GB2176110A

GB2176110A - Ultrasonic operation device

Info

Publication number: GB2176110A
Application number: GB08519323A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yuichiro Sato; Kuniharu Ikeda; Masahiro Asada
Original assignee: Nippon Infrared Industries Co Ltd
Current assignee: Nippon Infrared Industries Co Ltd
Priority date: 1985-06-04
Filing date: 1985-07-31
Publication date: 1986-12-17
Also published as: GB8519323D0; DE3527586A1; FR2582506A1; IT1184799B; JPS61279239A; FR2582506B1; IT8521811A0

Abstract

An ultrasonic operation device in which the suction passage does not become clogged by disintegrated flesh and tissues, the operating end of the horn is effectively cooled and the range of the operator's vision is widened comprises a horn with an axial suction passage having mounted on its surface a cooling means provided with an irrigation pipe, a vibrating means fixed to the horn such that the suction passages in the two parts coincide and having a pair of piezoelectric elements to provide vibration, a suction pump to remove disintegrated matter and a regulating means for the suction force mounted on the surface of the vibrating means. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An ultrasonic operation device This invention relates to an ultrasonic operation device which enables disintegration of a flesh part and tissues at an operating part and discharge of the disintegrated flesh part and tissues from the operating part.

Conventionally, there are known a lasor surgical knife and an electric surgical knife which enable incision as well as stanching. Those surgical knives enable destruction of not only soft tissues such as muscles, fat or the like, but also blood vessels and nerves. When conducting an operation by means of either one of those knives on a liver or brain tissues where the blood vessels and nerves are concentrated, an operator is required to have a skillful technique. However, it is a difficult and time-consuming work for even a skilled operator to conduct such an operation on the liver or the like by means of such a surgical knife, because the blood vessels and nerves are intermingled complicated on the operating part.

To solve such inconvenience, an ultrasonic operation device as shown in Figures 5a, 5b and 5c have been proposed.

In those figures, numeral 50 is a Langevin type vibrator clamped by bolts (not illustrated).

The Langevin type vibrator 50 comprises a back column 50a, a front column 50b, a pair of disc type insulating members 50e, 50f between the two columns 50a, 50b and a pair of disc type piezo-electric elements 50c, 50d between the two disc type insulating members 50e, 50f. Those elements 50a to 50f are fixed together by a built-in bolt means (not illustrated).

An equivalent circuit of the Langevin type vibrator is shown in Figure 6, wherein numerals 26 and 27 are piezo-electric elements and numerals 28 and 29 are capacitances having insulating properties.

Numeral 51 is a horn fixed mechanically with the Langevin type vibrator 50.

Numeral 52 is a contact member for medical treatment which is fixed with the horn 51. The contact member contacts directly the operating part. Numeral 53 is a suction pipe for sucking and discharging any disintegrated matter. Numeral 54 is an irrigation pipe for supplying irrigation into an end of the horn 51.

The Langevin type vibrator 50, the horn 51 and the medical treatment tool 52 respectively form an ultrasonic vibrating element.

When applying electric signals of resonance frequency of the ultrasonic vibrating element to terminals T1, T2 by a driving circuit (not illustrated), the Langevin type vibrator 50 is vibrated by means of ultrasonic, thereby the vibrating speed of the front column 50b becomes 100 kine (100cm/sec). Vibration is transmitted to the horn 51 and its amplitude is enlarged. Subsequently, the vibration is transmitted to the contact member 52, thereby an end of the contact member 52 is vibrated at the amplitude of about 200 Fmp-p (frequency of 28 KHz).

When applying such vibrating contact member 52 to a patient's operating part, the tissues of the operating part are incised and disintegrated. To make it easy to transmit ultrasonic vibration to the operating part during incision, the irrigation is supplied into an end of the horn 51 by way of the irrigation pipe 54. At the same time, the flesh part and tissues which have been disintegrated by ultrasonic operation device are sucked by the suction pipe 53 formed within the horn 51, and finally discharged outside.

According to a conventional ultrasonic operation device, the suction pipe 53 is bent within the horn and protruded therefrom. The disadvantage is that such construction is complicated and the manufacturing cost of the horn becomes expensive. In addition, the suction quantity by way of the suction pipe cannot be regulated by a manual operation so that the disintegrated flesh and tissues are susceptible to clogging in the suction pipe. Once they are clogged in the suction pipe, the disadvantage is that it becomes difficult to remove a clogged matter.

In addition, as shown in Figure 7, a front part of the horn 51 is so short that an angle between e, d and f becomes larger. As a result, the operator's visible range becomes narrower. Namely, he is not able to observe the whole area of the operating part exactly.

