Modulated pulsed ultrasound power delivery system and method

• US 20120010560A1
• Filed: 09/16/2011
• Published: 01/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Medical Optics Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Rockley, Paul W., Kadzlauskas, Kenneth E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,852,138 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/22
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00176 Two pulses, e.g. second pulse having an effect different from the first one
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00194 Means for setting or varying the repetition rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00666 using a threshold value
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00745 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/0215 for generating pulses, e.g. bursts of oscillations, envelopes
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/023 and stepped in amplitude, e.g. square wave, 2-level signal
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/0253 taken directly from the generator circuit
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/06 operating with piezoelectric effect or with electrostriction piezoelectric or electrostrictive devices per se H10N30/00
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 2201/76 Medical, dental
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0223 User address space allocation, e.g. contiguous or non contiguous base addressing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A method and apparatus for delivering energy during a surgical procedure such as phacoemulsification is provided. The method and apparatus include applying energy during at least one pulsed energy on period, typically sufficient or intended to rapidly induce and beneficially employ transient cavitation. Applying energy during the pulsed energy on period comprises applying energy during a first high energy period, and applying energy during a second nonzero lower energy period.

Claims

1. A method for delivering energy during a surgical procedure, comprising:

applying energy during a modulated energy delivery period, comprising;

applying energy during a plurality of short burst periods, said short burst periods comprising a high energy burst period followed a predetermined time thereafter by a nonzero low energy burst period.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is essentially zero.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said short burst periods further comprise a second nonzero low energy burst period.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein:

said nonzero low energy burst period comprises a first amplitude; and

said second nonzero low energy burst period comprises a second amplitude;

and said first and second amplitude are substantially different.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said nonzero low energy burst period comprises a first amplitude;

and

said second nonzero low energy burst period comprises a second amplitude;

and said first and second amplitude are substantially equal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the surgical procedure is performed in a surgical environment, and wherein applying energy during the short burst periods comprising a high energy burst period followed a predetermined time thereafter by a nonzero low energy burst period tends to induce transient cavitation in the surgical environment.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the high energy burst duration is at most approximately four milliseconds and said high energy burst induces transient cavitation.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the high energy burst duration is at most approximately two milliseconds and induces transient cavitation.

9. A surgical apparatus, comprising:

means for applying energy to an area, comprising;

means for applying modulated energy during a plurality of short burst periods, said short burst periods comprising a relatively high energy burst period followed a predetermined time thereafter by a nonzero relatively low energy burst period.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, said apparatus having the ability to operate in a surgical environment, wherein said energy applying means tends to induce transient cavitation within the surgical environment.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said means for applying modulated energy comprise means for delivering energy in said plurality of short burst periods interspersed by multiple de minimis power application periods.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said predetermined time is essentially zero.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said modulated energy application means further provides a subsequent nonzero relatively low energy burst period.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein amplitude of said subsequent nonzero relatively low energy burst period materially differs from amplitude of said nonzero relatively low energy burst period.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein amplitude of said subsequent nonzero relatively low energy burst period is substantially similar to amplitude of said nonzero relatively low energy burst period.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the relatively high energy burst produced by the modulated energy application means has a duration of at most approximately four milliseconds.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the relatively high energy burst produced by the modulated energy application means has a duration of at most approximately two milliseconds.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said means for applying comprise a phacoemulsification handpiece having a needle and electrical means for ultrasonically vibrating said needle.

19. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising engagement/disengagement means, wherein operation of the apparatus is engaged at a first desired time when energy application is desired and operation of the apparatus is disengaged at a second desired time when energy application is not desired.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said engagement/disengagement means comprises a switch.