Ultrasonic scalpel

• US 20020138090A1
• Filed: 03/26/2001
• Published: 09/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kos Life Sciences, Inc. (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: IEP Pharmaceutical Devices, Inc.
• Inventors: Jewett, Warren R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,514,267 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/169
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320068 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic A61B17/22012 takes precedence; dental tooth drilling devices operated by vibration A61C3/03; removing intra-ocular material using mechanical vibrations A61F9/00745
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3211 Surgical scalpels, knives; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320071 with articulating means for working tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320089 node location

Abstract

A light, self-contained, hand held, ultrasonic surgical scalpel having a housing, an ultrasonic power source within the housing, to which ultrasonic vibrations are provided to a blade to which result in cutting features by lateral motion as well as by reciprocating motion imparted to the blades with said cutting action being adjustable.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic scalpel including:

a housing having an interior;

a support piece in said housing;

a blade coupled to said support piece;

an armature in said support piece;

driver means for applying ultrasonic energy to the blade along its axis through said armature and said support piece to vibrate the blade in a lateral harmonic motion.

2. The ultrasonic scalpel of claim 1, wherein said driver means is mounted on said armature and applies energy to said blade along its axis through said armature and said support piece to move the blade in a reciprocating motion.

4. The ultrasonic scalpel of claim 2 wherein said driver means is mounted at an offset angle on said armature.

5. The ultrasonic scalpel of claim 2 wherein said support piece is a keyed cylinder.

6. The ultrasonic scalpel of claim 4 wherein said blades are pre-fitted for said keyed cylinder.

7. The ultrasonic scalpel of claim 2 further including a switch attached to said housing.

8. The ultrasonic scalpel of claim 6 wherein said switch permits selection of cutting and cautery modes.

10. The ultrasonic scalpel of claim 4 wherein the said offset angle is two degrees between the axis of said blade and the axis of said driver.

11. The ultrasonic scalpel of claim 2 or 3 further including a transducer.

12. The ultrasonic scalpel of claim 11 wherein said transducer is a high deformation electrical actuator.

13. The ultrasonic scalpel of claim 2 or 3 further including a transformer.

14. The ultrasonic scalpel of claim 13 wherein said transformer is a multi-layer piezo electric transformer.

15. The ultrasonic scalpel of claim 14, wherein said transformer can step up six volts to 900 volts.

16. The ultrasonic scalpel of claim 2 or 3 further including a power source.

17. The ultrasonic scalpel of claim 16, wherein said power source is provided externally.

18. The ultrasonic scalpel of claim 16, wherein said power source is provided by batteries.

19. The ultrasonic scalpel of claim 18, wherein said batteries comprise lithium.

20. The ultrasonic scalpel of claim 2 or 3, wherein said scalpel can be adjusted to a plurality of frequency settings.

21. The ultrasonic scalpel of claim 2 or 3, wherein said scalpel can be adjusted to a plurality of power modes.

22. The ultrasonic scalpel of claim 2 or 3, wherein said ultrasonic scalpel is disposable.

3. An ultrasonic scalpel including:

a housing having an interior;

a support piece in said housing;

a blade coupled to said support piece;

driver means for applying ultrasonic energy to the blade along its axis through said support piece to vibrate the blade in a lateral whiplike motion.

9. The ultrasonic scalpel of claim 3 further including a switch attached to said housing, wherein said switch activates and de-activates the ultrasonic scalpel.