Improved ultrasonic knife
OwnerLarry L. Hoodinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is an improved ultrasonic knife of the type for surgical incision in various types of tissue and/or for the removal of cement within the body. The knife has a reduced thermal footprint to minimize thermally induced tissue damage. Tooth configuration on the knife cooperates with the stroke of the ultrasonic drive to produce efficient cutting, as well as tactile feedback to the surgeon with respect to the rate of cutting, and changes in tissue density. Ultrasonic knife tip extenders are also disclosed for advancing the ultrasonic knife tip through the working channel of an endoscope. Methods utilizing the foregoing apparatus are also disclosed.
Claims22
An ultrasonic knife, comprising:
- a source of ultrasonic vibrations;
- a knife blade coupled to the source;
- and
- a control for selectively causing the source to produce ultrasonic vibrations, thereby inducing reciprocal movement of the knife blade through a predetermined stroke length;
- said blade comprising at least two teeth defining a recess therebetween, wherein the distance between the two teeth is no more than about the predetermined stroke length.
A method of cavitation assisted surgery utilizing a surgical knife, comprising:
- providing an ultrasonic knife of the type having a source of ultrasonic vibrations , a knife blade coupled to the source, said knife blade having a surface texture comprising a plurality of rounded spherical or hemispherical irregularities, having a width of within the area of about 20 to about 100 microns, and a control for selectively causing the source to produce ultrasonic vibrations in the knife blade;
- activating the source to induct reciprocal movement of the knife blade throughout a predetermined axial stroke amplitude;
- contacting the blade with a tissue to be cut;
- inducing the formation of cavitation bubbles in the fluid media surrounding the knife blade;
- and
- permitting the cavitation bubbles to implode, thereby producing shockwaves for breaking the tissue bond adjacent a cutting edge of the knife blade.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.