Retractable ultrasonic endoscopic aspirator

• US 8,187,168 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2008
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David George Wuchinich
• Original Assignee: David George Wuchinich
• Inventors: Wuchinich, David George
• Primary Examiner(s): Sweet, Thomas J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nia, Alireza
• Application Number:
  US12/217,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20090018490A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,422 Days
• Field of Search: 600/105, 600/135, 600/439
• US Class Current: 600/105
• 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 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32007 with suction or vacuum means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320082 for incising tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00029 open
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00982 combined with or comprising means for visual or photographic inspections inside the body, e.g. endoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/361 Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras

Abstract

A surgical instrument comprising a sleeve, a electro-mechanical transducer containing a hollow passage for producing mechanical vibrations in response to a magnetic field, an ultrasonic horn mechanically connected to the transducer, containing a hollow passage communicating with that in the transducer, for amplifying the produced vibration such that dissection of biological tissue is produced and a tip having a hollow passage, mechanically connected to the horn and whose passage communicates with that in the horn, for contacting such tissue, connection of the passage to a source of vacuum and a sheath connected to the instrument and surrounding the tip and horn, with a connection to a source of irrigating fluid and a structure for mounting the transducer and horn within the sleeve permitting retracting and extension of the transducer and horn within and with respect to the sheath. The transducer, horn and tip are immersed in the irrigating solution. The instrument may also include a telescope for viewing the tissue contacting site and provision for electrifying the tip with electro-cauterizing current as well as provision for the use of endo-laser fulguration of the site.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument comprises:

a sleeve;

a power source mounted outside of said sleeve for generating a magnetic field within said sleeve;

an ultrasonic transducer in said sleeve, said transducer including a vibration source within said sleeve for generating mechanical vibrations in response to the magnetic field applied thereto by said power source, said vibration source being supported within said sleeve at a point where essentially no vibration occurs;

a horn attached to said transducer operatively associated with and vibrated by said vibration source and supported within said sleeve at a point where essentially no vibration motion occurs;

a tip operatively associated with said horn and vibrated by said horn, said tip having a terminus for extending outside of said sleeve and contacting tissue;

said transducer with its said vibration source and said horn and said tip being longitudinally mounted within said sleeve for extending and retracting motion within said sleeve while said tip is vibrating independently of said sleeve, said extending and retracting motion being an axial movement which is relative to said power source;

irrigating structure communicating with said sleeve for irrigating a work site having the tissue contacted by said tip and for irrigating said vibration source with fluid to contact said vibration source and the tissue;

aspiration structure communicating with said sleeve for withdrawing irrigation fluid and removed biological material from the tissue; and

viewing structure for visualizing said tip and the tissue;

wherein said power source is an electric coil positioned about the outside of said sleeve, said sleeve being made of non-electrically conductive material, and the energy being transferred to said transducer by the magnetic field produced by said electric coil without direct electrical contact.

2. A surgical instrument of claim 1 where said vibration source is made of a high nickel alloy sheet material.

3. A surgical instrument of claim 1 where said vibration source is made of ferrite material.

4. A surgical instrument of claim 1 where said viewing structure includes a telescope.

5. A surgical instrument of claim 1 where said vibration source is made of permanickle a high nickel alloy sheet material.

6. A surgical instrument of claim 1 where said vibration source is made of ferrite material.

7. A surgical instrument of claim 1 where said viewing structure includes a telescope.

8. A surgical instrument of claim 1 where said transducer is constructed of a spirally rolled magnetostrictive sheet.

9. A surgical instrument of claim 1 where structure is in said sleeve for applying electro-cautery current to said tip.

10. A surgical instrument of claim 1 where said transducer is a layered magnetostrictive metal spiraled about a central hollow core.

11. A surgical instrument of claim 1 where said transducer is constructed of tubular ferro-ceramic material.

12. A surgical instrument of claim 10 where said vibration source is made of a high nickel alloy sheet material.

13. A surgical instrument of claim 11 where said vibration source is made of ferrite material.

14. A surgical instrument of claim 11 where said viewing structure includes a telescope.

15. A surgical instrument of claim 10 where said viewing structure includes a telescope.