A surgical tool for use in abdominal hysterectomies includes an inner uterine-ring assembly having a ring for insertion into the vagina at the juncture of the cervix and vagina. An outer clamping assembly insertable through a surgically opened abdominal cavity is clamped about the inner ring with the vaginal tissue interposed therebetween. The combination presents a scalpel guide for surgical circumcision of the interposed tissue as well as controls undesirable bleeding from the circumcised tissue.

A guide structure for facilitating the performance of internal surgery. The guide structure has a guide tube with proximal and distal ends. The guide tube defines an internal, through working passageway. Structure is provided for bending the distal end of the guide tube within a range of bend angles from a location remote from the distal end of the guide tube and for releasably holding the distal end of the guide tube at a preselected bend angle within the range of bend angles.

An apparatus for injection of dye or contrast medium into a uterine cavity. An elongated member having a first and a second end and an intermediate portion has a liquid impervious expandable tube disposed around it and is sealed on each end thereof to the exterior thereof. A first fluid passageway extends from one end of the elongated member to a barrier and another fluid passageway extends from the other end of the elongated member to the barrier. A first opening in the elongated member allows fluid communication between the first passageway and the inside of the balloon tube and a second opening in the elongated member provides fluid communication between the second fluid passageway and the inside of the balloon tube. The second opening is substantially smaller in cross-sectional area than the first opening whereby fluid pressure applied to the first passageway will remain substantially higher than the pressure in the second fluid communication passageway, whereby fluid pressure within the tube will cause it to expand to seal against the inner wall of the uterine cavity, while at the same time fluid will flow sequentially from the first fluid communication passageway, through the first opening, through the expanded balloon tube, through the second opening, through the second communication passageway and out through a discharge opening structure on one end of the second fluid communication passageway.

An improved transvaginal uterine manipulator is disclosed. In the most preferred embodiment, it has an elongated housing, a releasable tip attached to the distal end of the housing, a handle lever to actuate means for pivoting the tip in anteversion and retroversion motions in such a manner that a direct positional relationship between the handle lever and tip exists, an arcuate tip position indicator, a tenaculum holder attached to the housing, a constant force spring attached within the elongated housing and to the holder for applying a constant force on a tenaculum held by the holder regardless of its position on the housing, a handle lever locking means to lock the position of the handle, and fluid delivery means through the tip to deliver fluid to the uterus.

A gynecologic instrument or uterine mobilizer having a tube with one end attached to a journal pivotally mounted and maintained within a channel in the head of the instrument via a pin engaging a groove in the head. The head includes structure, such as an attachment or collar, for manipulating a desired place of a vaginal wall when the instrument is inserted in the vagina. In one embodiment, the structure includes a collar having a concave surface lying over a surface of the head that is substantially crescent-shaped. In another embodiment, the structure includes a substantially disc-shaped element. In one of two related embodiments, the substantially disc-shaped element may be provided with an indentation or notch in a peripheral surface. In another embodiment, the substantially disc-shaped element is provided with a channel extending at least radially from a central portion of the substantially disc-shaped element, and preferably along a diameter of the disc, for housing elements designed to cooperate to move the vaginal wall towards the abdominal cavity.