Skin protector for ultrasonic-assisted liposuction and accessories

• US 5,651,773 A
• Filed: 01/19/1996
• Issued: 07/29/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Larry C. Perry, Maxwell G. Patrick
• Original Assignee: Larry C. Perry, Maxwell G. Patrick
• Inventors: Maxwell, G. Patrick, Perry, Larry C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yasko, John D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RODRIGUEZ, CRIS LOIREN
• Application Number:
  US08/588,615
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 604/19, 604/21, 604/174, 604/175, 604/164, 604/264, 604/902, 604/283, 604/905, 604/268, 604/273, 604/274, 604/104
• US Class Current: 604/174
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3417 Details of tips or shafts, e.g. grooves, expandable, bendable; Multiple coaxial sliding cannulas, e.g. for dilating syringe needles A61M5/32; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00845 of moving parts with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32007 with suction or vacuum means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/349 Trocar with thread on outside
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3492 against the outside of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/08021 of the patient or his organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0261 Means for anchoring port to the body, or ports having a special shape or being made of a specific material to allow easy implantation/integration in the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2039/0291 method or device for implanting it in the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0014 removed from the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/08 Lipoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/10 with powered movement mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/0247 Semi-permanent or permanent transcutaneous or percutaneous access sites to the inside of the body peritoneal dialysis catheters A61M1/285; tracheostomy devices A61M16/0465; measuring pressure within the body A61B5/03; colostomy devices A61F5/445; gastrotomy feeding tubes A61J15/0015; means for fixing a feeding tube outside of the body A61J15/0053
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/905 Aseptic connectors or couplings, e.g. frangible, piercable

Abstract

A skin protector and accessories for protection of the skin incision during ultrasonic-assisted liposuction from thermal and frictional abrasion includes a skin protector made from sterilizable material which resists deformation and incorporates an outer configuration to assist in maintaining in situ positioning of the skin protector during operative procedure. An introducer member for blunt dissection of a tunnel is provided to allow easy insertion of the skin protector and ultrasonic probe. A driver member for dilatation of the skin incision, and for insertion and removal of the skin protector is also provided to assist in the use of the skin protector, properly speaking.

Claims

1. A skin protector, especially for protecting the skin incision from thermal and frictional abrasion during ultrasonic-assisted liposuction, comprising a skin protector body including first means forming a lower part for insertion into the incisions and second means forming an upper part intended to remain external of the skin and including limiting means for limiting the insertion depth of the skin protector into the incision, said body being provided with a substantially aligned through-bore defining an axial direction, and connecting means enabling connection of said through-bore with a suction line, said connecting means extending at an angle to said axial direction from said second means and being provided with a connecting bore angularly disposed to said axial direction and in communication with said through-bore, and said aligned through-bore having a diametric dimension sufficiently large to receive an ultrasonic probe.

2. A skin protector according to claim 1, wherein said limiting means includes a surface means expected to face the skin and having a cross-sectional area larger than the cross-sectional area through said lower part at a substantially right angle to the axial direction.

3. A skin protector according to claim 2, wherein said upper part has a lower end surface, and wherein said surface means is formed directly on the upper part by the lower end surface thereof.

4. A skin protector according to claim 2, wherein said surface means is formed by an annular disk-like part between said upper and lower parts.

5. A skin protector according to claim 1, wherein said skin protector further comprises anchoring means for lessening the likelihood of an unintentional withdrawal of the skin protector out of the incision.

6. A skin protector according to claim 5, wherein said anchoring means is formed by a textured outer surface of the lower part.

7. A skin protector according to claim 5, wherein said lower part has an outer surface, and a free end and wherein said anchoring means includes at least one rib-like means provided over at least a portion of the outer surface of the lower part.

8. A skin protector according to claim 7, wherein said rib-like means is spaced from said limiting means by a distance corresponding approximately to the thickness of the skin consisting of the epidermis and dermis.

9. A skin protector according to claim 7, wherein said rib-like means is spirally shaped commencing in the area of the free end of the lower part and spirally extending about said lower part in the direction toward the upper part.

10. A skin protector according to claim 9, wherein said spirally shaped rib-like means terminates at a distance from said limiting means corresponding approximately to the thickness of the skin consisting of epidermis and dermis.

11. A skin protector according to claim 1, wherein said connecting means includes a nipple connected to said upper part by a swivel joint.

12. A skin protector according to claim 11, wherein said upper part has a stub-like connecting portion of cylindrical shape which forms internally part of the swivel joint.

13. A skin protector according to claim 1, wherein said lower part is of cylindrical shape.

14. A skin protector according to claim 1, wherein said upper part is one of cylindrical and polygonal shape in cross section transverse to the axial direction.

15. A skin protector according to claim 1, wherein the upper and lower parts of said skin protector body as well as the connecting means are made from an autoclavable plastic material.

16. A skin protector according to claim 1, wherein said upper part includes a stub-like connecting portion, and wherein said connecting means includes a nipple operable to be connected to said stub-like connecting portion of the upper part by a swivel joint, said limiting means including an annular disk-like part between said upper and lower parts, and wherein said skin protector is made of an autoclavable plastic material.

17. A skin protector according to claim 16, wherein said skin protector further comprises anchoring means for lessening the likelihood of an unintentional withdrawal of the skin protector out of the incision.

18. A skin protector according to claim 17, wherein said anchoring means is formed by a textured outer surface of the lower part.

19. A skin protector according to claim 17, wherein the lower part has an outer surface and said anchoring means is formed by one of a rib-like means extending about at least a part of the outer surface of the lower part or a textured surface on at least a part of the outer surface of the lower part.

20. A skin protector according to claim 19, wherein said rib-like means is spaced from said limiting means by a distance corresponding approximately to the thickness of the skin consisting of the epidermis and dermis.

21. A skin protector according to claim 19, wherein said rib-like means is spirally shaped commencing in the area of the free end of the lower part and spirally extending about said lower part in the direction toward the upper part.