This invention provides an ultrasonic operation device which enables to prevent a suction passage from being clogged by disintegrated flesh and tissues, cool an end of a horn effectively and widen the range of vision of an operating part.

Further, this invention provides an ultrasonic operation device, in which a suction passage is formed longitudinally in an axial.direction of a main body of the ultrasonic operation device, thereby any disintegrated flesh and tissues can be sucked through the suction passage, and suction force can be regulated manually.

Further, this invention provides an ultrasonic operation device; in which a horn cooling means connected to an irrigation tube is fitted on the horn, thereby a certain'quantity of irrigation can be supplied on the surface of the horn, enabling overheat of the horn.

This invention will be further described, by way of examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a section view of an embodiment of an ultrasonic operation device according to this invention; Figure 2a is a circuit diagram of a group of filters incorporated in a vibrating means of the ultrasonic operation device in Figure 1; Figure2b is a resonance frequency circuit diagram corresponding to the circuit diagram of Figure 2a; Figure 3 is a view of an embodiment of a horn according to this invention; Figure 4 is a stress distribution graph showing a comparison of a conventional horn with a horn according to this invention; Figure 5a is a view of an end portion of a conventional ultrasonic operation device; Figure 5b is a view of a suction pipe of a conventional operation apparatus;; Figure 5c is a view of an embodiment of a conventional operation apparatus; #Figure 6 is an equivalent circuit in the conventional operation apparatus in Figure 5c; Figure-7 is a view of a conventional horn.

A preferred embodiment of this invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4.

In Figure 1 symbol f is-an elongated horn H having a passage pa thereinside and numeral 1 is a horn cooling means which is mounted on a surface of the elongated horn H.

The horn cooling means 1 comprises a first path 2 for inserting an irrigation pipe IP thereinto, a second path 3 communicated with the first path 21 and an annular gap 4 which is formed between the surface of the horn H and a bottom portion of the horn cooling means 1.

When supplying the irrigation into the irrigation pipe IP by way of an irrigation tube IT, the irrigation is supplied and retained onto the surface of the horn H, thereby the horn H is cooled.

In this embodiment, the irrigation may be a physiological solution of sodium chloride.

Numeral 5 is a Langevin type vibrating means which comprises a front columnar member 5b, a back columnar member 5a, a pair of insulating members sue, of between the two columnar members 5a, 5b and a pair of piezoelectric elements Sc, Sd between the two insulating members Se, Sf. The Langevin type vibrating means 5 is axially provided with a passage P2, in which is formed a suction pipe forsucking any disintegrated flesh and tissues. The Langevin type vibrating means 5 is firmly fixed with the horn H by means of a tubular bolt B1 which is incorporated into both ends of the vibrating means 5 and the horn H respectively.

The components Sc, Sd, Se, Sf between the front and back columnar members 5a and 5b are all fixed with each. other by means of a second tubular bolt 82. Thus, the passage P1 of the horn H is communicated with the passage P2 of the Langevin type vibrating means 5. And an suction pipe SP is inserted partially into the passage H2 of the Langevin type vibrating means 5. Under such construction the disintegrated flesh and tissues can be sucked through the suction pipe SP by actuating a suction pump (not illustrated) and removed smoothly outside. The suction pump is associated with the suction pipe SP.

Numeral 6 is means for regulating a suction force minutely, which is mounted on a surface of the Langevin type vibrating means 5. The means 6 for regulating a suction force minutely comprises a housing 6a and a path 6c formed therein, and a branch tube 6b connected to the path 6c.

When closing an opening of the path 6c by a finger, the suction force of the horn H becomes stronger, while when keeping the opening thereof open, the suction force of the horn becomes weaker. Accordingly, the operator may regulate the suction force minutely by applying its finger to the opening of the path 6c. For example, when the operator wishes to remove the disintegrated flesh and tissues rapidly, he may close the opening of the path 6 by his finger. Thus, any clogging of the disintegrated matter in the passages P1, P2 will never occur therein.

The ultrasonic operation device is provided with a leak current preventing circuit in order to preventa leak currentto an end of horn.

Figure 2a and Figure 2b show leak current preventing circuits which are incorporated in the vibrating means 5 as shown in Figure 1. In Figure 2a there is shown a group 40 of filters connected between terminals T1 and2.

Numeral 33 is a capacitance-(CO) equivalent to capacitances 28, 29 having an insulating plate. Numerals 34 and 37 are inductances (L1, L2), numerals 35 and 38 are capacitances (C1, C2) and numerals 36 and 39 are resistan#ces (tri, Those components 34to39 are generally called a group of filters.

