US6761701B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Power-assisted liposuction instrument with cauterizing cannula assembly
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 2002-02-07
•
Granted: 2004-07-13
•
Expires: 2022-02-07
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus is disclosed for mechanically-assisted liposuction treatment. The apparatus includes a hand-holdable housing, an electro-cauterizing cannula assembly, and a reciprocation mechanism. The hand-holdable housing has a cavity adaptable for receipt of a portion 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 either the cannula so that the cannulas can be selectively caused to reciprocate relative to the housing. As the 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 an electro-cauterizing electrode structure 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.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L. Cucin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 05:18
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/32; A61B17/320016; A61B17/32002; A61M; A61M2202/00; A61M2202/08; A61M2205/00; A61M2205/10; A61M2205/106; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S604/00; Y10S604/902
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
243 words
Apparatus for use in liposuction treatment of tissue on a patient operably connected to an electrical grounding plate, which comprises: a hand-supportable housing having a longitudinal axis; an air-powered reciprocation mechanism disposed within said hand-supportable housing; a hollow cannula operably connectable to said hand-supportable housing having said longitudinal axis and said air-powered reciprocation mechanism and having a distal end, a proximal end, and a suction aperture disposed about said distal end, said proximal end further including an outlet port and a continuous passageway which communicates said suction aperture with said outlet port; said air-powered reciprocation mechanism automatically reciprocating said hollow cannula relative to said hand-supportable housing along said longitudinal axis so that the location of aspiration through said suction aperture is periodically displaced along said longitudinal axis, while permitting said aspiration through said suction aperture, along said continuous passageway and out of said outlet port; a radio-frequency (RF) power supply terminal disposed within said hand-supportable housing, for supplying to said hollow cannula, during liposuction operations, power signals produced by a RF power signal generator; and electro-cauterizing elements electrically connected to said RF power supply terminal, and operably associated with said hollow cannula, for conducting said RF power signals along said hollow cannula and through tissue being aspirated through said suction aperture while maintained at electrical ground potential by means of an electrical grounding plate connected to the patient, and thereby effecting coagulation of protein molecules within tissue being aspirated through said suction aperture.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
243 words
Apparatus for use in liposuction treatment of tissue on a patient operably connected to an electrical grounding plate, which comprises: a hand-supportable housing having a longitudinal axis; an air-powered reciprocation mechanism disposed within said hand-supportable housing; a hollow cannula operably connectable to said hand-supportable housing having said longitudinal axis and said air-powered reciprocation mechanism and having a distal end, a proximal end, and a suction aperture disposed about said distal end, said proximal end further including an outlet port and a continuous passageway which communicates said suction aperture with said outlet port; said air-powered reciprocation mechanism automatically reciprocating said hollow cannula relative to said hand-supportable housing along said longitudinal axis so that the location of aspiration through said suction aperture is periodically displaced along said longitudinal axis, while permitting said aspiration through said suction aperture, along said continuous passageway and out of said outlet port; a radio-frequency (RF) power supply terminal disposed within said hand-supportable housing, for supplying to said hollow cannula, during liposuction operations, power signals produced by a RF power signal generator; and electro-cauterizing elements electrically connected to said RF power supply terminal, and operably associated with said hollow cannula, for conducting said RF power signals along said hollow cannula and through tissue being aspirated through said suction aperture while maintained at electrical ground potential by means of an electrical grounding plate connected to the patient, and thereby effecting coagulation of protein molecules within tissue being aspirated through said suction aperture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , said hollow cannula further comprises a cannula base extending from said cannula proximal end and being adapted for releasably connecting with said hand-holdable housing, wherein said hollow cannula is operably associated with said reciprocation mechanism by way of an actuator disposed in said hand-supportable housing and reciprocatable by said air-powered reciprocation mechanism.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said hollow cannula is made from an electrically conductive material capable of conducting said RF power signals therealong to regions proximate said suction aperture during liposuction operations; and wherein said hollow cannula further comprises electrical insulation material applied over the outer surface of said hollow cannula.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said electrical isolation material comprises a coating of electrically insulating material applied to the outer surface of said hollow cannula.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said hollow cannula is electrically non-conductive and includes a cauterizing electrode provided about said suction aperture, and wherein said hollow cannula further includes a cannula base having an electrical element for conducting said RF power signals from said RF power supply terminal to said cauterizing electrode.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3082805A
Cited
US3732858A
Cited
US3734099A
Cited
US3699968A
Cited
US3945375A
Cited
US3955579A
Cited
US3994297A
Cited
US4311140A
Cited
US4167944A
Cited
US4203444B1
Cited
US4203444A
Cited
US4314560A
Cited
US4487600A
Cited
US4530356A
Cited
US4589414A
Cited
EP0125070A2
Cited
US4536180A
Cited
US4577629A
Cited
US4938743A
Cited
US4775365A
Cited
US4792327A
Cited
US4735605A
Cited
US4932935A
Cited
US4815462A
Cited
US4850354A
Cited
US4909249A
Cited
US4919129A
Cited
US4940468A
Cited
US4886491A
Cited
US5024652A
Cited
FR2648050A1
Cited
US5106364A
Cited
US5797907A
Cited
US5112302A
Cited
US5643198A
Cited
US5795323A
Cited
US6394973B1
Cited
US6346107B1
Cited
US5236414A
Cited
US5277696A
Cited
US5295955A
Cited
US5186714A
Cited
US5290282A
Cited
US5352194A
Cited
US5364395A
Cited
US5520685A
Cited
US5514086A
Cited
US6102885A
Cited
US5810809A
Cited
US5911700A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-07-13 | 2008-01-12 | 2008-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-07-13 | 2012-01-12 | 2012-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-07-13 | 2016-01-12 | 2016-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |