Title of Invention

ULTRASONIC SURGICAL TOOL

Abstract

The tool comprises an ultrasonic vibration generator (12,14) and a waveguide (13) operativcly connected thereto at one end. The distal end of the waveguide (13) is provided with cutting and/or coagulating means (17,22). A shroud (15) is adapted to surround and isolate the waveguide (13), and an actuating rod (16) surrounds the shroud (15), or vice versa. The shroud and actuating rod are detachably connected at their proximal ends to the generator.

Full Text

ULTRASONIC SURGICAL TOOL The present invention relates to an ultrasonic surgical tool. More particularly, but not exclusively :t relates to a tool for use in a laparoscopic cutting/coagulating system, which is adapted to w.t soft material such as flesh or blood vessels Such tool are known from our co-pending international application number PCT/GB99/C0162 This application describes an apparatus adapted to utilise ultrasonic vibrations in a torsional mode, and this is preferred for the present invention However, the present invention is not limited to torsional mode vibrations. The above application describes an apparatus in which the ultrasonic vibrations are transmitted nlong an elongate waveguide to a distal end provided with cutting and/or coagulating reans A shroud surrounds the waveguide and is isolated from the vibration thereof The cutting and/or coagulating means comprises a torsionally vibratable clement connected to the waveguide in combination with a static non-vibratable element connected to the shroud This static element roay be brought into and out of engagement with the vibratable element by means of an actuating rod extending concentrically within or as part of the shroud The actuating rod is connected at its proximal end to a scissors grip or other type of operating mechanism. One disadvantage of such systems lies in the fact that, at the distal end of the apparatus, it comprises a waveguide, surrounded coaxially by an actuating rod which in turn is surrounded coaxially by the shroud. When operating on a patient, bodily fluids at positive pressures may find their way into these concentric spaces, as may some body solids It is then very difficuli: to clean the apparatus. It would be advantageous if it were to be possible to detach and discard the shroud and actuating rod to be replaced by a fresh combination It is an object of the present invention to provide an ultrasonic surgical tool which is provided with a disposable shroud system which can be easily and quickly detached from the apparatus and replace 1 quickly and easily by a replacement shroud According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a surgical tool comprising means to generate ultrasonic vibrations, a waveguide operatively connected at a proximal etui to said generating means and extending to a distal end provided with cutting and/or coagulating means, shroud means adapted to surround and isolate said waveguide, and actuating md means coextensive with said shroud means, said shroud means and said actuating rod means being detachably connected at their proximal ends to said generating means. Preferably, said generating means comprises a conversion horn and at least one axial mode driver mounted substantially tangentially thereto, whereby torsional mode vibrations are produced The cutting and/or coagulating means may comprise a torsionally vibratabJe element connected n said waveguide in combination with a static non-vibratabie element which is so mounted to said shroud means that it is isolated from said ultrasonic vibrations The actuating rod means may be so connected at its distal end to said static element as to cause pivoed movement thereof into and out of engagement with said vibratabJe element The actuaing rod means may be detachably connected at its proximal end to manually operable means, optionally a pair of scissors type grips connected by rack and pinion mears to said actuating rod means The actuiiing rod means preferably comprises a tubular member surrounding said waveguide The sbroud means may also comprise a tubular member and in this case one of the tubular members r. ay be polygonal in cross-section and be adapted to contact an inner surface of the other tubunr member, which is substantially cylindrical only at apices of said polygon The shrouc means and actuating rod means may be detachably connected together to said generating means by a connector means. This conieotor means may be a nut and may also comprise a projecting detent resiliency deformable cut of engagement to allow separation According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shroud means including acuating rod means for detachable connection to a surgical tool including a waveguide opcratively connected at a proximal end to means to generate ultrasonic vibrations An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example and with reference to the accompany drawing, in which: - Figure 1 shows a tool embodying the present invention in separated condition Referring now to the drawing, the ultrasonic surgical tool comprises a handle section, including a chassis 1, right 2 and left 3 connecting rods, which are attached respectively tc right 6 and left 7 handlebows The configuration of these bows is not critical and othei variations are possible, such as are described in our co-pending UK patent application number 9906701.9. The bows 6 and 7 are connected to the chassis 1 by means of respective pivot pins 8 and 9 and connecting rod drive pins 10 and 11 An ultrasor to piezo electric ceramic transducer 14 is mounted tangentially to a conversion horn 12 to form a generator of ultrasonic vibrations in torsional mode. Such vibrations are transmitted to waveguide 13 which has at its distal end a vibratable pan of the cutting and/or coagulating means 22 The generator 12. 