Power-assisted liposuction instrument with cauterizing cannula assembly
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Abstract
A method and apparatus is disclosed for mechanically-assisted liposuction treatment. The apparatus includes a hand-holdable housing, an electro-cauterizing cannula assembly, and a reciprocation mechanism. The hand-holdable housing has a cavity adaptable for receipt of a portion of the electro-cauterizing cannula assembly. The electro-cauterizing cannula assembly has a distal end and a proximal end and at least one aspiration aperture about the distal end. The reciprocation mechanism is disposed within the housing and is operably associated with either the cannula so that the cannulas can be selectively caused to reciprocate relative to the housing. As the cannula is caused to reciprocate relative to the housing, the aspiration aperture formed through the distal end of the cannula assembly is caused to undergo periodic displacement. During aspiration of tissue, high-voltage RF power signal supplied to an electro-cauterizing electrode structure formed about each reciprocating aspiration aperture to effect hemostasis thereabout. Such hemostasis is achieved by causing protein molecules within aspirated tissue to coagulate in response to the high-voltage RF signal being supplied across the electro-cauterizing electrode. In the preferred embodiments, the amount and rate of such aspiration aperture displacement is controllably adjustable. The cannula assembly is releasably detachable from the hand-holdable housing to facilitate cleaning and sterilization of the cannula assembly and the housing.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1-5. -5. (canceled)
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6. An electro-cauterizing cannula assembly for use in connection with an air-powered tissue aspiration device having a hand-holdable housing provided with an air-powered reciprocation mechanism reciprocatable within said hand-holdable housing and a pair of power supply terminals for supplying a radio-frequency (RF) power signal to an electro-cauterizing cannula assembly during tissue aspiration operations, said electro-cauterizing cannula assembly being operably connectable to said hand-holdable housing and comprising:
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a hollow inner cannula having a distal end and a proximal end and an inner suction aperture about said inner cannula distal end, said inner cannula proximal end further including an outlet port and a continuous passageway which communicates said inner suction aperture with said outlet port, and a hollow outer cannula having a distal end and a proximal end and an outer suction aperture about said outer cannula distal end, said hollow inner cannula being disposed within at least a portion of said hollow outer cannula while permitting aspiration of tissue through said outer and inner suction apertures, along said continuous passageway and out of said outlet port, said hollow inner cannula being operably associatable with said air-powered reciprocation mechanism, and said hollow outer cannula being essentially stationary with respect to said hand-holdable housing, so as to effectuate relative sliding movement between said hollow inner and outer cannulas when said air-powered reciprocation mechanism reciprocates, so that the location of said aspiration through said outer and inner suction apertures is periodically displaced; and
electro-cauterizing means associated with said hollow inner and outer cannulas, for conducting said RF power signal along said hollow inner and outer cannulas and effecting coagulation of protein molecules within the tissue being aspirated through said outer and inner suction apertures. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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7. The electro-cauterizing cannula assembly in further combination with apparatus including:
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a RF power signal generator for generating said RF power signal; and
a flexible cable for conducting said RF power signal and supplying said RF power signal to said air-powered tissue aspiration device; and
a source of pressurized air for powering said air-powered reciprocation mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 23, 24)
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11-1. The electro-cauterizing cannula assembly of claim 10, wherein said electrical means comprises a device inserted within said outer cannula base and having an electrical contact element for conducting said RF power signal from one of said power supply terminals to said hollow inner cannula while said hollow inner cannula is being reciprocated within said hollow outer cannula.
Specification