Hysteroscopic oviductal blocking with formed-in-place silicone rubber plugs. I. Method and apparatus.

This method of nonsurgical female tubal sterilization involves the flowing of catalyzed silicone material into the oviduct through a silicone rubber obturator tip positioned at the tubal ostium. The method, described earlier as a fluoroscopic technique, has now been developed as a hysteroscopic procedure. Components include the obturator tip with retrieval loop, guide assembly, nonair-entraining mixer-dispenser, flow-actuation apparatus and plug-forming materials. Steps in the procedure include placement of the obturator tip in the tubal ostium, flow of the silicone, releasing of the tip (bonded to the cured plug) from the guide and removal of the guide.