Method for repairing tissue defects using ultrasonic radio frequency energy

• US 6,257,241 B1
• Filed: 03/31/1999
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Wampler, Scott D.
• Primary Examiner(s): McDermott, Corrine
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARRETT, THOMAS C
• Application Number:
  US09/283,819
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 623/66.1, 128/898
• US Class Current: 128/898
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00504 Tissue welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0063 Implantable repair or support meshes, e.g. hernia meshes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

Abstract

A method of repairing a defect in tissue includes the steps of placing a prosthetic over a tissue defect and against surrounding tissue. The prosthetic is then embedded into the surrounding tissue by an application of pressure and ultrasonic energy to the prosthetic and the surrounding tissue on at least one location on the prosthetic and surrounding tissue. The embedded prosthetic is then welded into surrounding tissue by an application of pressure and Radio Frequency energy on the same location.

Claims

1. A method for repairing a defect in tissue comprising the steps of:

a) placing a prosthetic over a tissue defect and against surrounding tissue;

b) embedding a prosthetic into surrounding tissue by a first application of pressure and ultrasonic energy to said prosthetic and said surrounding tissue on at least one location on said prosthetic and said surrounding tissue; and

c) welding said embedded prosthetic into said surrounding tissue by an application of pressure and Radio Frequency energy on said at least one location.

2. The method of claim 1 including applying said first application of pressure and ultrasonic energy to said prosthetic and said surrounding tissue at a plurality of locations on said prosthetic and said surrounding tissue.

3. The method of claim 2 including applying Radio Frequency energy to said prosthetic and said surrounding tissue at said plurality of locations.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said ultrasonic energy is applied at a frequency between 20 kHz to 250 kHz.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said ultrasonic energy is applied at a frequency between 54 kHz and 56 kHz.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein said application of pressure and ultrasonic energy to said prosthetic and said surrounding tissue emulsifies said surrounding tissue and embeds said prosthetic into emulsified surrounding tissue.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein said application of pressure and Radio Frequency energy to said embedded prosthetic and said emulsified surrounding tissue converts said emulsified surrounding tissue into coagulated surrounding tissue and welds said coagulated surrounding tissue around said embedded prosthetic and to said surrounding tissue.

8. The method of claim 7 including applying said pressure and ultrasonic energy to said prosthetic and said surrounding tissue at a plurality of locations on said prosthetic and said surrounding tissue.

9. The method of claim 8 including applying pressure and Radio Frequency energy to said prosthetic and said surrounding tissue at said plurality of locations.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said ultrasonic energy is applied at a frequency between 20 kHz to 250 kHz.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said ultrasonic energy is applied at a frequency between 54 kHz and 56 kHz.