Patent ID: 7250050

Claim:
A tubal sterilization device, which comprises: a hollow catheter defining an interior passageway, the catheter including a first end for insertion transcervically into a patient, and a second end opposite the first end for grasping and manipulation by a physician, at least a portion of the catheter being generally circular in cross-section and being sized for transcervical insertion into a fallopian tube of a patient; an electrode tip situated at the first end of the catheter, the electrode tip including a first portion being blunt so as not to perforate patient tissue and having a first electrode situated thereon, and a second portion having a second electrode situated thereon, the second portion of the electrode tip being selectively spaced from the first portion of the electrode tip and movable axially relative thereto, the electrode tip being responsive to RF (radio frequency) energy to cause heating of at least a portion of the fallopian tube contacting the electrode tip when the electrode tip is received thereby, the first portion of the electrode tip including a bore formed axially therethrough, the second portion of the electrode tip being selectively received by the bore of the first portion, the second portion of the electrode tip including an insulating support, the second electrode being situated on the insulating support, the second electrode being formed as a coiled wire helically wrapped about and supported by at least a portion of the insulating support, the insulating support and coiled wire being selectively receivable by the bore of the first portion of the electrode tip; and a slider linkage extending through the catheter passageway and coupled to the second portion of the tip electrode, the slider linkage being axially movable within the catheter passageway, whereby axial movement of the slider linkage causes corresponding axial movement of the second portion of the electrode tip with respect to the first portion of the electrode tip, the insulating support being operatively coupled to the slider linkage, the second portion of the electrode tip, the insulating support and the coiled wire supported thereby being selectively received by the bore of the first portion in response to axial movement of the slider linkage within the catheter passageway.