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US 6,440,103 B1Granted
Method and apparatus for thermal emulsification
AssigneeSurgiJet, Inc.
InventorsLarry L. Hood, Rex E. Doherty, William T. Hood
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A medical device that can emulsify tissue with a heated fluid. The device may include an active heating element that is located within an inner channel at a distal end of a cannula. The cannula is adapted to be inserted into tissue such as a cornea. The active heating element can provide heat to a fluid that flows through the inner channel. The heat can be transferred into a bolus of fluid that is periodically generated by a pump. The heated bolus is then directed onto tissue.
Claims78
A medical device that can be inserted into a tissue, comprising:
- a first sleeve that has a first inner channel that can receive a liquid at a proximal end and discharge the liquid at a distal end, said distal end of the first sleeve extending to a distal end of the medical device;
- a second sleeve which has a second inner channel, wherein said first sleeve is located within said second inner channel;
- a third sleeve that is adapted to be inserted into the tissue and which has a third inner channel, wherein said second sleeve is located within said third inner channel;
- and
- an active heating element adjacent said first sleeve at said distal end of said first sleeve to heat a bolus of the liquid immediately prior to discharge from said distal end of said first sleeve.
2 more elements
A medical system, comprising:
- a handpiece which has a cannula, said cannula having
- a first sleeve which has a first inner channel that can receive a liquid at a proximal end and discharge the liquid at a distal end, said distal end of the first sleeve extending to a distal end of the handpiece and an active heating element adjacent said first sleeve at said distal end of said first sleeve to heat a bolus of the liquid immediately prior to discharge from said distal end of said first sleeve, and
- a second sleeve which has a second inner channel, wherein said first sleeve is located within said second inner channel;
- a fluid subsystem connected to said proximal end of said first sleeve to provide the liquid to said first inner channel;
- and,
- a drive circuit that provides a current to said active heating element.
3 more elements
A method for emulsifying tissue, comprising:
- placing a first sleeve adjacent to the tissue, said first sleeve having a first inner channel;
- flowing a fluid through a second sleeve located within said first inner channel, said second sleeve having a second inner channel;
- and,
- generating heat within an active heating element located within said second inner channel so that heat is transferred into the fluid at a distal end of the second sleeve, wherein the heated fluid emulsifies tissue.
1 more element
A medical device that can be inserted into a tissue, comprising:
- a first sleeve that is adapted to be inserted into the tissue and which has an inner channel that can receive a fluid;
- an optical fiber which extends through said inner channel;
- and,
- an active heating element that is located within said inner channel and can heat the fluid, wherein said active heating element is porous, wherein said active heating element absorbs light that is transmitted by said optical fiber to heat said active heating element.
1 more element
A medical device that can be inserted into a tissue, comprising:
- a first sleeve that has a first inner channel that can receive a liquid at a proximal end and discharge the liquid at a distal end, said distal end of the first sleeve extending to a distal end of the medical device;
- a second sleeve that is adapted to be inserted into the tissue and which has a second inner channel, wherein said first sleeve is located within said second inner channel;
- an optical fiber which extends through said first inner channel;
- and,
- an active heating element adjacent said first sleeve at said distal end of said first sleeve to heat a bolus of the liquid immediately prior to discharge from said distal end of said first sleeve, wherein said active heating element absorbs light that is transmitted by said optical fiber to heat said active heating element.
2 more elements
A medical device that can be inserted into a tissue, comprising:
- a first sleeve that has a first inner channel that can receive a liquid at a proximal end and discharge the liquid at a distal end, said distal end of the first sleeve extending to a distal end of the medical a device;
- a second sleeve that is adapted to be inserted into the tissue and which has a second inner channel, wherein said first sleeve is located within said second inner channel;
- an active heating element adjacent said first sleeve at said distal end of said first sleeve to heat a bolus of the liquid immediately prior to discharge from said distal end of said first sleeve;
- and,
- a coil located adjacent to said active heating element, wherein said active heating element provides a resistance to a radio frequency current in said coil to heat said active heating element.
