Ultrasonic medical device for tissue remodeling

• US 6,695,781 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2001
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cybersonics, Inc
• Original Assignee: OmniSonics Medical Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Hare, Bradley A., Rabiner, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): MANTIS MERCADER, ELENI M
• Application Number:
  US09/917,471
• Publication Number:
  US 20020029054A1
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 600/104, 600/121, 600/122, 600/123, 600/135, 600/139, 600/140, 600/141, 600/153, 600/154, 600/155, 600/156, 600/160-165, 600/439, 600/437, 601/2-4, 606/169, 606/46, 606/171, 606/180, 604/22
• US Class Current: 600/439
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320068 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic A61B17/22012 takes precedence; dental tooth drilling devices operated by vibration A61C3/03; removing intra-ocular material using mechanical vibrations A61F9/00745
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00137 Details of operation mode
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00274 Prostate operation, e.g. prostatectomy, turp, bhp treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00477 Coupling A61B2017/0046 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22007 Cavitation or pseudocavitation, i.e. creation of gas bubbles generating a secondary shock wave when collapsing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22008 used or promoted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22018 segmented along its length
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32007 with suction or vacuum means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320084 Irrigation sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320089 node location
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00547 Prostate
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0008 Destruction of fat cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/022 intracavitary

Abstract

A method for destructing, reducing or removing mammalian tissue with an ultrasonic device IS disclosed, comprising contacting the tissue with a transverse mode ultrasonic probe, and transmitting ultrasonic energy to the probe, until the tissue is fragmented by emulsification. The probe can be used with acoustic and/or aspirations sheaths to enhance destruction and removal of an occlusion and in combination with an imaging device to effect remodeling of human tissue in medical and cosmetic surgical procedures.

Claims

1. A method of destructing, reducing or removing tissue with an ultrasonic device comprising a transducer capable of providing an ultrasonic excitation signal to a probe, said probe having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, coupled to said transducer, said probe capable of transverse vibrations along its longitudinal axis, comprising the steps of:

i) placing the probe in contact with the tissue;

ii) providing an ultrasonic electrical excitation signal to said ultrasonic device and providing a means for transferring the signal to a flexible probe tip to cause transverse vibration of said probe and the generation of a plurality of transverse vibration anti-nodes of cavitation energy along the longitudinal axis of said probe; and

iii) fragmenting or emulsifying the tissue with the cavitation energy emitted by said probe.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising placing the probe at least partially within a sheath assembly consisting of at least one sheath.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising positioning said probe and sheath assembly having at least one fenestration such that said fenestration is in proximity with the tissue.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising removing fragments of the tissue through an aspiration means of the sheath assembly.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising supplying an irrigating fluid to the site of tissue removal through a fluid conduit of the sheath assembly to provide an irrigation means.

6. The method of claim 2 further comprising positioning said probe proximal to said tissue through an imaging means of the sheath assembly.

7. The method of claim 2 further comprising manipulating the probe and the sheath assembly through an articulation means of the sheath assembly.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the tissue is adipose tissue.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the tissue is a benign cyst or cellular growth in a human breast.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the tissue is part of the eyelid or ocular sac.

11. An ultrasonic medical device comprising:

a probe having a distal end, a proximal end and an axial length therebetween; and

a diameter of the probe that is tapered from the proximal end of the probe to the distal end of the probe,

wherein the probe supports a transverse ultrasonic vibration along at least a portion of the axial length of the probe, producing a plurality of transverse vibration anti-nodes along at least a portion of the axial length of the probe.

12. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 11 wherein the probe has a small cross sectional profile that allows insertion of the ultrasonic medical device into a vasculature.

13. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 11 wherein the probe is axially movably mounted within an aspiration sheath, the aspiration sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, and an axial length therebetween.

14. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 11 further comprising a probe tip capable of moving axially inward and outward relative to the distal end of an aspiration sheath.

15. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 14 wherein the probe tip is a ball shaped projection from the distal end of the probe.

16. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 11 wherein the probe includes a groove for aspiration of a material from a treatment site.

17. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 11 wherein the transverse ultrasonic vibration of the probe provides a plurality of anti-nodes along at least a portion of the axial length of the probe.

18. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 11 wherein the probe comprises a titanium alloy.

19. The ultrasonic medical device of claim 11 wherein a flexibility of the probe allows the probe to be articulated.

20. A medical device comprising:

a flexible probe having a distal end, a proximal end and an axial length therebetween; and

a probe tip extending from the distal end of the probe,

wherein the probe is capable of flexing to support a transverse ultrasonic vibration along at least a portion of the axial length of the probe, producing a plurality of transverse vibration anti-nodes along at least a portion of the axial length of the probe.

21. The medical device of claim 20 wherein the flexible probe has a small cross sectional profile that allows insertion of the flexible probe into a treatment site.

22. The medical device of claim 20 wherein the flexible probe is axially movably mounted within an aspiration sheath, the aspiration sheath having a proximal end, a distal end, and an axial length therebetween.

23. The medical device of claim 20 wherein the probe tip is capable of moving axially inward and outward relative to the distal end of an aspiration sheath.

24. The medical device of claim 20 wherein the probe tip is a ball shaped projection from the distal end of the flexible probe.

25. The medical device of claim 20 wherein the flexible probe includes a groove for aspiration of a material from a treatment site.

26. The medical device of claim 20 wherein the transverse ultrasonic vibration of the flexible probe provides a plurality of anti-nodes along at least a portion of the axial length of the flexible probe.

27. The medical device of claim 20 wherein the flexible probe comprises a titanium alloy.

28. The medical device of claim 20 wherein the flexibility of the probe allows the probe to be articulated.