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US 5,449,370 AGranted
Blunt tipped ultrasonic trocar
AssigneeEthicon, Inc.
InventorJeffrey J. Vaitekunas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A blunt tipped trocar which uses ultrasonic energy in the form of vibrations to assist a user in penetrating tissue. In one embodiment of the invention, a feedback mechanism is provided which senses a variation in load on the trocar tip and adjusts the ultrasonic energy level of the vibrating tip in accordance with the load condition. Another embodiment of the invention provides a trocar with a self-contained ultrasonic generator.
Claims33
A trocar assembly comprising
- a cannula comprising a cannula handle and a cannula tube extending from said cannula handle;
- an obturator comprising:
- an ultrasonic transducer, a solid blunt puncturing tip and a shaft wherein said obturator is adapted to be inserted through said cannula tube;
- and
- a housing containing said ultrasonic transducer,
- wherein said shaft has a proximal end coupled to said transducer and a distal end coupled to said blunt tip;
- and
- wherein electrical energy is supplied to the transducer to cause the transducer to vibrate at a selected frequency and propagate vibrations along the shaft to the tip.
5 more elements
A trocar obturator for puncturing tissue to access a location for endoscopic surgery comprising:
- an ultrasonic transducer
- a solid blunt puncturing tip;
- and
- a shaft having a proximal end coupled to said transducer and a distal end coupled to said blunt tip;
- wherein electrical energy is supplied to the transducer to cause the transducer to vibrate at a selected frequency and propagate vibrations along the shaft to the tip.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.