The equivalent circuit of Figure 2a corresponds to a circuit of Figure 2b, in which numeral 41 is a capacitance (C'O), numerals 42 and 45 are resistances (R'1,R'2), numerals 43 and 46 are capacitances (C'1,C'2) and numerals44 and 47 are inductances (L'1, L'2).Those components 42 to47 are generally called a group 48 of filters.

D.C. resonance circuit of the group 40 of filters corresponds to respective resonance circuits of the group of filters 48.

In the case that the resonance frequency of the ultrasonic operation device is fU and a main frequency of interfering current is fE (fE fU), the following equations are obtained.

Co=CO (1) r, = C0/C, L=(1 +r)2L', C1 = C',/r(1 + r,) (2) R1 = (1 + r1) L1/C'1R'1

r2 = Colt2 L2 = (1 + r2) 2L'2 C2 = C'2/r2 (1 + r2) (3) R2 = (1 + r2) 2U2/C'2R'2

In the case that a frequency. variation width of the ultrasonic operation device and that of the interfering current are AfU and AfE respectively and the frequency of the group of filters is 3dB, AfU = R1/2irL1 (1 + 1 )2 r1 AfE = R2/2ir (1 + 1)2 r2 When R'1 = R'2 = oc (open), the impedance from the terminals T1 and T2 is infinite at the frequencies fU and fE, so that it is possible theoretically to make the interfering current zero and prevent occurrence of the interfering current.

The group of filters may of course be incorporated in a device having the ultrasonic function as well as the function of an electric surgical knife.

As shown in Figure 3, the horn H has a columnar portion h, and a nearly conical portion h2 integrally associated with the former.

A seciontal area S(x) vertical relative to an axial direction of the nearly conical portion h2 of the horn can satisfy the following equation.

S(X) = Si YX (oc x #H2) wherein 1 S, H2 S2 H2 is a height of the nearly conical portion h2 which is higher than the height H1 of the columnar portion ha, Si :a larger edge of the nearly conical portion h2 which is a sectional area vertical relative to an axial direction.

S2: a smaller edge of the nearly conical portion h2 which is a sectional area vertical relative to an axial direction.

As shown in Figure 3, the height of the nearly conical portion h2 is much longer than that of the columnar portion hn, so that the angle of an end of the horn H can be made small. Accordingly, the range of the operator's vision is widened and the operating part can be observed exactly.

Further, as shown in Figure 4, the maximum stress of the horn according to this invention is smaller than that of a conventional horn, thereby the durability of the former is improved largely.

According to this embodiment, the horn is made of titanic alloy, but other metal may be used, provided that a certain strength is guaranteed.

As described previously, according to one aspect of the ultrasonic operation device according to this invention, a suction passage is bored longitudinally in an axial direction of a main body of the ultrasonic operation device, thereby any disintegrated flesh and tissues can be sucked through the suction pipe, and discharged outside.

According to another aspect of this invention, the suction force can be regulated optionally by an operator's finger operation.

According to another aspect of this invention, since the horn can be cooled by supplying an irrigation into the horn cooling means, it is possible to prevent overheat of an end of the horn.

According to a further aspect of this invention, since the leak current preventing circuit is incorporated in the main body of the present device, it is possible to prevent flow of the leak current into the end of the horn.

While we have shown and described a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An ultrasonic operating device comprising: a horn means having a first suction passage in an axial direction; a horn cooling means fitted on a surface of said horn means, said horn cooling means being provided with a path communicated with an irrigation pipe; a vibr#ating means fixed with said horn means and having a second suction passage in an axial direction and a pair of piezoelectric elements thereinside; said first suction passage of said horn means being communicated with said second suction passage of said vibrating means, thereby any disintegrated matter at an operating part being sucked and discharged outside through said first and second suction passages by actuating a suction pump; and means for regulating a suction force minutely, said means being mounted on a surface of said vibrating means.

2 An ultrasonic operating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said horn means comprises a columnar portion and a nearly conical portion integrally associated therewith, and a sectional area S(x) vertical relative to an axial direction of the nearly conical portion of the horn means can satisfythefollowing equation: S(x) = S1 eYX (O=' x =H) wherein=~~ In~' H2 = Hp S2 H2 is a height of the nearly conical portion which is higher than the height of the columnar portion; Sa is a larger edge of the nearly conical portion which is a sectional area vertical relative to an axial direction; S2 is a smaller edge of the nearly conical portion which is a sectional area vertical relative to an axial direction.

3. An ultrasonic operation device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein a leak current preventing circuit is incorprated insaid vibrating means.

4. An ultrasonic device constructed and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4.