Diathermic hand-held instrument with an endoscopic probe

Claim 2

A diathermic handpiece for use in medical procedures for conducting ultrasonic dissection and for welding blood vessels in a subject connected to a pole plate (18), said handpiece (1) comprising: a sonotrode (8), the sonotrode (8) being coupled to a sleeve of said handpiece (1), the sleeve having disposed therein a transducer (3) for supplying ultrasonic oscillations to the sonotrode (8), and (ii) a suction drain (6) in fluid communication with the sonotrode (8) for removal of fluids therethrough, said handpiece (1) further comprising: gas supply means coupled to the sonotrode (8) for supplying inert gas to the sonotrode (8), said gas supply means being disposed in a center part of the sleeve; and a rinsing agent supply hose (5) disposed in an inner part of the sonotrode (8) and the suction drain (6), and ending shortly before a tip (7) of the sonotrode (8), wherein the sonotrode (8) is composed of electrically conductive material, and has (a) an exit opening disposed at the tip (7) and (b) an inert gas passage (6') in fluid communication with said gas supply means, said inert gas passage (6') extending through the sonotrode (8) to the exit opening through which the inert gas supplied by the gas supply means flows, and wherein, upon application of inert gas from a gas supply to said gas supply means and application of high-frequency energy to the sonotrode (8) and the pole plate (18), a plasma beam for inert gas coagulation is generated between the sonotrode (8) and the subject.

Claim 3

A handpiece according to claim 1, wherein the exit opening of the tip (7) of the sonotrode (8) has a smaller inside diameter than the inside diameter of the gas supply means.

Claim 4

A handpiece according to claim 2, further comprising a connector (25) for connecting the transducer (3) and the sonotrode (8), wherein each of the transducer (3) and said connector (25) have hollow portions (27) therethrough for supply of the inert gas to the sonotrode (8).

Claim 5

A handpiece according to claim 1, wherein the tip (7) of the sonotrode (8) comprises a ceramic covering (117).

Claim 6

A handpiece according to claim 4, further comprising a connector (25) for connecting the transducer (3) and the sonotrode (8), wherein each of the transducer (3) and said connector (25) have hollow portions (27) therethrough for supply of the inert gas to the sonotrode (8).

Claim 7

A handpiece according to claim 1, wherein an inert gas supply and a suction supply are detachably connected to said handpiece (1).

Claim 8

A handpiece according to claim 1, further comprising a connector (25) for connecting the transducer (3) and the sonotrode (8), wherein each of the transducer (3) and said connector (25) have hollow portions (27) therethrough for supply of the inert gas to the sonotrode (8).

Claim 9

A diathermic handpiece for use in medical procedures for conducting ultrasonic dissection and for welding blood vessels in a subject electrically connected to a pole plate (18), the pole plate (18) being electrically connected to a high-frequency generator, said handpiece (1) comprising: a sonotrode (8); a transducer (3), coupled to said sonotrode (8), for supplying ultrasonic oscillations to said sonotrode (8); a suction drain (6) in fluid communication with said sonotrode (8) for removal of fluids therethrough; gas supply means coupled to said sonotrode (8) for supplying inert gas to said sonotrode (8), said gas supply means being disposed within said handpiece (1); a rinsing agent supply hose (5) disposed in an inner part of said sonotrode (8) and said suction drain (6), and ending shortly before a tip (7) of said sonotrode (8); and electrical connecting means for electrically connecting said sonotrode (8) with the high-frequency generator, wherein said sonotrode (8) is composed of electrically conductive material, and has (a) an exit opening disposed at the tip (7) and (b) an inert gas passage (6') in fluid communication with said gas supply means, said inert gas passage (6') extending through said sonotrode (8) to the exit opening through which the inert gas supplied by the gas supply means flows, and wherein, upon application of inert gas from a gas supply to said gas supply means and application of high-frequency energy from the high-frequency generator to (i) said sonotrode (8) via said electrical connecting means, and (ii) the pole plate (18), a plasma beam for inert gas coagulation is generated between said sonotrode (8) and the subject.

