Microfabricated structure to be used in surgery

• US 5,728,089 A
• Filed: 10/31/1994
• Issued: 03/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Lal, Amit, White, Richard M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahr, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEFFLEY, MICHAEL F
• Application Number:
  US08/332,543
• Time in Patent Office: 1,233 Days
• Field of Search: 606/1, 606/38, 606/39, 606/41, 606/42, 606/45-48, 606/107, 606/167, 606/169-171, 601/2, 604/22, 128/662.05, 128/662.06, 128/662.03, 310/311, 310/321, 310/322, 310/334
• US Class Current: 606/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00345 Micromachines, nanomachines, microsystems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0088 ceramic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32007 with suction or vacuum means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320075 single edge blade, e.g. for cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320089 node location
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00107 Coatings on the energy applicator
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00119 with metal oxide nitride
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 3/00 Methods or apparatus specially adapted for transmitting mechanical vibrations of infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 11/08 using piezoelectric devices
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 9/122 using piezoelectric driving means G10K9/121 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 17/00 Piezoelectric transducers; Electrostrictive transducers piezoelectric or electrostrictive elements in general H10N30/00; details of piezoelectric or electrostrictive motors, generators or positioners H10N30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 17/08 signals being recorded or played back by vibration of a stylus in two orthogonal directions simultaneously

Abstract

A microstructure suitable for use as a surgical instrument. The microstructure includes a silicon substrate having body and horn portions. The horn portion may include a blade with a forward edge. A piezoelectric actuator may be mechanically coupled to the body portion.

Claims

1. A surgical tool, comprising:

(a) a casing;

(b) a cutter formed of a first and a second microstructure bonded together, each of said microstructures having;

(i) a substrate of a first semiconducting material, said substrate having a body portion and a horn portion projecting forward from said body portion,

(ii) said horn portion having a blade portion which is free to vibrate, said blade portion having a forward edge which is significantly thinner than said body portion, and said body portion having a top surface and a bottom surface,

(iii) a piezoelectric actuator for imparting mechanical energy to said blade portion, said piezoelectric actuator mechanically coupled to the top surface of said body portion, and piezoelectric actuator including a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and a piezoelectric layer between said first and second electrode layers, and

(iv) the bottom surfaces of the body portions of said first and second microstructures bonded together to form said cutter;

(c) means for mounting said cutter in said casing;

(d) means for supplying power to said first and second electrode layers; and

(e) means for controlling said power supply means.

2. The tool of claim 1 wherein the respective bottom surfaces of the body portions of the first and second microstructures have a channel running lengthwise from the front to the back of said body portions, said first and second microstructures bonded so the channels are aligned to form a conduit for disposing of debris, said conduit running lengthwise from the front to the back of said cutter.

3. The tool of claim 2 further including

a pump providing suction;

and

a tube inside said casing connecting the back end of said conduit to said pump to suck debris into said conduit.