Patent ID: 7175634

Claim:
A uterine manipulator device for injecting a visualisation fluid into the uterus of a female via the cervix, the uterine manipulator device comprising an elongate body that can be inserted into the uterus of the female via the cervix, the elongate body having a visualisation fluid conduit along which the visualisation fluid can be conveyed to the uterus and a gas conduit along which a gas can be conveyed, the gas conduit defining an outlet opening for the gas; gripping device that is connected to the elongate body, for releasably gripping the cervix; and sealing device that is locatable, in use, in the cervical canal of the female and that is in the form of an inflatable bladder of resiliently deformable material having two ends and defining an opening at each end, the bladder being mounted to the elongate body in an arrangement wherein the bladder surrounds a part of the elongate body, with the elongate body extending through the openings of the bladder and the ends thereof being secured to the elongate body to form a fluid-tight seal therewith, the bladder comprising an outer inflatable sealing element and an inner valve element in the form of a sleeve which extends inwardly from one of the ends of the bladder, terminating short of the other end thereof, the sleeve fitting over the outlet opening of the gas conduit so as to form a gas-tight seal preventing a return-flow of gas into the gas conduit from the bladder, the sleeve being resiliently deformable under the force of a pressurised gas flowing in the gas conduit, in use, so as to allow the flow of gas into the bladder for inflating it to form a fluid-resistant seal between the elongate body and the wall of the cervical canal, in use, thereby preventing a return-flow of visualisation fluid.