Liposuction apparatus and associated method
First Claim
1. A liposuction method comprising the steps of:
- providing an elongate rigid tube having a distal end and a proximal end and an axially extending lumen;
forming an incision in a skin surface of a patient;
inserting only said tube through said incision into subcutaneous adipose tissues of the patient;
upon insertion of said tube through said incision, generating an ultrasonic pressure wave at said proximal end of said tube;
transmitting said ultrasonic wave through said tube to establish a longitudinal standing wave therein;
producing cavitation bubbles at said distal end of said tube in response to said standing wave;
by virtue of the production of said cavitation bubbles, liquefying adipose tissues of the patient at a surgical site located distally of said distal end;
applying suction to said lumen, thereby aspirating the liquefied adipose tissues from said surgical site through said lumen; and
maintaining said distal end and said adipose tissues at said surgical site at approximately body temperature during said steps of producing cavitation bubbles and liquefying.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for removing adipose tissue uses an elongate rigid tube or probe member having a distal end and a proximal end and an axially extending lumen. An incision is formed in a skin surface of a patient, the tube being inserted through the incision into subcutaneous adipose tissues of the patient. Upon insertion of the tube through the incision, an ultrasonic pressure wave is generated at the proximal end of the tube, the waveform being transmitted through the tube to establish a standing wave therein. The standing ultrasonic wave in the insertion tube produces cavitation bubbles at the distal end of the tube, the bubbles causing liquefaction of adipose tissues of the patient at a surgical site located distally of the distal end of the insertion tube. Suction is applied to the lumen of the tube, thereby aspirating the liquefied adipose tissues from the surgical site through the lumen. During the entire procedure, the distal end of the tube and the adipose tissues at the surgical site are maintained at approximately body temperature.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A liposuction method comprising the steps of:
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providing an elongate rigid tube having a distal end and a proximal end and an axially extending lumen; forming an incision in a skin surface of a patient; inserting only said tube through said incision into subcutaneous adipose tissues of the patient; upon insertion of said tube through said incision, generating an ultrasonic pressure wave at said proximal end of said tube; transmitting said ultrasonic wave through said tube to establish a longitudinal standing wave therein; producing cavitation bubbles at said distal end of said tube in response to said standing wave; by virtue of the production of said cavitation bubbles, liquefying adipose tissues of the patient at a surgical site located distally of said distal end; applying suction to said lumen, thereby aspirating the liquefied adipose tissues from said surgical site through said lumen; and maintaining said distal end and said adipose tissues at said surgical site at approximately body temperature during said steps of producing cavitation bubbles and liquefying. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A liposuction device comprising:
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an insertion instrument consisting essentially of an elongate rigid tube having a distal end, a proximal end, an external surface and an axially extending lumen with a distal mouth opening at said distal end; generating means operatively connected to said tube for generating an ultrasonic pressure wave and transmitting said ultrasonic wave through said tube to establish a longitudinal standing wave therein, said ultrasonic pressure wave having a characteristic frequency; suction means operatively connected to said tube at said proximal end for aspirating fluidic material through said lumen; and frequency tracking means operatively connected to said tube for monitoring changes in a resonant frequency thereof, said frequency tracking means being operatively connected to said generating means for modifying said characteristic frequency to correspond to said resonant frequency. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A liposuction device comprising:
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an elongate rigid tube having a distal end, a proximal end, an external surface and an axially extending lumen with a distal mouth opening; generating means operatively connected to said tube for generating an ultrasonic pressure wave and transmitting said ultrasonic wave through said tube to establish a longitudinal standing wave therein; suction means operatively connected to said tube at said proximal end for aspirating fluidic material through said lumen; first measuring means operatively connected to said tube for determining an amplitude of reciprocating motion of said distal end of said tube during generation of said ultrasonic wave; first display means operatively connected to said first measuring means for displaying any of a multiplicity of possible measured amplitudes in a readable form; second measuring means operatively connected to said generating means for measuring power output thereof during use of said tube to liquefy fatty tissues; and second display means operatively connected to said second measuring means for displaying any of a multiplicity of possible measured power outputs in a readable form. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25)
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24. A liposuction device for removing adipose tissue, comprising:
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an elongate rigid tube having a distal end, a proximal end, a smooth continuous external surface and an axially extending lumen with a distal mouth opening located in a transverse plane at said distal end, said tube being made of a substance selected from the group of titanium alloy and aluminum, said tube having a blunt edge at said distal end, said edge surrounding said mouth opening; generating means operatively connected to said tube for generating an ultrasonic pressure wave having a characteristic frequency between approximately 18 kHz and 26 KHz and transmitting said ultrasonic wave through said tube to establish a standing wave therein; suction means operatively connected to said tube at said proximal end for aspirating fluidic material through said lumen; and frequency tracking means operatively connected to said tube for monitoring changes in a resonant frequency thereof, said frequency tracking means being operatively connected to said generating means for modifying said characteristic frequency to correspond to said resonant frequency, said smooth continuous external surface of said tube, said frequency tracking means, the operation of said generating means at a relatively low frequency between approximately 18 and 26 KHz, and the material of said tube all serving in part to maintain said distal end and adipose tissues at a surgical site located distally of said distal end at approximately body temperature during a generation of said standing wave and removal of adipose tissues in a lipectomy procedure.
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26. A liposuction method comprising the steps of:
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providing an elongate rigid tube having a distal end and a proximal end and an axially extending lumen; forming an incision in a skin surface of a patient; inserting said tube through said incision into subcutaneous adipose tissues of the patient; upon insertion of said tube through said incision, generating an ultrasonic pressure wave at said proximal end of said tube; transmitting said ultrasonic wave through said tube to establish a longitudinal standing wave therein, said distal end undergoing a reciprocating motion due to said standing wave; liquefying adipose tissues of the patient at a surgical site located distally of said distal end; applying suction to said lumen, thereby aspirating the liquefied adipose tissues from said surgical site through said lumen; and monitoring amplitude of said reciprocating motion and power consumed to maintain said standing wave during said steps of transmitting and liquefying to thereby determine a rate of fat removal. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A liposuction method comprising the steps of:
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providing an elongate rigid tube having a distal end and a proximal end and an axially extending lumen; forming an incision in a skin surface of a patient; inserting said tube through said incision into subcutaneous adipose tissues of the patient; upon insertion of said tube through said incision, generating an ultrasonic pressure wave at said proximal end of said tube; transmitting said ultrasonic wave through said tube to establish a longitudinal standing wave therein; liquefying adipose tissues of the patient at a surgical site located distally of said distal end; applying suction to said lumen, thereby aspirating the liquefied adipose tissues from said surgical site through said lumen; automatically measuring a resonant frequency of said tube during said steps of transmitting and liquefying; and in response to detecting changes in said resonant frequency during said step of measuring, automatically modifying a characteristic frequency of said ultrasonic pressure wave to correspond to said resonant frequency.
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Specification