this invention is unique in that a novel device operates in consonance with physiological factors that are dynamic rather than morphological . thus , the circular musculature of the cervix can be stretched by pressure exerted on the walls of the cervical canal . such &# 34 ; cervical dilation &# 34 ; is undesirable for a seal - off . the novel device utilizes a conduit of increasingly larger diameter which dilates the canal but minimally , while the canal &# 39 ; s dilation is to an extent prevented , compressing the circumference of the cervix , which results from the vacuum by forcing the cervix into a conical cup . in the drawing figures and specification , the reference characters used in the four embodiments are the same for similar elements , except for the use of the superscripts , 1 , 2 , 3 , and 4 corresponding respectively to the first , second , third , and fourth embodiments . as shown in the figures , a hysterography device constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention includes , preferably , conduit cc which is formed along the longitudinal axis of the device , which serves as the aids , rigid or flexible leading handle h , at the top of which is cup c , designed to fit the cervix . cup c is cylindrical in its distal portion but , over radius , becomes progressively more conical towards its base cb . the cup is made preferably from a pliable material , to allow its best adaptation to the cervix . base cb is flat or recessed , and placed over the outlet co ( of conduit cv ) through which vacuum generated by a negative pressure device is applied . this results in suction which forces the cervical mucosa against the edge of the cup , and or the cervix into the cup . concentrically and centrally placed into cup c along the axis provided by conduit cc is cone cn whose proximal , straight part is designed to penetrate into the introitus of the cervical canal . the diameter of the cone is then gradually or stepwise increased to provide the primary seal within the canal . as the inner cone cn is pressed into the cervical canal , its increasingly greater diameter produces the secondary seal - off . thus , the more vacuum is applied , the more the peripheral mucosa is rolled against and pressed against the inner wall of cup c , thus providing the secondary seal . finally , the perpendicular part d of the cone , while being forced against the frontal mucosa of the cervix , acts as a third sealing surface . the cone can be produced either as one piece , or constructed from several components , with the cup either affixed to the handle h ( fig1 a , 1b , 3a , and 3b ) or to a collar cr 2 , cr 4 surrounding the handle h ( fig2 a , 4b , 4c , 4d , 4e and 4f ). while a version of the hysterograph with the cup affixed to handle h and thus providing a fixed longitudinal relation between the tip of the conduit and the cup is useful predominantly for diagnostic purposes , a version employing a movable cup is useful when an anatomical irregularity is encountered for interventional procedures , such as selective or sub - selective catheterization . such procedures involve manipulations , often resulting in dilation of the cervical canal . when this happens , deeper penetration of the conduit cc into the canal is necessary to provide a seal - off , without which a post - procedural diagnostic radiography could not be carried out . this can be accomplished in a &# 34 ; movable cup &# 34 ; version of the with cone cn 2 and cn 4 , shown in the second and fourth embodiments of this invention , by sliding the collar such as cr 2 or cr 4 , and thus the affixed cup , away from the tip of conduit cc . in the fourth embodiment , cone cn 4 may by moved as much as 5 . 5 cm in a direction away from cup c 4 . a seal between the collar cr and handle h is provided by a seal - fit of the diameters ; to increase the seal , a silicone or other physiologically inert lubricant can be utilized . conveniently , cups of several sizes can be interchangeable on the same instrument . central conduit cc is contained in the handle h and provides a passage through which a catheter , a coaxial catheter system , or fiberoptic device can be inserted , or through which contrast media can be injected . as set forth in the incorporated may 1987 radiology article above , one specific selection for such coaxial catheter system may comprise a first , outer catheter x having a second catheter y therein , and further having a third catheter z inside the second catheter ( see fig4 b , 5a , 5b and 5c ). a wire guide w , such as a cope - type guide wire with a flexible tip , may be located inside the third catheter . various catheters and guide wires may be used as set forth , for example a 5 - f polyethylene torcon catheter , a 3 - f teflon catheter and a cope - type wire guide , 0 . 018 and 0 . 025 inches ( 0 . 046 and 0 . 064 cm ) in diameter , offered by cook incorporated of bloomington , ind . guide wires made of a mandrel of 0 . 035 inch ( 0 . 089 cm ) llt - type wire onto which an 8 cm long , 0 . 018 or 0 . 