Cannula and method for liposuction

• US 5,181,907 A
• Filed: 10/31/1991
• Issued: 01/26/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hilton Becker
• Original Assignee: Hilton Becker
• Inventors: Becker, Hilton
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAWSON, GLENN K
• Application Number:
  US07/785,801
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 128/768, 128/759, 604/22, 604/49-51, 604/266, 604/268, 604/280, 604/264, 604/902, 606/159, 606/160, 606/169, 606/171
• US Class Current: 604/22
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22012 in direct contact with, or very close to, the obstruction or concrement for removing obstructions in blood vessels by laser A61B18/245
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/902 Suction wands

Abstract

A method for removing fatty tissue from a patient includes the steps of inserting an aspirating cannula into the fatty tissue of the body, removing the fatty tissue in the vicinity of an internal layer of the patient'"'"'s skin and traumatizing the skin adjacent to the area from which fatty tissue is removed. The method is generally carried out by means of an improved aspirating cannula which includes a longitudinally extending tubular member, an opening at one end thereof and a plurality of integrally formed projecting members surrounding the openings. The projecting members are relatively narrow and thin and extend radially outwardly and longitudinally. An annular member which is angularly disposed with respect to the longitudinally projecting member and of similar width and thickness connects the longitudinal members and is effective in breaking down fat tissue without cutting blood vessels or nerves during reciprocal movements of the cannula. The annular member is effective for traumatizing the internal layer of skin adjacent to the area where fatty tissue is removed and causes the skin to shrink in that area.

Claims

1. The combination of a cannula for aspirating fat from a patient comprising an elongated tubular member having proximal and distal ends wherein said distal end is adapted for insertion into a patient'"'"'s fatty tissue through an incision in the patient'"'"'s body and for being reciprocally inserted into and out of the fatty tissue by a surgeon, said elongated tubular member defining an opening near its distal end, said opening encompassing essentially the entire circumference of the tubular member and means forming a closed rounded or bullet-shaped end portion forwardly of the opening for facilitating its insertion into fatty tissue and passage therethrough, said tubular member further defining means including a plurality of longitudinally extending members projecting radially outwardly from the opening beyond the surface of said tubular member and extending longitudinally in the direction of said tubular member and connecting said tubular member to said bullet-shaped end portion, said longitudinally extending members having relatively thin rounded edges which are adapted to break down fat cells without damaging nerves and/or blood vessels and an annular member transverse of and connecting said longitudinal members for breaking down the fatty tissue and for preventing the area immediately adjacent the opening from coming into contact with the inner surface of a patient'"'"'s skin, said elongated tubular members having a smoothly-contoured outer surface which is substantially symmetrical about its longitudinal axis between said proximal end and said opening, and vacuum means connected to the proximal end of said tubular member so that fat tissue, which is broken down by reciprocating movements of the cannula, is drawn out of the patient and through the tubular member for disposal thereof.

2. The combination according to claim 1 in which said plurality of radially outwardly and longitudinally extending members are equally spaced about the circumference of said cannula.

3. The combination according to claim 2 in which said annular member connects said longitudinal members at points where the distance between opposite longitudinal members is greatest.

4. The combination according to claim 3 in which said closed rounded end portion of said cannula defines a hemispherical shape.