Power-assisted liposuction instrument with cauterizing cannula assembly

• US 6,394,973 B1
• Filed: 02/18/2000
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert L. Cucin
• Original Assignee: Robert L. Cucin
• Inventors: Cucin, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dawson, Glenn K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAYNARD, JENNIFER J
• Application Number:
  US09/507,266
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 604/22,35,119,268,902 606/167,170,171,177,50
• US Class Current: 604/22
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32002 with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0014 removed from the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/08 Lipoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/106 reciprocating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 604/902 Suction wands

Abstract

A method and apparatus is disclosed for mechanically-assisted liposuction treatment. The apparatus includes a hand-holdable housing, an electro-cauterizing cannula assembly, and a reciprocation mechanism. The hand-holdable housing has a cavity adaptable for receipt of a portion of the electro-cauterizing cannula assembly. The electro-cauterizing cannula assembly has a distal end and a proximal end and at least one aspiration aperture about the distal end. The reciprocation mechanism is disposed within the housing and is operably associated with either the cannula so that the cannulas can be selectively caused to reciprocate relative to the housing. As the cannula is caused to reciprocate relative to the housing, the aspiration aperture formed through the distal end of the cannula assembly is caused to undergo periodic displacement. During aspiration of tissue, high-voltage RF power signal supplied to an electro-cauterizing electrode structure formed about each reciprocating aspiration aperture to effect hemostasis thereabout. Such hemostasis is achieved by causing protein molecules within aspirated tissue to coagulate in response to the high-voltage RF signal being supplied across the electro-cauterizing electrode. In the preferred embodiments, the amount and rate of such aspiration aperture displacement is controllably adjustable. The cannula assembly is releasably detachable from the hand-holdable housing to facilitate cleaning and sterilization of the cannula assembly and the housing.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in liposuction treatment of tissue on a patient operably connected to an electrical grounding plate, which comprises:

a hand-holdable housing having a longitudinal axis;

a reciprocation mechanism disposed within said hand-supportable housing;

a hollow cannula operably connectable to said hand-holdable housing and said reciprocation mechanism and having a distal end, a proximal end, and a suction aperture disposed about said distal end, said proximal end further including an outlet port and a continuous passageway which communicates said suction aperture with said outlet port;

said reciprocation mechanism automatically reciprocating said hollow cannula relative to said hand-supportable housing along said longitudinal axis so that the location of aspiration through said suction aperture is periodically displaced along said longitudinal axis, while permitting aspiration through said suction aperture, along said continuous passageway, and out of said outlet port;

a radio-frequency (RF) power supply terminal disposed within said hand-holdable housing, for supplying to said hollow cannula, during liposuction operations, RF power signals produced by a RF power signal generator; and

a cauterizing electrode provided about said suction aperture and electrically connected to said RF power supply terminal, for conducting said RF power signals about said suction aperture and through tissue being aspirated through said suction aperture while tissue is maintained at electrical ground potential by means of an electrical grounding plate connected to the patient, and thereby effecting coagulation of protein molecules within the tissue being aspirated through said suction aperture.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said hollow cannula further comprises a cannula base extending from said proximal end and being adapted for releasably connecting to said hand-holdable housing, and

wherein said hollow cannula is operably associated with said reciprocation mechanism by way of an actuator disposed in said hand-holdable housing and reciprocatable by said reciprocation mechanism.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said hollow cannula is made from an electrically conductive material capable of conducting said RF power signals therealong to regions proximate said suction aperture during liposuction operations;

and

wherein said hollow cannula further comprises electrical insulation material applied over the outer surface of said hollow cannula.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said electrical isolation material comprises a coating of electrically insulating material applied to the outer surface of said hollow cannula.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said hollow cannula is electrically non-conductive, and wherein said hollow cannula further includes a cannula base having an electrical element for conducting said RF power signals from said RF power supply terminal to said cauterizing electrode.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, which further comprises said RF power signal generator.

7. A hand-supportable liposuction instrument for aspirating tissue on a patient operably connected to an electrical grounding plate, which comprises:

a hand-holdable housing having a longitudinal axis;

a reciprocation mechanism disposed within said hand-supportable housing;

a hollow cannula operably connectable to said hand-holdable housing and said reciprocation mechanism and having a distal end, a proximal end, and a suction aperture disposed about said distal end, said proximal end further including an outlet port and a continuous passageway which communicates said suction aperture with said outlet port;

said reciprocation mechanism automatically reciprocating said hollow cannula relative to said hand-supportable housing along said longitudinal axis so that the location of aspiration through said suction aperture is periodically displaced along said longitudinal axis, while permitting aspiration through said suction aperture, along said continuous passageway, and out of said outlet port;

a radio-frequency (RF) power supply terminal disposed within said hand-holdable housing, for supplying to said hollow cannula, during liposuction operations, RF power signals produced by a RF power signal generator; and

a cauterizing electrode provided about said suction aperture and electrically connected to said RF power supply terminal, for conducting said RF power signals about said suction aperture and through tissue being aspirated through said suction aperture while tissue is maintained at electrical ground potential by means of an electrical grounding plate connected to the patient, and thereby effecting coagulation of protein molecules within the tissue being aspirated through said suction aperture.

8. The hand-supportable liposuction instrument of claim 7, which further comprises said RF power signal generator.

9. The hand-supportable liposuction instrument of claim 7, wherein said hollow cannula further comprises a cannula base extending from said proximal end and being adapted for releasably connecting to said hand-holdable housing, and

wherein said hollow cannula is operably associated with said reciprocation mechanism by way of an actuator disposed in said hand-holdable housing and reciprocatable by said reciprocation mechanism.

10. The hand-supportable liposuction instrument of claim 7, wherein said hollow cannula is made from an electrically conductive material capable of conducting said RF power signals therealong to regions proximate said suction aperture during liposuction operations;

and

wherein said hollow cannula further comprises electrical insulation material applied over the outer surface of said hollow cannula.

11. The hand-supportable liposuction instrument of claim 10, wherein said electrical isolation material comprises a coating of electrically insulating material applied to the outer surface of said hollow cannula.

12. The hand-supportable liposuction instrument of claim 7, wherein said hollow cannula is electrically non-conductive, and wherein said hollow cannula further includes a cannula base having an electrical element for conducting said RF power signals from said RF power supply terminal to said cauterizing electrode.