Tissue remover and method

Abstract

An electromagnetically induced cutting mechanism provides accurate cutting operations on soft tissues. The electromagnetically induced cutter is adapted to interact with atomized fluid particles. A tissue remover comprises an aspiration cannula housing a fluid and energy guide for conducting electromagnetically induced cutting forces to the site within a patient's body for aspiration of soft tissue. The cannula is provided with a cannula distal end. The proximal end of the cannula is provided with fluid flow connection to an aspiration source. Separated soft tissue and fluid are aspirated through the cannula distal end and the cannula by an aspiration source at the proximal end of the cannula.

Description

PRIORITY INFORMATION[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 188,072 filed on Nov. 6, 1998 and entitled TISSUE REMOVER AND METHOD, which is commonly assigned and the contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.[0002] 1. Field of the Invention[0003] The present invention relates generally to medical apparatus and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for cutting and removing soft or hard tissue by aspiration.[0004] 2. Description of Related Art[0005] Turning to FIG. 1, a prior art optical cutter includes a fiber guide tube 5, a water line 7, an air line 9, and an air knife line 11 for supplying pressurized air. A cap 15 fits onto the hand-held apparatus 13 and is secured via threads 17. The fiber guide tube 5 abuts within a cylindrical metal piece 19. Another cylindrical metal piece 21 is a part of the cap 15. The pressurized air from the air knife line 11 surrounds and cools the laser as the laser bridge...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] The electromagnetically induced cutter of the present invention is capable of providing extremely fine and smooth incisions, irrespective of the cutting surface. Additionally, a user programmable combination of atomized particles allows for user control of various cutting parameters. The various cutting parameters may also be controlled by changing spray nozzles and electromagnetic energy source parameters. Applications for the present invention include medical, such as arthroscopic surgery, neuroendoscopic surgery, laparoscopic surgery, liposuction and dental, and other environments where an objective is to precisely remove surface materials without inducing thermal damage, uncontrolled cutting parameters, and / or rough surfaces inappropriate for ideal bonding. The present invention further does not require any films of water or any particularly porous surfaces to obtain very accurate and controlled cutting. Since thermal heating is not used as the cutting mechanism, thermal damage does not occur. Adjacent tissue is not charred or thermally damaged and, further, noxious and potentially toxic smoke is attenuated or completely eliminated.

[0015] The electromagnetically induced cutter of the present invention can provide an improvement over prior-art high-speed rotary shavers, such as the abovementioned arthroscopic shaver, since the electromagnetically induced cutter of the present invention does not directly contact the tissue to cause trauma and blood vessel laceration. Instead, cutting forces remove small portions of the tissue through a process of fine or gross erosion depending on the precision required. This process can be applied to precisely and cleanly shave, reshape, cut through or remove cartilage, fibrous cartilage, or bone without the heat, vibration, and pressure associated with rotary shaving instruments. The system can be used without air and / or water, in order to coagulate bleeding tissue. In accordance with another application of the electromagnetic cutter, a spray of water is the carrier of an anticoagulant medication that could also contribute to tissue coagulation.

Problems solved by technology

Use of the Nd:YAG laser for in vivo tissue removal is in some ways inefficient, since the energy from the Nd:YAG laser is not highly absorbed by water.

Adjacent tissue can be charred or thermally damaged and, further, noxious and potentially toxic smoke can be generated during the thermal cutting operations performed by these prior-art devices.

Performing an arthroscopic procedure with a high-speed rotary shaver such as the one mentioned above may result in extensive trauma to the tissue and blood vessel laceration.

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