Ultrasonic treatment device and ultrasonic treatment system

• US 7,449,004 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2004
• Issued: 11/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Original Assignee: Olympus Corporation
• Inventors: Takahashi, Hiroyuki, Ueno, Haruhiko, Nakamura, Takeaki, Suzuki, Keita, Yamada, Norihiro, Watanabe, Hiroyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Winakur; Eric F
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rozanski; Michael T
• Application Number:
  US10/925,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20050049525A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,540 Days
• Field of Search: 600/439, 600/462, 600/104, 600/106, 601/2, 601/3, 601/213
• US Class Current: 601/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2202 the ultrasound transducer being inside patient's body at the distal end of the catheter
• 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 2017/22027 Features of transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320089 node location
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320094 additional movable means performing clamping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/373 using light, e.g. by using optical scanners

Abstract

An ultrasonic transducer unit that generates ultrasonic vibration for treating living tissues has an ultrasonic transducer and a cover member that covers the ultrasonic transducer. A flexible sheath is coupled at one end to the cover member. A signal cable extends through the sheath and is connected at one end to the ultrasonic transducer. A transducer drive unit is connected to the other end of the signal cable. An operation unit is provided at the other end of the flexible sheath.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic treatment system having an ultrasonic treatment device, and an endoscope used in combination with the ultrasonic treatment device, said ultrasonic treatment device comprising:

an ultrasonic transducer unit having an ultrasonic transducer designed to treat a living tissue, and a cover member which covers the ultrasonic transducer;

a flexible sheath which has a distal end part and a proximal end part, the distal end part being coupled to the cover member;

a signal cable which has a distal end part and a proximal end part, the distal end part being connected to the ultrasonic transducer;

a transducer drive unit which is connected to the proximal end part of the signal cable and designed to generate a drive signal for driving the ultrasonic transducer;

an operation unit which is provided at the proximal end part of the sheath and designed to move the sheath, thereby to move the ultrasonic transducer unit in an axial direction of the sheath,

wherein the endoscope includes an elongate insertion unit which is to be inserted into a body cavity and which has at least one channel, the cover member and flexible sheath of the ultrasonic treatment device have outside diameters smaller than the inside diameter of the channel of the endoscope, and the ultrasonic transducer unit is designed to move into and from the channel of the endoscope when the operation unit is moved in the axial direction of the sheath;

the ultrasonic transducer has an axis, a main part, a horn and a treatment member, the horn having a distal end part and a proximal end part which is coupled to the main part, and being configured to amplify ultrasonic vibration generated by the main part, which is applied to the distal end part, and the treatment member being provided at the distal end part of the horn to abut on a living tissue to perform an ultrasonic treatment on the living tissue; and

the ultrasonic transducer unit has a fastening member which secures the cover member at a vibration node of the ultrasonic transducer.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the treatment member is located at a ¼

-wavelength distance from the fastening member which secures the cover member.