Ultrasonic medical treatment device for RF cauterization and related method

• US 6,902,536 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2003
• Issued: 06/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Misonix OPCO LLC
• Original Assignee: Milsonix Incorporated
• Inventors: Darian, Alexander L., Manna, Ronald R., Voic, Dan, Isola, Scott, Novak, Theodore A. D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Roy D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROANE, AARON F
• Application Number:
  US10/715,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20040073209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 601/2, 601/3, 604/21, 604/22, 606/27, 606/41, 606 48- 52
• US Class Current: 601/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/14 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/148 having a short, rigid shaft for accessing the inner body transcutaneously, e.g. for neurosurgery or arthroscopy
• 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 2018/00434 Neural system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00595 Cauterization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0063 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1467 using more than two electrodes on a single probe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1475 Electrodes retractable in or deployable from a housing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/002 Irrigation

Abstract

An ultrasonic medical treatment device has a casing, an elongate probe, a transducer assembly, a sheath and at least one electrode member. The probe is mounted to and extends from the casing and has an axis and a free end serving as an operative tip. The transducer assembly is mounted to the casing and is operatively connected to the probe for generating vibrations of at least one ultrasonic frequency in the probe. The sheath surrounds the probe. The electrode member is connectable to an RF voltage source and is mounted at least indirectly to the casing so as to permit relative motion between the electrode member and the probe.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic medical treatment device comprising:

a casing;

an elongate probe mounted to and extending from said casing, said probe having an axis and a free end serving as an operative tip;

transducer assembly mounted to said casing and operatively connected to said probe for generating vibrations of at least one ultrasonic frequency in said probe;

a sheath surrounding said probe; and

at least one electrode member attached to said sheath, said electrode member being connectable to an RF voltage source,

said electrode member being one of at least two electrode members, at least one of said electrode members being hingedly secured to said sheath, further comprising at least one actuator operatively connected to said one of said electrode members for pivoting said one of said electrode members towards the other of said electrode members.

2. The medical treatment device defined in claim 1 wherein said sheath is formed with a plurality of pairs of parallel slots defining respective hinged fingers, said electrode members being mounted to respective ones of said hinged fingers.

3. The medical treatment device defined in claim 2 wherein said electrode members are at least partially embedded in said fingers.

4. The medical treatment device defined in claim 1 wherein said actuator is a manually engageable protuberance.

5. The medical treatment device defined in claim 1 where the other of said electrode members is said probe.

6. An ultrasonic medical treatment device comprising:

a casing;

an elongate probe mounted to and extending from said casing, said probe having an axis and a free end serving as an operative tip;

a transducer assembly mounted to said casing and operatively connected to said probe for generating vibrations of at least one ultrasonic frequency in said probe; and

at least one electrode member connectable to an RF voltage source, said electrode member being mounted at least indirectly to said casing so as to permit relative transverse motion of a distal end of said electrode member relative to said probe, thereby permitting an adjustment in the distance between the distal end of said electrode member and an axis of said probe.

7. The medical treatment device defined in claim 6, further comprising a sheath surrounding said probe, said sheath being connected to said casing, said electrode member being hingedly secured to said sheath, further comprising at least one actuator operatively connected to said electrode member for pivoting said electrode member towards said axis of said probe.

8. The medical treatment device defined in claim 7 wherein said sheath is formed with at least one pair of parallel slots defining a hinged finger, said electrode member being mounted to said hinged finger.

9. The medical treatment device defined in claim 8 wherein said electrode member is at least partially embedded in said finger.

10. The medical treatment device defined in claim 7 wherein said actuator is a manual protuberance.

11. The medical treatment device defined in claim 10 wherein said sheath is longitudinally shiftable relative to said probe, said protuberance being operatively connected to said sheath to enable a sliding of said sheath alternately in opposite directions along said axis of said probe.

12. The medical treatment device defined in claim 6, further comprising a sheath at least partially surrounding said probe, said sheath being connected to said casing, said electrode member being substantially embedded in said sheath and having an exposed tip proximate to said operative tip of said probe.

13. The medical treatment device defined in claim 6 wherein said probe is also an electrode operative with said electrode member to perform bipolar electrocautery.

14. The medical treatment device defined in claim 6 wherein said electrode member is a monopolar electrode member connectable to an RF power supply for the performance of monopolar electrocautery.