Ultrasonic cutting device

Abstract

An ultrasonic surgical cutting method and apparatus is provided wherein the method and apparatus allows for the cutting of bone from within a hollow pathway such that a cutter associated with the ultrasonic method and apparatus remains sufficiently cool to prevent necrosis of the bone being cut. Furthermore the ultrasonic device and method can be employed in the cutting of soft tissue, wherein a cooled cutter is used to prevent the sticking of soft tissue to the cutting blade of the device during use.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present invention relates to U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. DUQ008A) entitled “Ultrasonic Cutting Device”, filed on Feb. 2, 2005.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to an ultrasonic cutting device, and more particularly to a system and method for cutting bone using an ultrasonic cutting device while preventing heat damage to the bone and neighboring tissue. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] The use of ultrasonic medical devices in surgery is widely known in various surgical fields. Traditional surgical instruments using ultrasonic frequencies typically use the ultrasonic energy to dissect, coagulate, and cut living tissue during surgery. Existing ultrasonic surgical devices typically employ an ultrasonic transducer to translate electrical energy provided to the transducer into mechanical energy for use in the intended surgical procedure. The mechanical vibratory motion is typically delivered to a ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] Providing an ultrasonic cutting device wherein the cutter is maintained at a reduced temperature offers numerous advantages as compared to existing surgical devices. Firstly, the combination of ultrasonic cutting frequencies provides for speedy removal of bone during a surgical procedure. Additionally, as the cutting tip is at a reduced operating temperature, traditional problems with bone necrosis due to heat are reduced. In light of this, damage to the region of hard or soft tissue surrounding the location of the cut are minimized.

[0009] Additionally, the inherent concerns of a surgeon when using a high-heat ultrasonic cutting device in close proximity to hard or soft tissue that is not being cut are further eliminated by a ultrasonic surgical device that maintains a reduced cutter temperature. For example, extensive necrosis to cortical bone has been reported at temperatures of 70° C. The temperature threshold where tissue damage occurs has been found to be 56° C. Some studies have correlated thermal damage to tissue to the magnitude of temperature and the period of time during which the tissue is subjected to damaging temperatures. This thermal damage has been shown to effect bone reformation. Heating bone to 47° C. or 50° C. for 1 minute can cause significantly reduced bone reformation. Furthermore, nervous tissue is particularly sensitive to elevated temperatures and may become damaged at temperature at 42° C. In light of this, the present invention provides a reduced heat cutting tip such that damage to hard of soft tissue in the region to be cut is prevented.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, during a surgical procedure where bone is to be cut, should a surgeon accidentally stray from the intended target bone and come into contact with surrounding nervous tissue, a reduced temperature ultrasonic cutting device is less likely to cause damage to the nervous tissue. In light of this, unintended nerve damage and paralysis is subsequently avoided while using a reduced temperature ultrasonic cutting device.

[0011] The present invention can additionally perform lateral cutting operations. For example, using the present invention, a surgeon can laterally cut a region of bone from within a predefined hollow provided in the bone. For example, when used during spinal surgery, the present invention offers a surgeon the benefit of a compact ultrasonic device that can be readily guided down a predefined hollow pathway to a

Problems solved by technology

Firstly, the combination of ultrasonic cutting frequencies provides for speedy removal of bo

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