Electro-adhesive tissue manipulation method

• US 20080119842A1
• Filed: 10/12/2007
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford Management Co.)
• Original Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford Management Co.)
• Inventors: Vankov, Alexander, Palanker, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/974,611
• Publication Number:
  US 20080119842A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/34
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/30 Surgical pincettes without pivotal connectionsfor holding suture needles or materials A61B17/0483; wound clamps A61B17/08 ; hand-held gripping tools without pivotal connections in general B25B9/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/12 by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00176 Two pulses, e.g. second pulse having an effect different from the first one
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/306 holding by means of suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1462 Tweezers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/70 Manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/30 Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00 Methods or devices for treatment of the eyes; Devices for putting-in contact lenses; Devices to correct squinting; Apparatus to guide the blind; Protective devices for the eyes, carried on the body or in the hand caps with means for protecting the eyes A42B1/018; visors for helmets A42B3/22; retractors A61B17/02; manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; appliances to aid invalids to move about A61H3/00; exercisers for the eyes A61H5/00; eye baths A61H35/02; sunglasses or goggles having the same features as spectacles G02C
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/007 Methods or devices for eye surgery

Abstract

An electro-adhesive tissue manipulation method capable of manipulating tissue with a single conducting element is provided. The manipulator includes a conducting element, a pulse generator and a controller capable of generating a first and a second pulse on demand. The first pulse generates an adhesive state between the conducting element and the tissue layer strong enough to manipulate the tissue layer. The second pulse, which has higher pulse energy than the first pulse, generates a non-adhesive state to detach the adhered tissue layer from the conducting element. The electro-adhesive device could be combined with a medical instrument to enhance the capabilities of the medical instrument so that it can manipulate tissue. Thereby tissue can be manipulated with a single tip of a conducting element, without folding and piercing of the tissue, thus avoiding damage to the tissue.

Claims

1-6. -6. (canceled)

7. A method of manipulating a tissue layer, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a conducting element;

(b) applying a first pulse to said conducting element wherein said first pulse adheres said conducting element to said tissue layer; and

(c) manipulating said tissue layer.

8. The method as set forth in claim 7, further comprising the step of applying a second pulse to said conducting element to detach said adhered tissue layer from said conducting element.

9. The method as set forth in claim 7, wherein the duration of said first pulse or said second pulse ranges from 10 microseconds to 10 milliseconds.

10. The method as set forth in claim 7, wherein the duration of said first pulse or said second pulse ranges from about 1 microsecond to about 0.5 milliseconds.

11. The method as set forth in claim 7, wherein said first pulse or said second pulse is a monophasic or biphasic pulse burst with a frequency between about 0.1 kHz to 10 Mhz.

12. The method as set forth in claim 7, wherein the pulse energy of said first pulse is below the threshold energy required for formation of a complete vapor cavity around said conducting element.

13. The method as set forth in claim 7, wherein said second pulse generates a vapor cavity around said conducting element that is in contact with said tissue layer to detach said tissue layer from said conducting element.

14-17. -17. (canceled)