ULTRASONIC CUTTING BLADE WITH COOLING LIQUID CONDUCTION

• US 20150005774A1
• Filed: 06/26/2013
• Published: 01/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Misonix OPCO LLC
• Original Assignee: Misonix Incorporated (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: VOIC, DAN, Manna, Ronald, Darian, Alexander, Isola, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 9,320,528 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/82
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/142 with reciprocating saw blades, e.g. with cutting edges at the distal end of the saw blades
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/144 with cutting edges at the side of the saw blades
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/16 Bone cutting, breaking or removal means other than saws, e.g. Osteoclasts; Drills or chisels for bones; Trepans arthroscopic bone cutters A61B17/320016; dental implant drills potentially for other surgical use A61C8/0089; bone grinders A61F2/4644, A22C17/06; A61B17/1662 takes precedence over all other subgroups except A61B17/17
• 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 2017/00831 Material properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/1651 for cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320078 Tissue manipulating surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00065 porous
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/007 with irrigation system

Abstract

An ultrasonic surgical tool has probe body with an operative surface or edge contactable with organic tissues for performing a surgical operation on the tissues. A shank of the probe body is provided with a connector for operatively attaching the tool to a source of ultrasonic mechanical vibrational energy. The shank and a portion of the probe body are formed with a channel for fluid delivery to the probe body. At least a portion of the probe body located between the channel and the operative surface or edge has a microporous or sintered structure enabling fluid penetration to the operative surface or edge from the channel.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic surgical tool comprising a probe body, said probe body having an operative surface or edge contactable with organic tissues for performing a surgical operation on the tissues;

and a shank connected to a proximal end of said probe body, said shank being provided at a proximal end, opposite said probe body, with a connector for operatively attaching the tool to a source of ultrasonic mechanical vibrational energy, said shank and a portion of said probe body being formed with a channel for fluid delivery to said probe body, at least a portion of said probe body extending between said channel and said operative surface or edge having a microporous structure enabling fluid penetration to said operative surface or edge from said channel.

2. The surgical tool defined in claim 1 wherein said channel includes a main section extending longitudinally along said probe body, said channel further including at least one branch section extending at least partially transversely from said main section toward said operative surface or edge, said at least one branch section extending only partway from said main section toward said operative surface or edge, said at least one branch section having a free end opposite said main section and spaced from said operative surface or edge.

3. The surgical tool defined in claim 2 wherein said portion of said probe body is made of sintered material.

4. The surgical tool defined in claim 3 wherein said probe body is made in its entirety of said sintered material.

5. The surgical tool defined in claim 2 wherein said channel includes a plurality of branch sections each extending at least partially transversely from said main section toward said operative surface or edge, each of said branch sections extending only partway from said main section toward said operative surface or edge, each of said branch sections having a respective free end opposite said main section and spaced from said operative surface or edge.

6. The surgical tool defined in claim 1 wherein said portion of said probe body is made of sintered material.

7. The surgical tool defined in claim 6 wherein said probe body is made in its entirety of said sintered material.

8. The surgical tool defined in claim 2 wherein said probe body is a flattened or planar cutting blade having a pair of opposed major surfaces defined by a pair of opposed longitudinal edges and a distal edge of said blade, said operative surface or edge extending in part along one of said longitudinal edges and in part along said distal edge.

9. The surgical tool defined in claim 8 wherein said blade is made of sintered material.

10. The surgical tool defined in claim 1 wherein said microporous structure includes a multiplicity of micropore pathways extending from said channel to said operative surface or edge, said probe body being devoid of other pathways for liquid flow from said channel to said operative surface or edge.

11. A surgical method comprising:

providing an ultrasonic surgical tool having a probe body and a shank connected at a proximal end thereof, said probe body having an operative surface or edge, said shank and said probe body being formed with a channel, at least a portion of said probe body extending between said channel and said operative surface or edge having a microporous structure;

operatively connecting a proximal end of said shank to a source of ultrasonic mechanical vibrations;

operatively coupling said channel to a source of liquid;

moving said probe body to a surgical site on a patient;

placing said operative surface or edge in contact with organic tissues at said surgical site;

while said operative surface or edge is in contact with the organic tissues, generating ultrasonic mechanical vibrations in said probe body, thereby ultrasonically vibrating said operative surface or edge;

while said operative surface or edge is in contact with the organic tissues and during the generating of the ultrasonic mechanical vibrations in said probe body, feeding liquid under pressure from said source of liquid into said channel and from said channel through multiple micropore pathways in said probe body to said operative surface or edge.

12. The method defined in claim 11 wherein said probe body is a flattened or planar cutting blade having a pair of opposed major surfaces defined by a pair of opposed longitudinal edges and a distal edge, said operative surface or edge extending in part along one of said longitudinal edges and in part along said distal edge, further comprising cutting into said organic tissues by virtue of the generating of ultrasonic mechanical vibrations in said probe body and the ultrasonic vibrating of said operative surface or edge.

13. The method defined in claim 11 wherein said probe body is devoid of other pathways for liquid flow from said channel to said operative surface or edge, a feeding of liquid under pressure from said source of liquid to said operative surface or edge including moving liquid along only said micropore pathways between said channel and said operative surface or edge.