Apparatus for treating body tissue with ultrasound

• US 6,436,114 B1
• Filed: 08/08/2000
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Storz Endoskop GmbH
• Original Assignee: Storz Endoskop GmbH
• Inventors: Henes, Rudolf, Novak, Pavel, Krattiger, Beat
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Application Number:
  US09/634,309
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 606/169, 606/170, 606/171, 604/22
• US Class Current: 606/169
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/295 combined with cutting implements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• 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 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00353 one mechanical instrument performing multiple functions, e.g. cutting and grasping
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320075 single edge blade, e.g. for cutting
• 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

Abstract

An apparatus for treating body tissue with ultrasound is provided having a generator and means for transmitting ultrasound to the tissue. The apparatus comprises a hollow probe for suctioning off treated tissue. The hollow probe is provided with a cutting blade in the region of the distal end of the probe and grasping means having a first and a second jaw are provided.

Claims

1. An apparatus for treating a body tissue with ultrasound, comprising:

a generator for generating ultrasound,

means for transmitting said ultrasound generated by said generator to a body tissue, said means comprising

a hollow probe for suctioning off a treated tissue resulting from a treatment of said body tissue with said ultrasound,

a cutting blade provided at a distal end section of said hollow probe, said cutting blade projecting from said distal end of said hollow probe, and

grasping means provided at said distal end of said hollow probe, said grasping means having a first and a second jaw, said first saw of said grasping means being formed by said cutting blade.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said jaws of said grasping means are designed to perform a cutting action when grasping a body tissue.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cutting blade is an intergral part of said hollow probe.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cutting blade is designed as a projection of a wall of said hollow probe.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said jaws of said grasping means is shiftable along a longitudinal axis of said hollow probe, the second jaw is made of a super-elastic material, the second jaw is bent away from said first jaw in a position being pushed out of said hollow probe, and wherein said bent away second jaw is moved towards said first jaw when said second jaw is drawn into said hollow probe along said longitudinal axis.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein a guide element is provided in an interior of said hollow probe at a distal end section of said hollow probe, said guide element serves for guiding said second shiftable jaw when shifting along said hollow probe.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second jaw of said grasping means can be spread apart from said first jaw by a rotational movement of said second jaw about a rotation axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said hollow probe.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said hollow probe comprises an outer shaft, upon which outer shaft said second jaw is mounted pivotally.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said outer shaft is movable relative to said hollow probe, a movement of said outer shafts causes a pivotally movement of said second jaw.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said grasping means comprises a tube having a projection, said tube is received within an interior of said hollow probe, said hollow probe and said inner tube are rotatable relative to one another about a longitudinally axis of said tube, thereby said projection of said tube interacts with said cutting blade of said hollow probe in the sense of two jaws.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said projection of said inner tube is turnable into an angular position super positing said cutting blade of said probe resulting in a compact structure of said two closely adjacent arranged jaw members.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein side edges of said projection of said inner tube are formed to be sharp edges.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said hollow probe side has a connector for connecting said hollow probe to a high frequency current.