, or another material that changes its shape upon external pressure. There may be one or more tubes for each of the segments of the sidewalls  520 ,  522 . 
         [0032]    The apparatus may comprise an activation element such as a button or switch. The activation may be performed outside the woman&#39;s body. 
         [0033]    While the disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. in addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosed subject matter not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but only by the claims that follow.