Soft tissue cutting aspiration device and method

• US 5,102,410 A
• Filed: 10/09/1990
• Issued: 04/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Laserscope (Endo International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Heraeus Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Dressel, Thomas D.
• Primary Examiner(s): HINDENBURG, MAX F
• Application Number:
  US07/577,679
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 128/395-398, 128/749, 128/752, 606/3, 606/13-16, 606/45, 606/46, 606/49, 606/17
• US Class Current: 606/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/24 with a catheter A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/007 Aspiration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/84 Drainage tubes; Aspiration tips for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/90; for surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0014 removed from the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/08 Lipoids

Abstract

A laser soft tissue aspiration device comprises an aspiration cannula housing a laser energy transmitting means for conducting laser energy to the site within a patient'"'"'s body for aspiration of soft tissue. The cannula is provided with an aspiration inlet port adjacent the cannula distal end. The proximal end of the cannula is provided with fluid flow connection to an aspiration source. A laser guide tube is additionally provided housing the laser energy transmitting means extending longitudinally within the cannula lumen from a laser energy source at the cannula proximal end and terminating at a point immediately prior to the aspiration inlet port. The tube also provides a conduit for transmitting cooling and cleaning fluid flow for the laser energy transmitting means.

A surgical method of aspirating soft tissue from a patient in vivo using this device is also provided transmitting means. Separated soft tissue and fluid is aspirated through the aspiration inlet port and the cannula by means of an aspiration source at the proximal end of the cannula.

Claims

1. An in vivo surgical method of aspirating soft tissue from a patient comprising:

inserting an aspiration cannula through the patient'"'"'s epidermis and/or bone structure, such that a distal end of the cannula is positioned in an area of soft tissue, said cannula provided with a central lumen in communication with an aspiration inlet port adjacent to the cannula distal end;

providing laser energy from a laser energy source to a laser energy transmitting means operatively mounted in a fluid and laser guide tube, said guide tube operatively connected at the guide tube'"'"'s proximal end to a laser and fluid source which is at a proximate end of the aspiration cannula and said guide tube extending longitudinally along the cannula and terminating at the guide tube'"'"'s distal end which is at the distal end of the cannula, said laser energy transmitted by the laser energy transmitting means; and

cleaving soft tissue located in the aspiration inlet port, said laser cleaving combining with mechanical suction from an aspiration source operatively connected to a soft tissue aspiration port at the cannula proximate end; and

aspirating said soft tissue through said aspiration inlet port and cannula; and

transmitting fluid through said guide tube in contact with said transmitting means from the proximal to the distal end of the guide tube in order to provide cooling for and cleaning of said laser transmitting means; and

arranging the cannula and laser transmitting means so that only tissue within said cannula is exposed to operative amounts of laser energy.

2. A soft tissue cutting and aspiration device comprising:

an aspiration cannula having a proximal and a distal end, the cannula provided with an aspiration inlet port adjacent to the cannula distal end for receiving soft tissue and drawing it into the cannula, and having a lumen provided with connection to an aspiration source at the cannula proximal end;

a fluid and laser guide tube extending longitudinally from a laser energy source at a proximal end of said guide tube which is at the cannula proximal end and terminating at a distal end of said guide tube which is at a point adjacent to the aspiration inlet port; and

a laser energy transmitting means operatively mounted within said tube, said laser energy transmitting means operatively coupled to a laser energy source at the cannula proximal end and arranged for delivering laser energy to the laser guide tube termination point;

said tube also operatively coupled to a fluid flow source at the cannula proximal end, said fluid flow in intimate contact with said laser energy transmitting means contained within said guide tube from the proximal to the distal end of said guide tube for cooling said transmitting means and helping to effectuate tissue removal;

wherein,

said laser energy transmitting means and said cannula are arranged such that only tissue within the cannula is exposed to operative amounts of laser energy from the laser energy transmitting means.

3. A laser neurosurgical side cutting device according to claim 2;

wherein,

the cannula has a radial side port located adjacent to the distal end of the cannula and wherein;

the distal end of the cannula curves such that the laser guide tube communicates with the cannula through the cannula side port;

further wherein,

the terminal point of the laser guide tube is located in the cannula side port.

4. A laser neurosurgical side cutting device according to claim 3, wherein the laser guide tube communicates with the cannula such that the laser energy from the laser energy transmitting means travels radial to the soft tissue aspiration inlet port.

5. A laser neurosurgical device according to claim 2, wherein the laser energy source is a neodymium-Yag laser or other fiber delivered cutting and coagulating laser.

6. A laser neurosurgical end cutting device according to claim 2, wherein;

the cannula has a radial cannula side port located adjacent to the distal end of the cannula and wherein;

the fluid and laser guide tube has a side port located adjacent to the terminal point of the guide tube and wherein;

the fluid and laser guide tube has a reflecting means located within the guide tube adjacent the terminal point of the guide tube, for reflecting laser energy from the laser energy transmitting means such that the laser energy passes through the guide tube side port and the cannula side port into the cannula.

7. A laser neurosurgical end cutting device according to claim 6, wherein the fluid and laser guide tube and reflecting means are located within the cannula.

8. A laser neurosurgical end cutting device according to claim 6, wherein the fluid and laser guide tube and reflecting means are mounted exterior to the cannula.

9. A laser neurosurgical end cutting device according to claim 6, wherein the reflecting means is a solid rod polished to a surface finish of 2, or a mirror.