Flexible ultrasonic surgical snare

• US 6,383,194 B1
• Filed: 02/26/2001
• Issued: 05/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Viswanadham Pothula
• Original Assignee: Viswanadham Pothula
• Inventors: Pothula, Viswanadham
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene, Pedro
• Application Number:
  US09/792,161
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 606/113, 606/110, 606/114, 606/46, 606/128, 606/131, 606/167, 604/22
• US Class Current: 606/113
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32056 Surgical snare instruments for removing or smashing calculi A61B2017/2212; tonsillotomes A61B17/26
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue

Abstract

An ultrasonically vibrating snare wire at the end of an elongate flexible waveguide can fit through an endoscope inserted in a patient'"'"'s intestine. The wire loop can be extended past the distal end of the endoscope to grasp a polyp projecting from the intestinal wall. While the wire is vibrating at ultrasonic frequency, the loop is closed. This cuts and coagulates the tissue to stop bleeding. The ultrasonic cutting is more localized than electrocautery for more precise excision.

Claims

1. A flexible ultrasonic surgical snare system comprising:

a) a housing;

b) an ultrasonic transducer affixed to the housing;

c) an elongate flexible sheath having a proximal end attached to the housing, and a distal end;

d) an elongate flexible ultrasonic waveguide passing through the sheath, the waveguide having a proximal end attached to the ultrasonic transducer for vibrating the waveguide, and a distal end;

e) a wire having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end affixed to the distal end of the waveguide for transmission of ultrasonic vibrations to the wire;

f) a loop in the wire intermediate the proximal and distal ends of the wire; and

g) loop controlling means at the housing attached to the distal end of the wire for enlarging the loop to grasp tissue and for closing the loop to thereby cut, and coagulate the tissue by moving the distal end of the wire relative to the proximal end of the wire.

2. A flexible ultrasonic surgical snare assembly for grasping, cutting, and coagulating tissues, the snare assembly comprising:

a) an ultrasonic vibration generator;

b) an elongate flexible sheath having a proximal end and a distal end;

c) an elongate flexible waveguide passing through the sheath, the waveguide having a proximal end coupled to the generator for transmission of vibrations thereto, and a distal end;

d) a wire having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the distal end of the waveguide for transmission of ultrasonic vibrations to the wire;

e) a loop in the wire intermediate the first and second ends; and

f) loop controlling means operable from the proximal end of the sheath for enlarging the loop to grasp tissue and for closing the loop to thereby cut, and coagulate the tissue, in which the loop controlling means opens and closes the loop by moving the second end of the wire relative to the proximal end of the wire.

3. A flexible ultrasonic surgical snare assembly for grasping cutting and coagulating tissues, the snare assembly comprising:

a) an ultrasonic vibration generator;

b) an elongate flexible sheath having a proximal end and a distal end,;

c) an elongate flexible waveguide passing through the sheath, the waveguide having a proximal end coupled to the generator for transmission of vibrations thereto, and a distal end;

d) a wire having two legs with one of the legs coupled to the distal end of the waveguide for transmission of ultrasonic vibrations thereto

e) a loop formed in the wire intermediate the two legs; and

f) loop controlling means operable from the proximal end of the sheath for enlarging the loop to grasp tissue and for closing the loop to thereby cut, and coagulate the tissue, in which the loop controlling means opens and closes the loop in the wire by moving the other leg relative to the one leg of the wire.