2 more elements
A medical device that can be inserted into a tissue, comprising:
- a first sleeve that has a first inner channel that can receive a liquid at a proximal end and discharge the liquid at a distal end, said distal end of the first sleeve extending to a distal end of the medical device;
- a second sleeve that is adapted to be inserted into the tissue and which has a second inner channel, wherein said first sleeve is located within said second inner channel;
- and
- an active heating element adjacent said first sleeve at said distal end of said first sleeve to heat a bolus of the liquid immediately prior to discharge from said distal end of said first sleeve, wherein said active heating element is porous.
1 more element
A medical system, comprising:
- a handpiece which has a cannula, said cannula having
- a first sleeve which has a first inner channel that can receive a liquid at a proximal end and discharge the liquid at a distal end, said distal end of the first sleeve extending to a distal end of the handpiece and an active heating element adjacent said first sleeve at said distal end of said first sleeve to heat a bolus of the liquid immediately prior to discharge from said distal end of said first sleeve,
- a second sleeve which has a second inner channel, wherein said first sleeve is located within said second inner channel, and
- a third sleeve which has a third inner channel, wherein said second sleeve is located within said third inner channel;
- a fluid subsystem that provides the liquid to said first inner channel;
- and,
- a drive circuit that provides a current to said active heating element.
4 more elements
A medical system, comprising:
- a handpiece which has a cannula, said cannula having
- a first sleeve which has a first inner channel that can receive a liquid at a proximal end and discharge the liquid at a distal end, said distal end of the first sleeve extending to a distal end of the handpiece and an active heating element adjacent said first sleeve at said distal end of said first sleeve to heat a bolus of the liquid immediately prior to discharge from said distal end of said first sleeve, and
- a second sleeve which has a second inner channel, wherein said first sleeve is located within said second inner channel;
- a fluid subsystem that provides the liquid to said first inner channel, said fluid subsystem including a bolus generator which generates the bolus of the liquid that flows across said active heating element, wherein said drive circuit provides a current to said active heating element so that heat is generated in said active heating element and transferred to the bolus of the liquid;
- a drive circuit that provides a current to said active heating element;
- and
- a control device that is coupled to said bolus generator and said drive circuit, said control device including a foot pedal.
4 more elements
A medical system, comprising:
- a handpiece which has a cannula, said cannula having
- a first sleeve which has a first inner channel that can receive a liquid at a proximal end and discharge the liquid at a distal end, said distal end of the first sleeve extending to a distal end of the handpiece,
- an active heating element adjacent said first sleeve at said distal end of said first sleeve to heat a bolus of the liquid immediately prior to discharge from said distal end of said first sleeve, said active heating element being porous, and
- a second sleeve which has a second inner channel, wherein said first sleeve is located within said second inner channel;
- a fluid subsystem that provides the liquid to said first inner channel;
- and,
- a drive circuit that provides a current to said active heating element.
4 more elements
A medical device that can be inserted into a tissue, comprising:
- a first sleeve that is adapted to be inserted into the tissue and which has an inner channel that can receive a fluid;
- an orifice located within said inner channel;
- an optical fiber which extends through said inner channel;
- and,
- an active heating element that is located within said inner channel and can heat the fluid, wherein said active heating element absorbs light that is transmitted by said optical fiber to heat said active heating element.
2 more elements
A medical device that can be inserted into a tissue, comprising:
- a first sleeve which has an inner channel that can receive a fluid;
- a second sleeve that is adapted to be inserted into the tissue and which has an inner channel, wherein said first sleeve is located within said inner channel of said second sleeve;
- an optical fiber which extends through said first inner channel;
- and,
- an active heating element that is located within said inner channel of said first sleeve and can heat the fluid, wherein said active heating element absorbs light that is transmitted by said optical fiber to heat said active heating element.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.