Ultrasonic wound debrider probe and method of use

• US 20060241470A1
• Filed: 03/23/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Misonix OPCO LLC
• Original Assignee: Misonix Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Manna, Ronald R., Voic, Dan, Isola, Scott, Novak, Theodore A.D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,931,611 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/459
• 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 17/54 Chiropodists' instruments , e.g. pedicure chiropractic devices A61H1/008
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00761 Removing layer of skin tissue, e.g. wrinkles, scars or cancerous tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22008 used or promoted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32007 with suction or vacuum means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320078 Tissue manipulating surface

Abstract

An ultrasonic medical probe comprises an elongate shaft formed integrally with a head portion having a distal end face oriented at least partially transversely to a longitudinal axis of the shaft. The shaft is provided with an internal longitudinal channel or bore extending to the end face. The end face is formed with an indentation communicating with the channel or bore at a distal end thereof, whereby liquid is guided over an extended surface of the end face relative to the channel or bore. The head portion also has a lateral surface extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the probe. The lateral surface is provided with at least one outwardly or radially extending projection. The projection enables the application of ultrasonic cavitation energy to a tissue surface that is in contact with the lateral or side surface of the probe head.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic medical probe comprising an elongate shaft provided with a head portion, said head portion having a distal end face oriented at least partially transversely to a longitudinal axis of said shaft, said shaft being provided with an internal longitudinal channel or bore extending to said end face, said end face being formed with an indentation communicating with said channel or bore at a distal end thereof, whereby liquid is guided over an extended surface of said end face relative to said channel or bore.

2. The probe defined in claim 1 wherein said head portion has a lateral surface extending generally parallel to said longitudinal axis, said lateral surface being provided with at least one outwardly or radially extending projection.

3. The probe defined in claim 2 wherein said projection is one of a plurality of substantially identical projections extending from said lateral surface.

4. The probe defined in claim 3 wherein said projections have a shape taken from the group consisting of pyramids, semi-cylinders, wedges, plates, and flaps or flattened plates.

5. The probe defined in claim 3 wherein said projections are taken from the group consisting of ridges and knurls.

6. The probe defined in claim 3 wherein said lateral surface is a perimetral surface, said projections extending circumferentially.

7. The probe defined in claim 1 wherein said head portion is enlarged in a transverse direction relative to said shaft.

8. The probe defined in claim 7 wherein said end face has an elongated shape.

9. The probe defined in claim 8 wherein said indentation is elongate and forms a groove in said end face of said head portion.

10. The probe defined in claim 1 wherein said indentation is elongate and forms a groove in said end face of said head portion.

11. The probe defined in claim 10 wherein said head portion has an elongated shape, said groove extending parallel to a length dimension of said end face.

12. The probe defined in claim 1 wherein said channel or bore is connectable to a suction source, fluid in said indentation flowing toward said channel or bore.

13. The probe defined in claim 1 wherein said channel or bore is connectable to a source of irrigation liquid, liquid in said indentation flowing away from said channel or bore.

14. The probe defined in claim 1 wherein said head portion forms a distal end portion of said shaft.

15. The probe defined in claim 1 wherein said end face is inclined or beveled relative to said longitudinal axis.

16. The probe defined in claim 1 wherein said probe head is formed separately from said elongate shaft and attached thereto.

17. An ultrasonic medical probe comprising an elongate shaft provided with a head portion, said head portion having a distal end face oriented at least partially transversely to a longitudinal axis of said shaft, said head portion having a lateral surface extending substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, said lateral surface being provided with at least one outwardly or radially extending projection.

18. The probe defined in claim 17 wherein said projection is one of a plurality of projections extending from said lateral surface.

19. The probe defined in claim 18 wherein said projections have a shape taken from the group consisting of pyramids, semi-cylinders, wedges, plates, and flaps or flattened plates.

20. The probe defined in claim 18 wherein said projections arefinely configured and distributed so as to form a knurled surface on said head portion.

21. The probe defined in claim 18 wherein said head portion has a plurality of planar lateral faces, said projections being disposed along less than all of said lateral faces.

22. The probe defined in claim 21 wherein said projections are disposed along only one of said lateral faces.

23. The probe defined in claim 17 wherein said shaft is provided with an internal longitudinal channel or bore extending to said end face, said end face being formed with an indentation communicating with said channel or bore at a distal end thereof, said indentation extending laterally relative to said channel or bore, whereby liquid is guided over an extended surface of said end face relative to said channel or bore.

24. The probe defined in claim 23 wherein said indentation is elongate and forms a groove in said end face of said head portion.

25. The probe defined in claim 24 wherein said head portion has an elongated shape, said groove extending parallel to a length dimension of said end face.

26. The probe defined in claim 17 wherein said head portion is enlarged in a transverse direction relative to said shaft.

27. The probe defined in claim 26 wherein said end face has an elongated shape.

28. The probe defined in claim 27 wherein said indentation is elongate and forms a groove in said end face of said head portion.

29. The probe defined in claim 17 wherein said end face is inclined or beveled relative to said longitudinal axis.

30. A surgical method comprising:

providing a probe vibratable at at least one ultrasonic frequency, said probe having a distal end face oriented at least partially transversely to a longitudinal axis of said shaft;

bringing said distal end face into contact with organic tissues of a patient;

during the contacting of said tissues with said distal end face, energizing said probe to vibrate said end face at said ultrasonic frequency; and

during the contacting of said tissues with said distal end face, channeling liquid between the contacted tissues and a longitudinal bore in said probe via an indentation in said end face communicating with said bore.

31. The method defined in claim 30, further comprising connecting said bore to a suction source, the channeling of liquid comprising guiding liquid from the contacted tissues to said bore.

32. The method defined in claim 30, further comprising connecting said bore to a source of irrigation liquid, the channeling of liquid comprising guiding liquid to the contacted tissues from said bore.

33. A surgical method comprising:

providing a probe vibratable at at least one ultrasonic frequency, said probe having a distal end face oriented at least partially transversely to a longitudinal axis of said shaft, said probe also having a lateral surface extending substantially perpendicularly to said end face and substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, said lateral surface being provided with at least one outwardly or radially extending projection;

bringing said lateral surface together with said projection into contact with organic tissues of a patient; and

during the contacting of said tissues with said lateral surface and said projection, energizing said probe to vibrate said lateral surface and said projection at said ultrasonic frequency.

34. The method defined in claim 33 wherein the bringing said lateral surface together with said projection into contact with organic tissues of a patient includes inserting a distal end portion of said probe into a fissure or recess in an organ of the patient and moving said probe so that said lateral surface and said projection contact a wall of said fissure or recess.

35. The method defined in claim 33 wherein the bringing said lateral surface together with said projection into contact with organic tissues of a patient includes manipulating said probe so that said lateral surface is oriented substantially parallel to said organic tissues and so that said end face is oriented substantially perpendicularly to said organic tissues immediately prior to an engaging of said organic tissues with said lateral surface and said projection.

36. The method defined in claim 33 wherein said projection is one of a plurality of projections along said lateral surface, said projections having a shape taken from the group consisting of knurls, pyramids, semi-cylinders, wedges, plates, and flaps or flattened plates.