025 inch wire is soldered , also offered by cook incorporated may be used . the tip of such guide wire may be soft and flexible platinum or other suitable material . a set of suitable catheters and guide wires offered by cook incorporated of bloomington , ind . has been developed for this invention . the set includes : 1 ) for catheter x , a 9 . 0 french radiopaque teflon catheter which is 31 . 5 cm long and has a check - flo valve ; 2 ) for catheter y , a 5 . 5 french radiopaque braided polyethylene torque control catheter which is 50 cm long with a 3 cm non - braided tip ; 3 ) for catheter z , a 3 . 0 french radiopaque teflon catheter which is 65 cm long ; and 4 ) for the guide wire w , both a cope mandrel wire guide having a 0 . 38 mm diameter and a 90 cm length and made of stainless steel with a platinum tip , and a curved safe - t - j wire guide with a 0 . 89 mm diameter and a 90 cm length with a 1 . 5 mm safe - t - j tip and being made of stainless steel . the set also includes a tuohy - borst adapter for the hysterograph . at the distal end of conduit cc , a standard luer lock ll a is provided to afford attachment of standard syringes and / or catheter collars . the handle h is rigid or flexible and made from a plastic tube containing one or two lumina , one for cc and one for vacuum . alternatively , the vacuum line can be an independent tube . if desired , the device conveniently consists of one or several parts , and the cup can be manufactured from suitable see - through plastic materials to allow viewing of the insertion of the conus . the device can be machined and assembled from commercially available components , or molded and produced entirely or in part by standard plastic extrusion methods . suitable plastic materials include polycarbonate , polyacrylic resins , clear polyethylene , polyvinyl chloride , carbon fiber , fiberglass , and other organic and inorganic polymeric or monomeric compositions . the devices , intended to fit a wide range of cervical sizes , are easily manufactured and conveniently sterilized and packaged ready for one - time use or repeated use . the devices can be constructed to have a range of dimensions , as follows : ______________________________________ approximate approximate range value indimension of values one embodiment______________________________________overall length 220 to 300 mm 240 mm or 260 mmof device ( dl ) outside diameter 25 to 40 mm 33 mmof cup c ( do ) inside diameter 21 to 36 mm 25 mm or 30 mmof cup c ( di ) length of cup c 25 to 35 mm 26 mm or 27 mmdiameter of 2 to 5 mm 2 . 6 mmconduit ( at the tip ) length of cone cn 20 to 40 mm 20 mm or 35 mmoutside diameter 15 to 25 mm 20 mmof base cbof cone cnoutside diameter 3 to 6 mm 4 mmof tip ct of conecnoutside diameter 6 to 12 mm 7 mmof handle h ( may be oval ) length of 5 to 17 mm 15 mmcollar crdiameter of to seal - fit the outercollar cr surface of handle h______________________________________ various structural differences between the various illustrated embodiments are shown . for example , the cups of the first and second embodiments , c 1 and c 2 , have more curved or generally parabolic shape as compared to the cups with generally straight side walls of the third and fourth embodiments , c 3 and c 4 . accordingly , these cups , c 3 and c 4 , have a generally straight profiled side wall defining a frustum of a cone . furthermore , the shape and arrangement of the various perpendicular parts d varies between embodiments . for example , part d 3 is formed as part of an elongated conical saddle s 3 around nose cn 3 . part d 4 is affixed to cup c 4 , independent of cone cn 4 and of handle h 4 , so that upon movement of cup c 4 with respect to cone cn 4 , part d 4 will remain a constant spacing with respect to cup c 4 . part d 4 and the base of the cup define an annular space as 4 therebetween . this annular space is in front of the opening co 4 and serves to more evenly distribute the suction action of the vacuum around the inner circumference of the cup c 4 . similar annular spaces , as 1 , as 2 , and as 3 , in the other embodiments perform similar functions . also , note that in fig4 a , conduit cv 4 has been removed , showing the stainless steel cannula which partially defines opening co 4 . fig4 d shows an end view of the invention with the flexible handle h 4 and the flexible collar cr 4 flexed somewhat about the longitudinal axis of the handle . fig4 f shows an exploded detail view of one construction used to couple flexible , plastic collar cr 4 with cup c 4 . collar cr 4 is inserted through a hole cut in the base of cup c 4 , with handle h 4 positioned therein . ultrasonic welding is used to connect parts together . for example , in the fourth embodiment , fitting f 4 , bushing bu 4 , part pd 4 and part d 4 ( see fig4 f ) are ultrasonically welded together , helping to form the assembly connecting collar cr 4 , cup c 4 and perpendicular part d 4 together . gasket g 4 provides a fluid seal around handle h 4 . the various parts to be assembled together are preferably glued by suitable adhesives , such as