Ultrasound treatment system

• US 6,056,735 A
• Filed: 09/26/1997
• Issued: 05/02/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Sakurai, Tomohisa, Ishikawa, Manabu, Honda, Yoshitaka, Okada, Mitsumasa, Sugai, Toshiya
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaworski, Francis J.
• Application Number:
  US08/938,523
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 604/22, 604/48, 601/2, 606/169, 606/166, 606/170-171, 606/1
• US Class Current: 606/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320092 with additional movable means for clamping or cutting tissue, e.g. with a pivoting jaw
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1445 at the distal end of a shaft, e.g. forceps or scissors at the end of a rigid rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1482 having a long rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously in minimal invasive surgery, e.g. laparoscopy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2929 with a head rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320073 probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320075 single edge blade, e.g. for cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320084 Irrigation sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320088 with acoustic insulation, e.g. elements for damping vibrations between horn and surrounding sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320094 additional movable means performing clamping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320095 with sealing or cauterizing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/007 with irrigation system

Abstract

An ultrasound treatment system in accordance with the present invention comprises: ultrasonic transducers for generating ultrasonic vibrations; a handpiece including the ultrasonic transducers and serving as an operation unit; a probe connected to the ultrasonic transducers and serving as a vibration conveyer for conveying ultrasonic transducers to a distal member constituting a stationary section of a treatment unit used to treat a living tissue; a sheath serving as a protective member for shielding the probe; a holding member opposed to the distal member at the distal end of the sheath and constituting a movable section of the treatment unit which clamps a living tissue in cooperation with the distal member; a manipulator to be handled for clamping or freeing a living tissue using the holding member and distal member; an operation member for driving the holding member responsively to a movement of the manipulator; and a turning mechanism for turning the treatment unit relative to the manipulator with the axial direction of the ultrasonic transducers as a center.

Claims

1. An ultrasound treatment system, comprising:

ultrasonic transducers for generating ultrasonic vibrations;

a handpiece including said ultrasonic transducers and serving as an operation unit;

a probe connected to said ultrasonic transducers, and serving as a vibration conveying means for conveying ultrasonic vibrations to a distal member constituting a stationary section of a treatment unit used to treat a living tissue;

a sheath serving as a protective member for shielding said probe;

a holding member opposed to said distal member at the distal end of said sheath, and constituting a movable section of said treatment unit which clamps a living tissue in cooperation with said distal member;

a manipulating means to be handled for clamping or freeing a living tissue using said holding member and distal member;

an operation member for driving said holding member responsively to a movement of said manipulating means; and

a turning mechanism for turning said treatment unit relative to said manipulating means with the axial direction of said ultrasonic transducers as a center.

2. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 1, wherein said treatment unit turns together with said probe and handpiece with respect to the center axis of said probe.

3. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 1, wherein said holding member turns with respect to the center axis of said probe.

4. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 3, wherein said probe is shaped like a turnable body capable of turning with respect to the axis of said probe.

5. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 3, wherein said operation member is a rod-like member;

and when said manipulating means is used to advance or withdraw said operation member, said holding member turns.

6. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 5, wherein said rod-like member and probe are coupled with each other by a coupling member located at at least one position.

7. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 6, wherein said coupling member is a sliding member.

8. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 7, wherein said coupling member is made of a fluorocarbon resin material.

9. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 6, wherein said coupling member and probe are detachable.

10. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 6 or 9, wherein said coupling member and operation member are detachable.

11. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 9, wherein the attachment or detachment of said coupling member and probe, and the attachment or detachment of said coupling member and operation member can be achieved with one touch.

12. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 6, wherein said coupling member is located in the vicinity of a node of vibrations of said probe.

13. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 3, where in said operation member is a cylindrical member enclosing said probe.

14. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 13, further comprising an anti-turn means for preventing turning of said operation member and coupling member.

15. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 3, further comprising a protective member for shielding said probe and operation member.

16. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 15, further comprising a anti-turn means for preventing turning of a coupling member and said protective member.

17. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 1,5 further comprising an anti-turn means for preventing turning of said protective member and connecting member.

18. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 15, wherein a turning means is located at the back end of said protective member.

19. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 15, further comprising an anti-turn means for preventing turning of said protective member and operation member.

20. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 3, wherein a connecting member to be locked in said manipulating means is located at the back end of said operation member.

21. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an operation member, of which center axis is different from said center axis of said probe, for driving said holding member responsively to a movement of said manipulating means;

driving members driving said operation member, having sections thereof shaped circularly with respect to said center axis of said probe, and placed in said operation unit; and

driving pins engaged with said driving members for driving them, and placed along the outer circumferences of said driving members so that said driving members can turn freely with said center axis of said probe as a center;

wherein

said driving pins are driven with a drive given by said operation member.

22. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 1 or 21, wherein a channel in which said operation member is placed and a channel in which said probe is placed are formed as independent channels within said sheath.

23. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 1 or 21, wherein when said turning mechanism is used for turning, said sheath turns in an interlocked manner.

24. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 1 or 21, further comprising a manipulation knob used for turning and located on said sheath or handpiece.

25. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 1 or 21, further comprising a fixing means, interposed between said sheath or handpiece and said manipulation means, for fixing an angle of a turn at any position during turning.

26. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 25, wherein said fixing means is a click mechanism in which a concave or convex part of said sheath or handpiece is engaged with a concave or convex part of said manipulation means.

27. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 25, wherein said fixing means comprises a plane formed on said sheath, handpiece, or manipulating means and having a concave part;

an engaging member located at a position opposed to said plane and engaged with said concave part; and

an elastic member pressing said engaging member toward said concave part.

28. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 25, further comprising a frictional force generating means, interposed between said sheath or handpiece and said manipulating means, for preventing an abrupt turn.

29. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 18, wherein said coupling member is located in the vicinity of a node of vibrations of said probe.

30. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 29, wherein said frictional force generating means comprises an O ring and a surface brought into contact with said O ring.

31. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 1, wherein said manipulating means for instructing an action of clamping or freeing to be performed by said holding member is an action instructing member;

and a connecting means is located at the end of said operation member, which conveys an action instruction from said action instructing member to said holding member, on the side of said operation unit, and said action instructing member in said operation unit is provided with locking means.

32. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 31, wherein a concave part is formed on said connecting means, and convex parts formed on said action instructing member are meshed with said concave part for locking.

33. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 31, wherein a convex part is formed on said connecting means, concave parts formed on said action instructing member are meshed with said convex part for locking.

34. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 31, wherein a concave part is formed on said connecting means, and a bar-like member formed on said action instructing member is inserted in said concave part for locking.

35. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 1, wherein said operation unit includes a stationary manipulation member molded unitedly with said operation unit and an action instructing member for instructing an action.

36. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 35, wherein said action instructing member is molded unitedly with said operation unit.

37. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a cautery knife signal supply means for supplying a cautery knife signal to said probe;

a sensing means for sensing a state in which said cautery knife signal is applied to said probe; and

a control means for performing the on-off operation of supply of a driving signal sent from a driving means, which causes said ultrasonic transducers to generate ultrasonic vibrations, according to a result provided by said sensing means.

38. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 37, further comprising a notifying means for notifying a result of sensing performed by said sensing means.

39. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 37, further comprising a notifying means for notifying a result of sensing performed by said sensing means, and a means for electrically separating said probe from said driving means.

53. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 1 or 40, wherein the tip of either of said distal member and holding member has a convex shape, and the other one has a concave shape to be engaged with said convex shape.

54. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 53, wherein said convex direction of said convex shape corresponds to a movable direction of said holding member.

55. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 53, wherein said distal member or holding member having said concave shape has a slit extending to the tip thereof.

56. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 55, wherein said distal member or holding member having said convex shape has the same length as said slit ditch.

57. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 53, wherein said distal member and holding member have holding surfaces, which can clamp a living tissue, as at least parts of them.

40. An ultrasound treatment system, comprising:

a handpiece including ultrasonic transducers for generating ultrasonic vibrations, and serving as an operation unit;

a sheath coupled with said handpiece;

a distal member exposed from the distal end of said sheath and used to impose ultrasonic vibrations on a living tissue for a treatment;

a probe inserted in said sheath, and serving as a vibration conveying member for conveying ultrasonic vibrations stemming from said ultrasonic transducers to said distal member;

a holding member, opposed to said distal member, for clamping or freeing a living tissue in cooperation with said distal member;

an operation member, inserted in said sheath, for conveying a manipulation instruction from said operation unit to said holding member so as to move said holding member for clamping or freeing; and

a guard member, located on the opposite side of said distal member exposed from said sheath relative to said holding member, for covering the side of said distal member not opposed to a living tissue to be treated.

41. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 40, said distal member is fixed to said sheath.

42. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 40, wherein said guard member is formed as part of said sheath by stretching the distal end of said sheath.

43. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 40, wherein said guard member is formed with a different member from said sheath.

44. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 40, wherein said guard member is formed with a different member from said sheath and set selectively at a required position away from the tip of said sheath.

45. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 44, wherein said guard member can slide freely on said sheath owing to a sliding mechanism.

46. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 44, wherein said guard member is detachable from said sheath and set selectively at a required position away from the tip of said sheath when needed.

47. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 40, further comprising a clamping force sensing means for sensing that a clamping force exerted to clamp a living tissue using said holding member has reached a given force, and a vibration generation control means for giving control so as to allow said ultrasonic transducers to generate vibrations according to a result output from said clamping force sensing means.

48. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 47, wherein said clamping force sensing means detects a force applied to said operation member.

49. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 47, wherein said clamping force sensing means senses a gripping force applied to a grip unit of a manipulation lever used to manipulate said operation member.

50. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 47, wherein said clamping force sensing means is a switch means that has a moving supporting point set on said operation member and that senses on the basis of the magnitude of a movement made by the supporting point if a clamping force exerted to clamp a living tissue using said holding member has reached a given force.

51. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 47, wherein said clamping force sensing means is a means that has a strain sensor placed on said holding member and that senses on the basis of the magnitude of a strain made by said strain sensor if a clamping force exerted to clamp a living tissue has reached a given force.

52. An ultrasound treatment system according to claim 47, wherein said clamping force sensing means is a pressure sensor located on said holding member.