14 is mounted to the chassis 1. An outer throud 16 acting as an actuating rod is adapted to surround an inner shroud 15, the pair being isolated from the waveguide 13 by PTFE bushes 18 and 19 at proximal and distal ends of the combined shroud. Both shrouds are preferably thin walled tubes of stainless steel, although other materials may be used. The shrouds 15, 16 are connected to the chassis via the inter tabular member 15 of the shroud which may be connected to a quick release mechanisni - which is itself attached to chassis 1. A flexible protruding tongue 21 of the inner shroud 15 is biased to spring outwardly so that, once the tube has been inserted into the quick release member 4, it will maintain the inner shroud 15 locked in position When butron 20 on the rember 4 is depressed, the tongue 21 becomes disengaged which enables the inner shroud 15 o be detached from the release member 4. In order to prevent accidental disengagen ?nt. a nut 5 engages around the outer shroud 16 to hold both that and the inner shroud 15 to engagement with the quick release member 4 A hinged aw 17 is attached to be supported by the inner shroud 15 and actuated by movement of the outer shroud 16, or alternatively to be supported by the outer shroud )6 md actuated by movement of the inner shroud 15. In use, once the concentric spaces between the waveguide 13 and inner 15 and outer l6 shroud menbers have become clogged with body fluids or solids, the assembly of inner 15 and outer 16 shroud members and jaw 17 may be removed from the handle and generator by unscrewing the nut 5 and depressing the button 20 They may then be discarded. I CLAIM 1. A surgical tool comprising means to generate ultrasonic vibrations (12, 14), a waveguide (13) operatively connected at a proximal end to said generating means (12, 14) and extending to a distal end provided with cutting and/or coagulating means (17, 22), shroud means (15) adapted to surround and isolate said waveguide (13), actuating rod means (16) extending coextensive with said shroud means (15) and manually operable means (2, 3, 6, 7) to control said actuating rod means (16), characterized in that said shroud means (15) and said actuating rod means (16) are detachably connectable at their proximal ends to said generating means (12, 14) and to said manually operable means (2, 3, 6, 7). 2. A surgical tool as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the shroud means (15) and the actuating rod means (16) are together detachably connected to said generating means (12, 14) and said manually operable means (2, 3, 6, 7) by connector means. 3. A surgical tool as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the connector means comprises a nut (5) and a projecting detent (21) resiliently deformable out of engagement to allow separation. 4. A surgical tool as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the manually operable means comprise a pair of scissors type grips (6, 7) and rack and pinion means (2, 3) and is detechably connected to said actuating rod means (16). 5. A surgical tool as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cutting and/or coagulating means (17, 22) comprises hameostatic cutting means. 6. A surgical tool as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cutting and/or coagulating means (17, 22) comprises an ultrasonically vibratable element (22) connected to said waveguide (13) in combination with a non-vibratable static element (17) which is so mounted to said shroud means (15) that it is generally isolated from said ultrasonic vibrations, and wherein the actuating rod means (16) is so connected at its distal end to said non-vibratable static element (17) as to cause pivotal movement thereof into and out of engagement with said vibratable element (22). 7. A surgical tool as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating rod means (16) comprises a tubular member surrounding said waveguide (13). 8. A surgical tool as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the shroud means comprises a tubular member surrounding said actuating rod means. 9. A surgical tool as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the tubular actuating rod member is polygonal in cross-section and is adapted to contact an inner surface of the shroud tubular member,' which is substantially cylindrical, only at apices of said polygon. 10. A surgical tool as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the shroud means (15) comprises a tubular member surrounding said waveguide (13). 11. A surgical tool as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the actuating rod means (16) comprises a tubular member surrounding said shroud means (15). 12. A surgical tool as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the tubular shroud member (15) is polygonal in cross-section and is adapted to contact an inner surface of the actuating rod tubular member (16), which is substantially cylindrical, only at apices of said polygon. 13. A surgical tool as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said generating means (12,14) comprises a conversion horn (12) and at least one axial mode driver (14) mounted substantially tangentially thereto, whereby torsional mode vibrations are produced. 14. A shroud means including actuating rod means (16) adapted for detachable connection to a surgical tool which includes a waveguide (13) operatively connected at a proximal end to means to generate ultrasonic vibrations (12, 14), characterized in that it is adapted for detachable connection to manually operable means (2, 3, 6, 7) of the surgical tool adapted to control said actuating rod means (16). The tool comprises an ultrasonic vibration generator (12,14) and a waveguide (13) operativcly connected thereto at one end. The distal end of the waveguide (13) is provided with cutting and/or coagulating means (17,22) A shroud (15) is adapted to surround and isolate the waveguide (13). and an actuating rod (16) surrounds the shroud (15). or vice versa The shrouc and actuating rod are detachably connected at their proximal ends to the generator

Documents:

in-pct-2002-361-kol-granted-abstract.pdf

in-pct-2002-361-kol-granted-assignment.pdf

in-pct-2002-361-kol-granted-claims.pdf

in-pct-2002-361-kol-granted-correspondence.pdf

in-pct-2002-361-kol-granted-description (complete).pdf

in-pct-2002-361-kol-granted-drawings.pdf

in-pct-2002-361-kol-granted-examination report.pdf

in-pct-2002-361-kol-granted-form 1.pdf

in-pct-2002-361-kol-granted-form 18.pdf

in-pct-2002-361-kol-granted-form 2.pdf

in-pct-2002-361-kol-granted-form 26.pdf

in-pct-2002-361-kol-granted-form 3.pdf

in-pct-2002-361-kol-granted-form 5.pdf

in-pct-2002-361-kol-granted-form 6.pdf

in-pct-2002-361-kol-granted-reply to examination report.pdf

in-pct-2002-361-kol-granted-specification.pdf