Medical handpiece with automatic power switching means

• US 20040010250A1
• Filed: 07/11/2002
• Published: 01/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Misonix OPCO LLC
• Original Assignee: Misonix Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: R. Manna, Ronald, Isola, Scott, Novak, Theodore A. D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,776,027 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/42
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1622 Drill handpieces A61B17/1626, A61B17/1628 take precedence
• 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 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00367 Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0042 with special provisions for gripping
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32007 with suction or vacuum means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320089 node location
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/08 Lipoids
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/06 Casing of switch constituted by a handle serving a purpose other than the actuation of the switch, e.g. by the handle of a vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A medical instrument includes a handpiece, an electromechanical transducer disposed in the handpiece, and an electrical circuit disposed at least partially in the handpiece for supplying alternating electrical current of a predetermined frequency to the transducer. A probe is operatively connected to the transducer for transmitting vibrations generated by the transducer to an operative site in a patient. A switching device is mounted to the handpiece and is operatively connected to the circuit and the transducer for enabling the supply of power to the transducer during a motion of the probe in a preselected direction relative to the handpiece and for disabling the supply of power to the transducer upon a termination of motion of the probe in the preselected direction.

Claims

1. A medical instrument comprising:

a handpiece;

an electromechanical transducer disposed in said handpiece;

an electrical circuit disposed at least partially in said handpiece for supplying alternating electrical current of a predetermined frequency to said transducer;

a probe operatively connected to said transducer for transmitting vibrations generated by said transducer to an operative site in a patient; and

a switching device mounted to said handpiece and operatively connected to said circuit and said transducer for enabling the supply of power to said transducer during a motion of said probe in a preselected direction relative to said handpiece and for disabling the supply of power to said transducer upon a termination of motion of said probe in said preselected direction.

2. The instrument defined in claim 1 wherein said handpiece includes a main body portion and a grip portion movably coupled to one another, said switching device including two electrical contacts respectively mounted to said main body portion and said grip portion, said switching device further including a spring carried by said handpiece for biasing said main body portion and said grip portion relative to one another.

3. The instrument defined in claim 2 wherein said handpiece has a distal end and a proximal end, said probe extending from said distal end of said handpiece, said preselected direction being a distal or forward direction, said grip portion being located proximally of said main body portion, said spring being a compression spring disposed between said main body portion and said grip portion.

4. The instrument defined in claim 3 wherein said probe is elongate, said predetermined frequency is an ultrasonic frequency, and the instrument is an ultrasonic liposuction instrument.

5. The instrument defined in claim 1 wherein said handpiece has a distal end and a proximal end, said probe extending from said distal end of said handpiece, said preselected direction being a distal or forward direction.

6. The instrument defined in claim 1 wherein said predetermined frequency is an ultrasonic frequency and the instrument is an ultrasonic medical instrument.

7. The instrument defined in claim 1 wherein said switching device is an inertial mass switch.

8. The instrument defined in claim 1 wherein said switching device includes a load sensor.

9. A medical instrument comprising:

a handpiece;

an operative tip connected to said handpiece;

power transmission means mounted at least in part to said handpiece and operatively coupled to said operative tip for supplying power to said operative tip, whereby said operative tip is enabled to effectuate a predetermined kind of surgical operation on a patient; and

a motion sensor mounted to said handpiece and operatively connected to said transmission means for enabling said transmission means to supply power to said operative tip only during motion of said operative tip in a preselected direction defined relative to said handpiece.

10. The instrument defined in claim 9 wherein said motion sensor is spring-loaded switch.

11. The instrument defined in claim 10 wherein said handpiece includes a main body portion and a grip portion movably coupled to one another, said switch including two electrical contacts respectively mounted to said main body portion and said grip portion, said switch further including a spring carried by said handpiece for biasing said main body portion and said grip portion relative to one another.

12. The instrument defined in claim 11 wherein said handpiece has a distal end and a proximal end, said operative tip extending from said distal end of said handpiece, said preselected direction being a distal or forward direction, said grip portion being located proximally of said main body portion, said spring being a compression spring disposed between said main body portion and said grip portion.

13. The instrument defined in claim 12 wherein said operative tip is at a free end of an elongate probe, said predetermined frequency is an ultrasonic frequency, and the instrument is an ultrasonic liposuction instrument.

14. The instrument defined in claim 9 wherein said motion sensor includes structure for enabling said transmission means to supply power to said operative tip only during motion of said operative tip through a mass providing frictional resistance to passage of the instrument.

15. The instrument defined in claim 9 wherein said motion sensor is an inertial-mass-type sensor.

16. The instrument defined in claim 9 wherein said motion sensor is a load sensor.

17. A method for performing a surgical operation, comprising:

providing a medical instrument having a handgrip at a proximal end and an operative tip at a distal or free end;

moving said medical instrument in a preselected direction relative to said medical instrument;

by virtue of the moving of said medical instrument in said preselected direction, automatically transmitting power to said operative tip during the moving of said medical instrument in said preselected direction;

terminating the motion of said medical instrument in said preselected direction; and

by virtue of the terminating of said motion of said medical instrument, automatically terminating the transmission of power to said operative tip.

18. The method defined in claim 17 wherein said medical instrument is provided with a motion sensor, the automatic transmitting of power to said operative tip including operating said sensor to detect motion of said medical instrument in said preselected direction, the automatic terminating of the power transmission to said operative tip including the operating of said sensor to detect a cessation of motion in said preselected direction.

19. The method defined in claim 18, further comprising transmitting power to said operative tip only when said medical instrument is being moved in said preselected direction.

20. The method defined in claim 18, further comprising transmitting power to said operative tip only when said medical instrument is being moved in said preselected direction through a mass providing frictional resistance to passage of the instrument.

21. A medical instrument comprising:

a handpiece;

an operative tip connected to said handpiece;

a power-transmission circuit disposed at least partially in said handpiece and operatively connected to said operative tip for supplying power to said operative tip; and

a switching device mounted to said handpiece and operatively connected to said circuit for automatically enabling the supply of power to said operative tip during a motion of said operative tip in a preselected direction relative to said handpiece and for automatically disabling the supply of power to said operative tip upon a termination of motion of said operative tip in said preselected direction.

22. The instrument defined in claim 21 wherein said handpiece includes a main body portion and a grip portion movably coupled to one another, said switching device including two electrical contacts respectively mounted to said main body portion and said grip portion, said switching device further including a spring carried by said handpiece for biasing said main body portion and said grip portion relative to one another.

23. The instrument defined in claim 22 wherein said handpiece has a distal end and a proximal end, said operative tip extending from said distal end of said handpiece, said preselected direction being a distal or forward direction, said grip portion being located proximally of said main body portion, said spring being a compression spring disposed between said main body portion and said grip portion. in said switching device is an inertial mass in said switching device includes a load sensor.