Inductively heated multi-mode ultrasonic surgical tool

• US 8,523,851 B2
• Filed: 12/24/2009
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Domain Surgical, Inc (OmniGuide Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Domain Surgical, Inc (OmniGuide Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Manwaring, Kim, McNally, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda
• Assistant Examiner(s): DELLA, JAYMI E
• Application Number:
  US12/647,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20100268216A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,349 Days
• Field of Search: 606/47, 606/31, 606/27, 606169-171, 607/103, 607/113, 607/96, 433/86, 433/119
• US Class Current: 606/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• 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 17/3211 Surgical scalpels, knives; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/04 by heating by applying electromagnetic radiation A61B18/18; hyperthermia using electric or magnetic fields, radiation or ultrasound A61N
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/08 by means of electrically-heated probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/082 Probes or electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/085 Forceps, scissors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/10 Power sources therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1206 Generators therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00141 continuous, e.g. wave
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00876 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00973 pedal-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32007 with suction or vacuum means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320082 for incising tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00077 high, i.e. electrically conducting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00095 high, i.e. heat conducting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00107 Coatings on the energy applicator
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0013 non-sticking
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00577 : Ablation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00589 : Coagulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00595 : Cauterization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00601 : Cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00619 : Welding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 : with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00654 : with individual control of each of a plurality of energy emitting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00702 : Power or energy
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00714 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00755 : Resistance or impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00791 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00803 : with temperature prediction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00958 : for switching between different working modes of the main function
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/128 : generating two or more frequencies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1407 : Loop
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1412 : Blade
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/00 : Catheters; Hollow probes dilators A61M29/00; peritoneal catheters A61M1/285; tracheal tubes A61M16/04; for drainage A61M27/00; for uterus, vagina or rectum A61M31/00 ; for measuring or testing A61B; materials for catheters A61L29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0082 : Catheter tip comprising a tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49124 : On flat or curved insulated base, e.g., printed circuit, etc.

Abstract

Thermal, electrosurgical and mechanical modalities may be combined in a surgical tool. Potentially damaging effects in a first modality may be minimized by using a secondary modality. In one example, thermal hemostasis may thus help electrosurgical applications avoid the adverse tissue effects associated with hemostatic monopolar electrosurgical waveforms while retaining the benefits of using monopolar incising waveforms.

Claims

1. A multi-mode adjustable surgical tool comprising:

a body configured to oscillate;

a conductor placed along at least a portion of the body the conductor having a cross-sectional diameter;

a ferromagnetic coating covering a portion of the conductor, the ferromagnetic coating have a thickness less than about 20 percent of the cross-sectional diameter of the conductor such that the ferromagnetic coating will not fracture when subjected to environmental temperature differentials which would cause a ferrite bead to fracture; and

a power source configured for delivering oscillating electrical energy to the conductor.

2. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 1, wherein the body comprises an ultrasonic horn.

3. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 1, wherein oscillating electrical energy delivered by the power source causes the body to oscillate and causes the ferromagnetic coating to heat.

4. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 3, wherein the power source is configured to create a first signal for causing heating of the ferromagnetic coating and a second signal for driving the body to independently provide energy to oscillate the body and energy to heat the ferromagnetic coating.

5. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 4, wherein the power source is configured to operate the first signal and the second signal during overlapping periods of time.

6. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 4, wherein the power source is configured to operate the first signal and the second signal during separate periods of time.

7. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 1, wherein the body has a bore.

8. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 7, wherein the body has a plurality of bores.

9. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 8, wherein a first bore of the plurality of bores is configured to aspirate and a second bore of the plurality of bores is configured to irrigate.

10. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 1, wherein the power source further comprises power settings corresponding to desired tissue effects.

11. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 1, wherein the ferromagnetic coating has a thickness between 0.05 micrometers and 500 micrometers.

12. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 11, wherein the ferromagnetic coating has a thickness between 1 micrometer and 50 micrometers.

13. A multi-mode surgical tool comprising an ultrasonic transducer and a thermal element, the thermal element comprising a conductor having a cross-sectional thickness and a ferromagnetic coating disposed on the conductor, the ferromagnetic coating having a thickness of less than about 50 percent of the cross-sectional thickness of the conductor such that the thermal element may be heated and immersed in liquid while still heated without fracturing.

14. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 13, wherein the ultrasonic transducer further comprises a piezoelectric transducer.

15. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 13, further comprising a power source for generating a multiplexed signal.

16. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 15, wherein the multiplexed signal comprises an ultrasonic signal.

17. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 16, wherein the multiplexed signal comprises an inductive heating signal.

18. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 17, wherein the inductive heating signal is between 5 MHz and 24 GHz.

19. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 18, wherein the inductive heating signal is between 40 MHz and 928 MHz.

20. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 13, wherein the cross-sectional thickness of the conductor of between 0.01 millimeters and 1 millimeter and wherein the ferromagnetic coating has a thickness of between 0.05 micrometers and 500 micrometers.

21. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 20, wherein the ferromagnetic coating has a thickness between 1 micrometer and 50 micrometers.

22. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 13, wherein the electrical conductor has a cross-sectional thickness of between 0.01 millimeters and 1 millimeter and wherein the ferromagnetic coating has a thickness of between 1 micrometer and 50 micrometers.

23. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 22, wherein the thickness of the ferromagnetic coating is between 0.1 and 20 percent the cross-sectional thickness of the electrical conductor.

24. A multi-mode surgical tool comprising:

a tip comprising;

an electrical conductor;

an ultrasonic transducer; and

a ferromagnetic coating covering at least a portion of the electrical conductor, the ferromagnetic coating having a thickness between 0.05 micrometers and 500 micrometers, and wherein the thickness of the ferromagnetic coating is between about 0.1% and 20 percent of a cross-sectional diameter of the electrical conductor.

25. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 24, further comprising means for generating a multiplexed signal.

26. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 24, comprising an oscillating body and wherein the tip is part of the oscillating body.

27. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 26, wherein the oscillating body further comprises an ultrasonic horn.

28. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 24, wherein the oscillating body comprises an aspirating bore.

29. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 24, wherein the cross-sectional diameter of the electrical conductor is between 0.01 millimeters and 1 millimeter and wherein the thickness of the ferromagnetic coating is between 0.05 micrometers and 200 micrometers.

30. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 29, wherein the thickness of the ferromagnetic coating is such that the ferromagnetic coating will not fracture when heated in air and then immersed in liquid while still heated.

31. A multi-mode surgical tool comprising:

a lesioning probe having a tip comprising an electrical conductor and a ferromagnetic coating covering a portion of the electrical conductor; and

an ultrasonic transducer, wherein the ferromagnetic coating is less than 50 micrometers thick and capable of being heated and then immersed in liquid while heated without cracking.

32. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 31, further comprising a power source configured for delivering an oscillating current to the tip.

33. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 32, further comprising a second tip, wherein the second tip comprises a sensor.

34. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 33, wherein the power source is configured to react to the sensor.

35. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 33, wherein the sensor is configured to measure temperature.

36. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 33, wherein the sensor is configured to measure transferred heat.

37. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 33, wherein the sensor is configured to measure tissue properties.

38. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 33, wherein the sensor is configured to allow visual observation of tissue.

39. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 32, wherein the power source is configured to measure a temperature indicator of the ferromagnetic coating and adjust an output to maintain a predetermined therapeutic temperature range in tissue.

40. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 31, where the tip of the multi-mode surgical tool is coated with a thin layer of high temperature resistant, non-stick material.

41. The multi-mode surgical tool of claim 31, where the tip of the multi-mode surgical tool is covered by a thermally conductive, biocompatible material.

42. A thermally adjustable multi-mode surgical tool comprising:

a cable;

a small diameter electrical conductor having a proximal and distal end, the small diameter electrical conductor having a cross-sectional diameter wherein the proximal end is configured to receive radiofrequency energy from the cable;

a thin plating of ferromagnetic material disposed circumferentially about the small diameter electrical conductor, wherein the thin plating of ferromagnetic material is configured with a Curie point sufficiently high to encompass a desired set of therapeutic temperature ranges, the thin plating of ferromagnetic material having a thickness of less than about 20 percent the cross-sectional diameter of the small diameter electrical conductor; and

an ultrasonic element connected to and configured to receive power from the cable and configured to release ultrasonic energy into nearby tissue.

43. The thermally adjustable multi-mode surgical tool of claim 42, wherein the electrical conductor has a cross-sectional thickness of between 0.01 millimeters and 1 millimeter and wherein the ferromagnetic coating has a thickness of between 0.05 micrometers and 200 micrometers.

44. The thermally adjustable multi-mode surgical tool of claim 43, wherein the thickness of the ferromagnetic coating is between 1 micrometer and 50 micrometers.