Controller for use with an air-powered tissue-aspiration instrument system

Abstract

A method and apparatus is disclosed for mechanically-assisted liposuction treatment. The apparatus includes a hand-holdable housing, an electro-cauterizing dual cannula assembly, and a reciprocation mechanism. The hand-holdable housing has a cavity adaptable for receipt of the electro-cauterizing cannula assembly. The electro-cauterizing cannula assembly has a distal end and a proximal end and at least one aspiration aperture about the distal end. The reciprocation mechanism is disposed within the housing and is operably associated with the inner cannula so that the inner cannula can be selectively caused to reciprocate relative to the stationary outer cannula mounted to the hand-supportable housing. As the inner cannula is caused to reciprocate relative to the housing, the aspiration aperture formed through the distal end of the cannula assembly is caused to undergo periodic displacement. During aspiration of tissue, high-voltage RF power signal supplied to electro-cauterizing electrode structures formed about each reciprocating aspiration aperture to effect hemostasis thereabout. Such hemostasis is achieved by causing protein molecules within aspirated tissue to coagulate in response to the high-voltage RF signal being supplied across the electro-cauterizing electrode. In the preferred embodiments, the amount and rate of such aspiration aperture displacement is controllably adjustable. The cannula assembly is releasably detachable from the hand-holdable housing to facilitate cleaning and sterilization of the cannula assembly and the housing.

Description

RELATED CASES

[0001] The present application is a Continuation of copending application Ser. No. 10 / 442,645 filed May 21, 2003; which is a Continuation-in-Part of: application Ser. No. 09 / 507,266 filed Feb. 18, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,394,973 B1; which is a Continuation-in-Part of application Ser. No. 08 / 882,927 filed Jun. 26, 1997, which is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 08 / 307,000 filed Sep. 16, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,198, which is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 07 / 627,240 filed Dec. 14, 1990, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,348,535; each said Application being incorporated herein by reference as if set forth in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of Invention

[0003] The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for performing liposuction, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for performing liposuction in a mechanically assisted manner using powered expedients.

[0004] 2. Brief Description of the Prior Art

[0005] Suct...

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