Tissue-retaining systems for ultrasound medical treatment

• US 9,005,144 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2012
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inder Raj Makin, Michael H. Slayton, Richard C. Pellegrino, Robert Dunki-Jacobs
• Original Assignee: Inder Raj Makin, Michael H. Slayton, Richard C. Pellegrino, Robert Dunki-Jacobs
• Inventors: Slayton, Michael H., Makin, Inder Raj, Dunki-Jacobs, Robert, Pellegrino, Richard C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Roy, Baisakhi
• Application Number:
  US13/719,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20130226040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 600/437, 600/439, 600/459, 600462-464, 600/466, 601/2, 601/3
• US Class Current: 601/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0233 Pointed or sharp biopsy instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22012 in direct contact with, or very close to, the obstruction or concrement for removing obstructions in blood vessels by laser A61B18/245
• 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 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320093 additional movable means performing cutting operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3784 both receiver and transmitter being in the instrument or receiver being also transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3929 Active markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3975 active
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/445 Details of catheter construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4488 the transducer being a phased array
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0078 with multiple treatment transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/022 intracavitary

Abstract

An ultrasound medical treatment system includes an end effector insertable into a patient. The end effector includes a tissue-retaining device. The tissue-retaining device includes a first tissue-retaining member having an ultrasound medical-treatment transducer and includes a second tissue-retaining member. The first and second tissue-retaining members are operatively connected together to retain patient tissue between the first and second tissue-retaining members and to release patient tissue so retained. In one example, the second tissue-retaining member has an ultrasound reflector. In the same or a different example, the ultrasound medical-treatment transducer is an ultrasound imaging and medical-treatment transducer.

Claims

1. A method for ultrasound medical treatment of a patient using an ultrasound medical treatment system, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing an end effector insertable into a patient, wherein the end effector includes a tissue-retaining device, wherein the tissue-retaining device includes a first tissue-retaining member having an ultrasound imaging and medical-treatment transducer and includes a second tissue-retaining member, and wherein the first and second tissue-retaining members are operatively connected together to retain patient tissue between the first and second tissue retaining members and to release patient tissue so retained, wherein the first tissue-retaining member is a distal end portion of a first tube, wherein a second tube is oriented parallel to the first tube, wherein a first and second link members pivotally attached to the first tissue-retaining member and to the second tube at pivot points creating a hinged parallelogram defined by a proximal portion of the first tissue-retaining member, a distal portion of the second tube, and the first and second link members, and a cable operatively connected to the hinged parallelogram to move the second tissue-retaining member toward and away from the first tissue-retaining member;

b) endoscopically inserting the end effector into an ear, a nose, or a throat of the patient;

c) guiding the end effector in the patient;

d) identifying patient tissue for medical treatment at least in part from ultrasound imaging using the transducer;

e) retaining the identified patient tissue using the tissue-retaining device;

f) directing Ultrasound energy from the transducer into the patient tissue;

g) focusing the ultrasound energy into the identified patient tissue; and

h) medically treating the retained patient tissue with the ultrasound energy.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the identified patient tissue is retained between the transducer and the second tissue-retaining member.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the end effector is an open-surgery end effector, an endoscopic end effector, a laparoscopic end effector, a catheter end effector, or a needle end effector.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second tissue-retaining member is substantially ultrasonically non-reflective.

5. A method for ultrasound medical treatment of a patient using the ultrasound medical treatment system, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing an end effector insertable into a patient, wherein the end effector includes a tissue-retaining device, wherein the tissue-retaining device includes a first tissue-retaining member having an ultrasound imaging and medical-treatment transducer and includes a second tissue-retaining member, and wherein the first and second tissue-retaining members are operatively connected together to retain an intervertebral disk between the first and second tissue retaining members and to release the intervertebral disk so retained, wherein the first tissue-retaining member is a distal end portion of a first tube, wherein a second tube is oriented parallel to the first tube, wherein a first and second link members pivotally attached to the first tissue-retaining member and to the second tube at pivot points creating a hinged parallelogram defined by a proximal portion of the first tissue-retaining member, a distal portion of the second tube, and the first and second link members, and a cable operatively connected to the hinged parallelogram to move the second tissue-retaining member toward and away from the first tissue-retaining member;

b) inserting an end effector into the patient;

c) retaining the intervertebral disk of the patient with the tissue-retaining device, wherein the intervertebral disk comprising tissue;

d) directing ultrasound energy from the transducer into the tissue;

e) focusing the ultrasound energy into the identified patient tissue; and

f) medically treating the retained intervertebral disk with the ultrasound energy to shrink the tissue.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising identifying the tissue for medical treatment at least in part from ultrasound imaging using the transducer.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the intervertebral disk comprising the tissue is retained between the transducer and the second tissue-retaining member.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the end effector is an open-surgery end effector, an endoscopic end effector, a laparoscopic end effector, a catheter end effector, or a needle end effector.

9. The method according to claim 5, wherein the second tissue-retaining member is substantially ultrasonically non-reflective.

10. A method for ultrasound medical treatment of a patient using the ultrasound medical treatment system, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing an end effector insertable into a patient, wherein the end effector includes a tissue-retaining device, wherein the tissue-retaining device includes a first tissue-retaining member having an ultrasound imaging and medical-treatment transducer and includes a second tissue-retaining member, and wherein the first and second tissue-retaining members are operatively connected together to retain a joint between the first and second tissue retaining members and to release the joint so retained, wherein the first tissue-retaining member is a distal end portion of a first tube, wherein a second tube is oriented parallel to the first tube, wherein a first and second link members pivotally attached to the first tissue-retaining member and to the second tube at pivot points creating a hinged parallelogram defined by a proximal portion of the first tissue-retaining member, a distal portion of the second tube, and the first and second link members, and a cable operatively connected to the hinged parallelogram to move the second tissue-retaining member toward and away from the first tissue-retaining member;

b) inserting the end effector into the patient;

c) retaining the joint of the patient with the tissue-retaining device, wherein the joint comprising tissue;

d) focusing the ultrasound energy into the identified patient tissue; and

e) medically treating the retained joint with ultrasound to shrink the tissue using the transducer.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising identifying the tissue for medical treatment at least in part from ultrasound imaging using the transducer.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the joint comprising the tissue is retained between the transducer and the second tissue-retaining member.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the end effector is an open-surgery end effector, an endoscopic end effector, a laparoscopic end effector, a catheter end effector, or a needle end effector.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the second tissue-retaining member is substantially ultrasonically non-reflective.