Claim 10

A diathermic handpiece for use in medical procedures for conducting ultrasonic dissection and for welding blood vessels in a subject electrically connected to a pole plate (18), the pole plate (18) being electrically connected to a high-frequency generator, said handpiece (1) comprising: a sonotrode (8); a transducer (3), coupled to said sonotrode (8), for supplying ultrasonic oscillations to said sonotrode (8); a suction drain (6) in fluid communication with said sonotrode (8) for removal of fluids therethrough; gas supply means coupled to said sonotrode (8) for supplying inert gas to said sonotrode (8), said gas supply means being disposed within said handpiece (1); a rinsing agent supply hose (5) disposed in an inner part of said sonotrode (8) and said suction drain (6), and ending shortly before a tip (7) of said sonotrode (8); and electrical connecting means for electrically connecting said sonotrode (8) with the high-frequency generator, wherein said sonotrode (8) is composed of electrically conductive material, and has (a) an exit opening disposed at the tip (7) and (b) an inert gas passage (6') in fluid communication with said gas supply means, said inert gas passage (6') extending through said sonotrode (8) to the exit opening through which the inert gas supplied by the gas supply means flows, and wherein, upon application of inert gas from a gas supply to said gas supply means and application of high-frequency energy from the high-frequency generator to (i) said sonotrode (8) via said electrical connecting means, and (ii) the pole plate (18), a plasma beam for inert gas coagulation is generated between said sonotrode (8) and the subject.

Claim 11

A handpiece according to claim 8, further comprising a connector for connecting said transducer and said sonotrode, wherein each of said connector and said transducer have hollow portions therethrough for supply of the inert gas to said sonotrode.

Claim 12

A handpiece according to claim 8, wherein said tip end of said sonotrode comprises a ceramic covering.

Claim 13

A diathermic handpiece apparatus for use on a subject, said apparatus being adapted for use with (a) a high-frequency generator for supplying a high-frequency driving signal, the subject being electrically connected to the high-frequency generator, and (b) a gas supply for supplying inert gas to said apparatus, said apparatus comprising: a sonotrode for performing ultrasonic dissection; a transducer, coupled to said sonotrode, for supplying ultrasonic oscillations to said sonotrode; suction means, for removing fluids from said sonotrode, said suction means comprising a suction drain in fluid communication with said sonotrode for removal of fluids therethrough; rinsing means, for supplying a rinsing agent to said sonotrode, said rinsing means comprising a rinsing agent supply hose that is disposed in an inner part of said sonotrode and said suction drain, and ends shortly before a tip end of said sonotrode; and gas supply means within said handpiece apparatus for supplying inert gas to said sonotrode, said sonotrode being composed of electrically conductive material and having (a) an exit opening disposed at the tip end of said sonotrode and (b) an inert gas passage in fluid communication between said gas supply means and said exit opening, wherein inert gas supplied by said gas supply means will flow through said exit opening; and electrical connection means for electrically connecting said sonotrode with the high-frequency generator, wherein upon application of inert gas from the gas supply to said gas supply means and application of the high-frequency driving signal from the high-frequency generator (i) to said sonotrode via said electrical connection means and (ii) to the subject, a plasma jet for inert gas coagulation is generated between said sonotrode and the subject.