loctite 401 , vc - 1 or the like . for example , in the third embodiment , fitting f 3 and perpendicular part d 3 are glued to handle h 3 with such adhesives . fluid tight seals around the cup may be provided by a sealant such as silicone ge rtv # 118 or similar sealants . also , it is preferable to remove , by cutting or abrasion , any sharp bead which may exist on the inside diameter of the cup , such as cup c 3 , near the outer lip thereof to provide for a better seal with the patient &# 39 ; s cervix . fig5 a , 5b , and 5c illustrate a method of this invention being performed on a patient . the patient &# 39 ; s vagina 21 , uterus 23 , and fallopian tube 25 is shown . fallopian tube 25 , as illustrated , is blocked by obstruction 27 . the device illustrated is the fourth embodiment of this invention having cup c 4 , handle h 4 , collar cr 4 , perpendicular part d 4 , and soft , plastic vacuum conduit cv 4 as previously described . the cup is preferably a soft or pliable plastic to better adapt to the cervix for sealing . the handle and the surrounding collar when used are preferably flexible plastic to allow bending for greater manipulation and control during use of the present invention . fig5 a illustrates the hysterography device seated on the patient &# 39 ; s cervix with handle h 4 and collar cr 4 positioned transvaginally . cup c 4 is suction seated due to the vacuum applied by vacuum device v connected to conduit cv 4 with luer lock ll 4b . vacuum device v may be , for example , a hand vacuum pump such as one offered by mityvac ; neward enterprises , cucamonga , calif . and disclosed in the july 1988 issue of radiographics , volume 8 , number 4 , pages 621 - 640 . cone cn 4 is shown recessed in cup c 4 . the coaxial catheters , catheter x , catheter y , and catheter z are shown in position to be inserted into conduit cc 4 . fig5 b illustrates cone cn 4 being moved away from cup c 4 and up into the cervical canal of the patient for the purposes of a more complete seal . movement of the cone cn 4 is accomplished by moving handle h 4 upward with respect to collar cr 4 . note that the collar , in the preferred embodiment , is affixed to the cup with , for example , adhesive ; and likewise , the cone is affixed to the handle with , for example , adhesive . fig5 b also illustrates catheters x , y , and z inserted in the conduit in handle h 4 , and into the uterus 23 . catheter z is inserted into fallopian tube 25 at its distal end , and is attached to a source of contrast media cm at its proximal end . contrast media is injected into the fallopian tube 25 to allow fluoroscopic examination thereof , including diagnosis of obstruction 27 . cup c 4 and cone cn 4 provide a seal with the cervix to contain the contrast media . fig5 c illustrates catheter z being detached from contrast media source cm , and having guide wire w inserted in the lumen of catheter z . the guide wire w is advanced in the lumen , out of the distal end of catheter z , and into the fallopian tube 25 . guide wire w is advanced against obstruction 27 with a poking action , working through the obstruction to open it . thus treatment of the obstruction , potentially causing infertility , is accomplished . thereafter , contrast media may be again injected , as set forth in the description accompanying fig5 b , to determine the extent of opening of the obstruction . as earlier described , the introduction of a fiberoptic device through the lumens of the catheters in conduit cc 4 may be done for direct visual inspection in the uterine cavity . the timing and sequence of injection of contrast media , advancing of guide wires , and introduction of fiberoptic devices may vary from case to case depending on the diagnosis and treatment required . all publications and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference . although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding , it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in light of the teachings of this invention that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the scope of the appended claims .
a hysterography device is provided which avoids the various disadvantages inherent in prior art devices , namely patient discomfort , incomplete seal - off of the cervical canal , complexity , and lack of provision for introduction of catheters or filberoptic devices into the uterine cavity through a sterile conduit . a handle having a conduit therein is provided for the introduction of catheters , coaxial catheter systems , fiberoptic devices , and contrast media . a cup at the distal end of the handle is vacuum or suction seated on the cervix of the patient to seal contrast media in the cervical canal . a movable cone may be provided for an enhanced seal . preferably , the cup and the handle are soft and flexible plastic allowing for better seating on the cervix and better operator manipulation . a variety of cup shapes and sizes may be used . vacuum suction in the cup may be provided by an independent flexible conduit . a method of use of such device is provided .