As part of this study an additional tool will be used during the hysterectomy. This tool is called a Cook Bush DL™ Ureteral Illuminating Catheter, which is a lighted ureteral stent. This is a very thin tube that goes into the ureter. A urologist, who is an expert at placing these devices, will insert a stent into each ureter during surgery. The lighted stents will help effectively find the ureters and keep track of them during the surgery. This same procedure is already being done in many other forms of abdominal surgery to help find the ureter. The stents will be removed before the surgery is complete and treatment will not differ in any other way.

This is a very thin tube that goes into a ureter to more effectively find and track the ureter during surgeries

To determine the shortest distance from the ureter to the uterine vessels to show the variation of ureteral position to the uterine and gonadal vessels during total laparoscopic hysterectomy prior to and following opening the retroperitoneum. Lighted ureteral stents will be placed cystoscopically. This will be done to clearly delineate the ureter and facilitate measuring the ureter to the infundibulopelvic (IP) and ureter to uterine vessel distances.

To determine the average distance from the ureter to the right gonadal vessel in infundibulo-pelvic (IP) at the pelvic sidewall. This is to show the variation of ureteral position to the uterine and gonadal vessels during total laparoscopic hysterectomy prior to and following opening the retroperitoneum. Lighted ureteral stents will be placed cystoscopically. This will be done to clearly delineate the ureter and facilitate measuring the ureter to the infundibulopelvic (IP) and ureter to uterine vessel distances.

To determine the distance from the ureter to the left gonadal vessel in infundibulo-pelvic (IP) at the pelvic sidewall. This is to show the variation of ureteral position to the uterine and gonadal vessels during total laparoscopic hysterectomy prior to and following opening the retroperitoneum. Lighted ureteral stents will be placed cystoscopically. This will be done to clearly delineate the ureter and facilitate measuring the ureter to the infundibulopelvic (IP) and ureter to uterine vessel distances.

To determine the distance from the ureter to the right gonadal vessel in the infundibulo-pelvic (IP) ligament at the point where the gonadal vessels enter in to the ovary. This is to show the variation of ureteral position to the uterine and gonadal vessels during total laparoscopic hysterectomy prior to and following opening the retroperitoneum. Lighted ureteral stents will be placed cystoscopically. This will be done to clearly delineate the ureter and facilitate measuring the ureter to the infundibulopelvic (IP) and ureter to uterine vessel distances.

To determine the burst pressure of segments of IP ligament that have undergone Ligasure electrosurgery. The Ligasure electrosurgery cuts and seals the tissue during surgery. The burst pressure gives a measure of how well the tissue is sealed.

Thermal spread is the dispersal of heat into surrounding tissue during electrosurgeries, causing damage to the tissue.In order to measure thermal spread, the gonadal vessels will be harvested after the specimen (uterus, tubes, ovaries and cervix) has been removed from the patient