Claim 14

A diathermic handpiece apparatus for use on a subject, said apparatus being adapted for use with (a) a high-frequency generator for supplying a high-frequency driving signal, the subject being electrically connected to the high-frequency generator, and (b) a gas supply for supplying inert gas to said apparatus, said apparatus comprising: a sonotrode for performing ultrasonic dissection; a transducer, coupled to said sonotrode, for supplying ultrasonic oscillations to said sonotrode; suction means, for removing fluids from said sonotrode, said suction means comprising a suction drain in fluid communication with said sonotrode for removal of fluids therethrough; rinsing means, for supplying a rinsing agent to said sonotrode, said rinsing means comprising a rinsing agent supply hose that is disposed in an inner part of said sonotrode and said suction drain, and ends shortly before a tip end of said sonotrode; and gas supply means within said handpiece apparatus for supplying inert gas to said sonotrode, said sonotrode being composed of electrically conductive material and having (a) an exit opening disposed at the tip end of said sonotrode and (b) an inert gas passage in fluid communication between said gas supply means and said exit opening, wherein inert gas supplied by said gas supply means will flow through said exit opening; and electrical connection means for electrically connecting said sonotrode with the high-frequency generator, wherein upon application of inert gas from the gas supply to said gas supply means and application of the high-frequency driving signal from the high-frequency generator (i) to said sonotrode via said electrical connection means and (ii) to the subject, a plasma jet for inert gas coagulation is generated between said sonotrode and the subject.

Claim 15

An apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a connector for connecting said transducer and said sonotrode, wherein each of said connector and said transducer have hollow portions therethrough for supply of the inert gas to said sonotrode.

Claim 18

A system according to claim 13, further comprising a connector for connecting said transducer and said sonotrode, wherein each of said connector and said transducer have hollow portions therethrough for supply of the inert gas to said sonotrode.

Claim 19

A system according to claim 13, further comprising the inert gas supply.

Claim 22

A diathermic handpiece apparatus for use on a subject, said apparatus being adapted for use with (a) a high-frequency generator for supplying a high-frequency driving signal, the subject being electrically connected to the high-frequency generator, and (b) a gas supply for supplying inert gas to said apparatus, said apparatus comprising: a sonotrode for performing ultrasonic dissection; a transducer, coupled to said sonotrode, for supplying ultrasonic oscillations to said sonotrode; suction means for removing fluids from said sonotrode; rinsing means for supplying a rinsing agent to said sonotrode; and gas supply means within said handpiece apparatus for supplying inert gas to said sonotrode, said sonotrode being composed of electrically conductive material and having (a) an exit opening disposed at the tip end of said sonotrode and (b) an inert gas passage in fluid communication between said gas supply means and said exit opening, wherein inert gas supplied by said gas supply means will flow through said exit opening; and electrical connection means for electrically connecting said sonotrode with the high-frequency generator, wherein upon application of inert gas from the gas supply to said gas supply means and application of the high-frequency driving signal from the high-frequency generator (i) to said sonotrode via said electrical connection means and (ii) to the subject, a plasma jet for inert gas coagulation is generated between said sonotrode and the subject; wherein the tip end of said sonotrode comprises a ceramic covering.

Claim 23

A diathermic handpiece apparatus for use on a subject, said apparatus being adapted for use with (a) a high-frequency generator for supplying a high-frequency driving signal, the subject being electrically connected to the high-frequency generator, and (b) a gas supply for supplying inert gas to said apparatus, said apparatus comprising: a sonotrode for performing ultrasonic dissection; a transducer, coupled to said sonotrode, for supplying ultrasonic oscillations to said sonotrode; suction means for removing fluids from said sonotrode; rinsing means for supplying a rinsing agent to said sonotrode; and gas supply means within said handpiece apparatus for supplying inert gas to said sonotrode, said sonotrode being composed of electrically conductive material and having (a) an exit opening disposed at the tip end of said sonotrode and (b) an inert gas passage in fluid communication between said gas supply means and said exit opening, wherein inert gas supplied by said gas supply means will flow through said exit opening; and electrical connection means for electrically connecting said sonotrode with the high-frequency generator, wherein upon application of inert gas from the gas supply to said gas supply means and application of the high-frequency driving signal from the high-frequency generator (i) to said sonotrode via said electrical connection means and (ii) to the subject, a plasma jet for inert gas coagulation is generated between said sonotrode and the subject; wherein the tip end of said sonotrode comprises a ceramic covering.