Induction Coil Assembly for Uterine Ablation and Method

Abstract

A vapor delivery device includes an induction coil system. The induction coil system can include a coiled fluid tube, a coiled wire, a capsule between the coiled fluid tube and the wire, and a cooling fluid supply configured to force a cooling fluid through the capsule across the coiled wire. The induction coil system can include a closed loop ferrite core, a wire coiled around a first portion of the ferrite core, and a fluid tube coiled around a second portion of the ferrite core. A wire coil can be contained in a cartridge system removably coupleable to a disposable vapor delivery device. The system can include a fluid flow controller and induction power regulation to maintain a specific operating pressure range for vapor within a uterus or other bodily cavity, tract, or duct.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . An induction coil system, comprising:
 a closed loop ferrite core comprising two or more separable ferrite pieces;   a wire configured to carry electric current coiled around a first portion of the closed loop ferrite core and at least partially surrounded by the closed loop ferrite core;   a fluid tube configured to carry a fluid coiled around a second portion of the closed loop ferrite core and at least partially surrounded by the closed loop ferrite core;   wherein the electric current in the wire generates a magnetizing inductance to inductively heat the fluid tube.   
     
     
         16 . The induction coil system of  claim 15 , wherein the closed loop ferrite core comprises a ferrite side, a ferrite top, a ferrite bottom, and a ferrite center, and wherein the ferrite top is separable from the ferrite bottom. 
     
     
         17 . The induction coil system of  claim 15 :
 wherein a first separable ferrite piece comprises a first ferrite side, a first ferrite center, and a ferrite top; and   wherein a second separable ferrite piece comprises a second ferrite side, a second ferrite center, and a ferrite bottom.   
     
     
         18 . The induction coil system of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the first separable ferrite piece and the second separable ferrite piece further comprises a ferrite back. 
     
     
         19 . The induction coil system of  claim 15 , further comprising a bobbin including an electrically insulating material, wherein the wire and the fluid tube are each coiled around the bobbin. 
     
     
         20 . The induction coil system of  claim 15 , wherein the wire when coiled around the first portion of the closed loop ferrite core at least partially overlaps the fluid tube when coiled around the second portion of the closed loop ferrite core. 
     
     
         21 . The induction coil system of  claim 19 , wherein the bobbin is enclosed within the closed loop ferrite core when the two or more separable ferrite pieces are coupled to one another. 
     
     
         22 . The induction coil system of  claim 19 , wherein the wire is between the fluid tube and the bobbin. 
     
     
         23 . The induction coil system of  claim 19 , wherein the fluid tube is between the wire and the bobbin. 
     
     
         24 . The induction coil system of  claim 19 , wherein the bobbin comprises a material having low electrical conductivity. 
     
     
         25 . The induction coil system of  claim 19 , wherein the bobbin comprises at least one of glass, ceramic, mica, or plastic. 
     
     
         26 . The induction coil system of  claim 15 , wherein the two or more separable ferrite pieces couple to one another to form a ferrite box. 
     
     
         27 . The induction coil system of  claim 26 , wherein:
 the ferrite box comprises a first opening and a second opening;   the wire and the fluid tube each enter the ferrite box through the first opening; and   the wire and the fluid tube each exit the ferrite box through the second opening.   
     
     
         28 . The induction coil system of  claim 26 , wherein:
 the ferrite box comprises a first opening and a second opening;   the fluid tube enters and exits the ferrite box through the first opening; and   the wire enters and exits the ferrite box through the second opening.   
     
     
         29 . The induction coil system of  claim 26 , wherein:
 the ferrite box comprises a first opening, a second opening, a third opening, and a fourth opening;   the fluid tube enters the ferrite box through the first opening;   the fluid tube exits the ferrite box through the second opening;   the wire enters the ferrite box through the third opening; and   the wire exits the ferrite box through the fourth opening.   
     
     
         30 . The induction coil system of  claim 26 , wherein the ferrite box has a shape approximating a rectangular prism, a cylinder, a sphere, a toroid, or an ellipsoid. 
     
     
         31 . The induction coil system of  claim 15 , wherein the fluid tube comprises:
 an input configured to receive the fluid: and   an output configured to deliver vapor or a heated fluid to a patient.   
     
     
         32 . The induction coil system of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 an input port coupled to the input of the fluid tube; and   an output port coupled to the output of the fluid tube.   
     
     
         33 . The induction coil system of  claim 15 , further comprising an insulating tube cover enclosing at least a portion of the fluid tube. 
     
     
         34 . The induction coil system of  claim 33 , wherein the insulating tube cover comprises at least one of Teflon, silicone, rubber, or other thermal insulator material.