Ultrasonic treatment apparatus

• US 5,391,144 A
• Filed: 07/20/1993
• Issued: 02/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Sakurai, Tomohisa, Kudo, Masahiro, Ikeda, Yuichi, Hijii, Kazuya, Okada, Mitsumasa, Karasawa, Hitoshi, Yoshino, Kenji, Kubota, Tatsuya, Kagawa, Hiroaki, Kubota, Tetsumaru, Suzuta, Toshihiko, Nagazumi, Hideo, Hagino, Tadao
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Ruth S.
• Application Number:
  US08/094,910
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 128/24 AA, 128/4, 128/6, 433/99, 433/100, 433/119, 604/22, 606/169, 606/1, 607/97, 601/2-3
• 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: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00154 pulsed
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00464 for use with different instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00482 with a code
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00973 pedal-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32007 with suction or vacuum means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320071 with articulating means for working tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320075 single edge blade, e.g. for cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320082 for incising tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320084 Irrigation sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320089 node location
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00916 with means for switching or controlling the main function of the instrument or device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00988 Means for storing information, e.g. calibration constants, or for preventing excessive use, e.g. usage, service life counter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/13 Trolleys, e.g. carts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags

Abstract

An ultrasonic treatment apparatus comprises at least one hand piece, a plurality of probes, and an ultrasonic drive device. The hand piece has an ultrasonic oscillation device for generating ultrasonic vibration. Each probe is adapted to be attached to the hand piece and designed to transmit the ultrasonic vibration generated by the hand piece. The ultrasonic drive device is connected to the hand piece, for driving the ultrasonic oscillation device.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic treatment kit comprising:

at least one hand piece having ultrasonic oscillation means for generating ultrasonic vibration;

a plurality of probes attachable to said at least one hand piece, and a selected one of said plurality of probes being attached to a designated one of said at least one hand piece so that the selected probe transmits the ultrasonic vibration generated by said one designated hand piece attached thereto;

ultrasonic drive means connected to said one designated hand piece, for driving said ultrasonic oscillation means; and

means for regulating each said ultrasonic oscillator means in such a manner that the ultrasonic vibration generated by the ultrasonic oscillator means is maintained constant for each probe from among said plurality of probes attached to said one designated hand piece.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising water-supplying means for supplying cooling water to cool said probes.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said ultrasonic drive means has adjusting means for adjusting the amplitude of the high-frequency voltage applied to said ultrasonic oscillation means and also the flow rate at which said water-supplying means supplies the cooling water to cool said selected one of said plurality of probes.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ultrasonic drive means has power-supplying means for supplying electric power to said ultrasonic oscillation means.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ultrasonic drive means has a resonance-point drive circuit for detecting a resonant frequency of said ultrasonic oscillation means and the selected one of said plurality of probes which is attached to said one designated hand piece, and drives said ultrasonic oscillation means at the resonant frequency.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ultrasonic drive means has display means for displaying a driven condition of said one designated hand piece.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ultrasonic drive means has probe-identifying means for identifying the selected one of said plurality of probes attached to said one designated hand piece, when said one designated hand piece is connected to said ultrasonic drive means.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a set-up switch for supplying a signal to said probe-identifying means when the selected one of said plurality of probes is connected to said one-designated hand piece, whereby said probe-identifying means starts identifying the selected probe.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, which further comprises a connector for connecting said one designated hand piece and said ultrasonic drive means together, and in which said probe-identifying means is provided within this connector.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said one designated hand piece has a suction channel, said selected one of said plurality of probes has a suction channel, and which further comprises suction means for applying suction force through these suction channels, and suction-mode setting means for setting an output mode for the suction means.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ultrasonic drive means has a foot switch.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said one designated hand piece has a suction channel, said selected one of said plurality of probes has a suction channel, and which further comprises suction means for applying suction force through these suction channels, and release means for releasing the suction force.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said one designated hand piece has a suction channel, said selected one of said plurality of probes has a suction channel, and which further comprises a suction system for generating and applying suction force through these suction channels.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said suction system has a suction bottle for containing fluids supplied under the suction force from a distal end of said selected probe.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said one designated hand piece has a connector communicating with said suction channels.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said one designated hand piece has a horn with an output end portion producing an ultrasonic vibration, said output end portion being inclined to the longitudinal axis of said horn.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said one designated hand piece has a horn for amplifying the ultrasonic vibration generated by said ultrasonic oscillation means, said horn being straight.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said water-supplying means has a water-supplying channel, and said one designated hand piece has a water inlet cap communicating with the water-supplying channel.

19. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cover covering said ultrasonic oscillation means and said selected one of said plurality of probes, and support means for supporting and positioning said ultrasonic oscillation means and said selected probe with respect to said cover, at a loop of third harmonic waves, when said ultrasonic oscillation means imparts ultrasonic vibration to said selected probe.

20. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said one designated hand piece has a cover covering said ultrasonic oscillation means, and said ultrasonic oscillation means has a flange at a node of ultrasonic vibration, and an elastic member interposed between the flange and said cover, for fastening the flange to said cover.

21. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said designated probe hand piece has a rear end portion and fluid connectors protruded from the rear end portion.

22. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of probes have a length which is an integral multiple of half the wavelength of the ultrasonic vibration transmitted from said ultrasonic oscillation means.

23. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of probes has a bent portion.

24. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of probes is straight.

25. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of probes comprises a thin shaft and a tip fused to the thin shaft.

26. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of probes has at least a distal end portion thereof substantially free of oxide coating and substantially free of cracks and scars.

27. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of probes has surfaces thereof substantially free of oxide coating and substantially free of cracks and scars.

28. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of probes have different transformation ratios of ultrasonic waves suitable for specific purposes.

29. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of probes are made of titanium alloy.

30. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sheath covering the circumferential surface of the probe attached to said one designated hand piece.

31. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the distal end of said plurality of selected probes projects from a distal end of said sheath.

32. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising probe-guiding means for guiding the selected one of said plurality of probes into a body cavity.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said probe-guiding means is an endoscope having observation means.

34. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said selected probe is straight, and said probe-guiding means has an adapter means capable of projecting for a controllable distance.

69. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ultrasonic drive means has a manual switch.

35. An ultrasonic treatment kit comprising:

a plurality of hand pieces of different types, each having ultrasonic oscillation means for generating ultrasonic vibration;

at least one probe attachable to said plurality of hand pieces, and a selected one of said plurality of hand pieces being attached to a designated one of said at least one probe, which probe transmits the ultrasonic vibration generated by the ultrasonic oscillation means of said selected one of said plurality of hand pieces attached thereto;

ultrasonic drive means connected to the selected hand piece, for driving said ultrasonic oscillation means of the selected hand piece; and

means for regulating said ultrasonic oscillator means of said plurality of hand pieces in such a manner that the ultrasonic vibration generated by the ultrasonic oscillator means of said selected hand piece is maintained constant for said one designated probe attached to said selected hand piece.

36. The apparatus according to claim 35, further comprising water-supplying means for supplying cooling water to cool said probe.

37. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said ultrasonic drive means has adjusting means for adjusting the amplitude of the high-frequency voltage applied to said ultrasonic oscillation means and also the flow rate at which said water-supplying means supplies the cooling water to cool said one designated probe.

38. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said ultrasonic drive means has power-supplying means for supplying electric power to said ultrasonic oscillation means.

39. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said ultrasonic drive means has a resonance-point drive circuit for detecting a resonant frequency of said ultrasonic oscillation means and said at least one probe, and drives said ultrasonic oscillation means at the resonant frequency.

40. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said ultrasonic drive means has display means for displaying a driven condition of said selected one of said plurality of hand pieces.

41. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said ultrasonic drive means has probe-identifying means for identifying the one designated probe attached to one of said hand pieces, which is connected to said ultrasonic drive means.

42. The apparatus according to claim 41, further comprising a set-up switch for supplying a signal to said probe-identifying means when the one designated probe is connected to said selected one of said plurality of hand pieces, whereby said probe-identifying means starts identifying the one designated probe.

43. The apparatus according to claim 41, which further comprises a connector for connecting said selected one of said plurality of hand pieces to said ultrasonic drive means, and in which said probe-identifying means is provided within this connector.

44. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein each of said plurality of hand pieces has a suction channel, said one designated probe has a suction channel, which further comprises suction means for applying suction force through these suction channels, and suction-mode setting means for setting an output mode for the suction means.

45. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said ultrasonic drive means has a foot switch.

46. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein each of said plurality of hand pieces has a suction channel, said one designated probe has a suction channel, and which further comprises suction means for applying suction force through these suction channels, and release means for releasing the suction force.

47. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein each of said plurality of hand pieces has a suction channel, said one designated probe has a suction channel, and which further comprises a suction system for generating and applying suction force through these suction channels.

48. The apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said one designated suction system has a suction bottle for containing fluids supplied under the suction force from a distal end of said probe.

49. The apparatus according to claim 47, wherein said hand piece has a suction cap communicating with said suction channels.

50. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said selected one of said plurality of hand pieces has a horn with an output end portion producing an ultrasonic vibration, said output end portion being inclined to the longitudinal axis of said horn.

51. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein each of said plurality of hand pieces has a horn for amplifying the ultrasonic vibration generated by said ultrasonic oscillation means, said horn being straight.

52. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said water-supplying means has a water-supplying channel, and each of said plurality of hand pieces has a water inlet cap adapted for communicating with the water-supplying channel.

53. The apparatus according to claim 35, further comprising a cover covering said one designated probe and the ultrasonic oscillation means of said selected one of said plurality of hand pieces connected to said one designated probe, and support means for supporting and positioning said ultrasonic oscillation means and said one designated probe with respect to said cover, at a loop of third harmonic waves, when said ultrasonic oscillation means imparts ultrasonic vibration to said one designated probe.

54. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein each of said plurality of hand pieces has a cover covering said ultrasonic oscillation means, and said ultrasonic oscillation means has a flange at a node of ultrasonic vibration, and an elastic member interposed between the flange and said cover, for fastening the flange to said cover.

55. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said selected one of said plurality of hand pieces has a rear end portion and fluid connectors protruded from the rear end portion.

56. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said designated probe has a length which is an integral multiple of half the wavelength of the ultrasonic vibration transmitted from any one of said ultrasonic oscillation means in said plurality of hand pieces.

57. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said designated probe has a bent portion.

58. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said designated probe is straight.

59. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said designated probe comprises a thin shaft and a tip fused to the thin shaft.

60. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said designated probe has at least a distal end portion thereof substantially free of oxide coating and substantially free of cracks and scars.

61. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said designated probe has surfaces thereof substantially free of oxide coating and substantially free of cracks and scars.

62. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said designated probe has a transformation ratio of ultrasonic wave suitable for a specific purpose.

63. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein said designated probe is made of titanium alloy.

64. The apparatus according to claim 35, further comprising a sheath covering the circumferential surface of the one designated probe attached to the selected one of said plurality of hand pieces.

65. The apparatus according to claim 64, wherein the distal end of said one designated probe projects from a distal end of said sheath.

66. The apparatus according to claim 35, further comprising probe-guiding means for guiding said one designated probe into a body cavity.

67. The apparatus according to claim 66, wherein said probe-guiding means is an endoscope having observation means.

68. The apparatus according to claim 66, wherein said one designated probe is straight, and said probe-guiding means has an adapter means capable of projecting for a controllable distance.

70. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said ultrasonic drive means has a manual switch.