Liposuction apparatus and associated method

A liposuction device comprising:

• an insertion instrument consisting essentially of an elongate rigid tube having a distal end, a proximal end, an external surface and an axially extending lumen with a distal mouth opening at said distal end;
• generating means operatively connected to said tube for generating an ultrasonic pressure wave and transmitting said ultrasonic wave through said tube to establish a longitudinal standing wave therein, said ultrasonic pressure wave having a characteristic frequency;
• suction means operatively connected to said tube at said proximal end for aspirating fluidic material through said lumen;
• and
• frequency tracking means operatively connected to said tube for monitoring changes in a resonant frequency thereof, said frequency tracking means being operatively connected to said generating means for modifying said characteristic frequency to correspond to said resonant frequency.

A liposuction device comprising:

• an elongate rigid tube having a distal end, a proximal end, an external surface and an axially extending lumen with a distal mouth opening;
• generating means operatively connected to said tube for generating an ultrasonic pressure wave and transmitting said ultrasonic wave through said tube to establish a longitudinal standing wave therein;
• suction means operatively connected to said tube at said proximal end for aspirating fluidic material through said lumen;
• first measuring means operatively connected to said tube for determining an amplitude of reciprocating motion of said distal end of said tube during generation of said ultrasonic wave;
• first display means operatively connected to said first measuring means for displaying any of a multiplicity of possible measured amplitudes in a readable form;
• second measuring means operatively connected to said generating means for measuring power output thereof during use of said tube to liquefy fatty tissues;
• and
• second display means operatively connected to said second measuring means for displaying any of a multiplicity of possible measured power outputs in a readable form.

A liposuction device for removing adipose tissue, comprising:

• an elongate rigid tube having a distal end, a proximal end, a smooth continuous external surface and an axially extending lumen with a distal mouth opening located in a transverse plane at said distal end, said tube being made of a substance selected from the group of titanium alloy and aluminum, said tube having a blunt edge at said distal end, said edge surrounding said mouth opening;
• generating means operatively connected to said tube for generating an ultrasonic pressure wave having a characteristic frequency between approximately 18 kHz and 26 KHz and transmitting said ultrasonic wave through said tube to establish a standing wave therein;
• suction means operatively connected to said tube at said proximal end for aspirating fluidic material through said lumen;
• and
• frequency tracking means operatively connected to said tube for monitoring changes in a resonant frequency thereof, said frequency tracking means being operatively connected to said generating means for modifying said characteristic frequency to correspond to said resonant frequency,
• said smooth continuous external surface of said tube, said frequency tracking means, the operation of said generating means at a relatively low frequency between approximately 18 and 26 KHz, and the material of said tube all serving in part to maintain said distal end and adipose tissues at a surgical site located distally of said distal end at approximately body temperature during a generation of said standing wave and removal of adipose tissues in a lipectomy procedure.

A liposuction method comprising the steps of:

• providing an elongate rigid tube having a distal end and a proximal end and an axially extending lumen;
• forming an incision in a skin surface of a patient;
• inserting said tube through said incision into subcutaneous adipose tissues of the patient;
• upon insertion of said tube through said incision, generating an ultrasonic pressure wave at said proximal end of said tube;
• transmitting said ultrasonic wave through said tube to establish a longitudinal standing wave therein, said distal end undergoing a reciprocating motion due to said standing wave;
• liquefying adipose tissues of the patient at a surgical site located distally of said distal end;
• applying suction to said lumen, thereby aspirating the liquefied adipose tissues from said surgical site through said lumen;
• and
• monitoring amplitude of said reciprocating motion and power consumed to maintain said standing wave during said steps of transmitting and liquefying to thereby determine a rate of fat removal.

A liposuction method comprising the steps of:

• providing an elongate rigid tube having a distal end and a proximal end and an axially extending lumen;
• forming an incision in a skin surface of a patient;
• inserting said tube through said incision into subcutaneous adipose tissues of the patient;
• upon insertion of said tube through said incision, generating an ultrasonic pressure wave at said proximal end of said tube;
• transmitting said ultrasonic wave through said tube to establish a longitudinal standing wave therein;
• liquefying adipose tissues of the patient at a surgical site located distally of said distal end;
• applying suction to said lumen, thereby aspirating the liquefied adipose tissues from said surgical site through said lumen;
• automatically measuring a resonant frequency of said tube during said steps of transmitting and liquefying;
• and
• in response to detecting changes in said resonant frequency during said step of measuring, automatically modifying a characteristic frequency of said ultrasonic pressure wave to correspond to said resonant frequency.