Lipectomy cannula

Claim 2

An improved lipectomy cannula, comprising: handle means; an outer tube having distal and proximate ends, and having a first longitudinal slot, said outer tube being open at said proximate end, and said proximate end of said outer tube attached to said handle means; an inner tube having distal and proximate ends, and having a second spiral slot, said inner tube located within said outer tube, said inner tube being open at said proximate end, and said proximate end of said inner tube attached to said handle means; vacuum means coupled to said inner tube for creating suction within said inner tube; said spiral and longitudinal slots each having rounded cutting edges along their length to remove fat lobules by tearing in conjunction with said vacuum means; motor means coupled to said inner tube for rotating said inner tube; and valve means having first and second positions whereby, when said valve means is in said first position, negative pressure is maintained within said vacuum means, and said inner tube is vented to surrounding atmosphere and, when said valve means is in said second position, said vacuum means is in fluid communication with said inner tube, said valve means being interposed between said inner tube and said vacuum means.

Claim 3

The improved lipectomy cannula of claim 1 wherein said valve means is located within said handle means.

Claim 4

The improved lipectomy cannula of claim 2 further comprising activation means for switching said valve means from said first position to said second position, and from said second position to said first position.

Claim 5

The improved lipectomy cannula of claim 3 further comprising means for biasing said valve means to said first position.

Claim 6

The improved lipectomy cannula of claim 3 wherein: said handle means has an extended cavity therein fluidly communicating said inner tube with said vacuum means; said handle means further has a cylindrical void therein, said void bisecting said cavity into distal and proximate portions, and adjacent to a vent hole in said handle means; said valve means includes a cylindrical member whose dimensions approximately equal the size of said void, said cylindrical member being rotatably mounted in said void, the axis of rotation of said cylindrical member being generally perpendicular to said extended cavity; and said cylindrical member further has primary and secondary channels therein forming a "Y", both of said channels being generally perpendicular to said axis of rotation of said cylindrical member, whereby when said cylindrical member is placed in a first orientation corresponding to said first position of said valve means, said secondary channel aligns with said distal portion of said extended cavity, said primary channel aligns with said vent hole, and said proximate portion of said cavity is obstructed, allowing said inner tube to equalize with ambient pressure while maintaining negative pressure in said proximate portion of said cavity and whereby, when said cylindrical member is placed in a second orientation corresponding to said second position of said valve means, said primary channel aligns with said extended cavity allowing fluid communication between said distal and proximate portions of said cavity, and said vent hole is obstructed.

Claim 7

The improved lipectomy cannula of claim 5 wherein said activation means comprises a lever member coupled to said cylindrical member whereby, when said lever member is moved, said cylindrical member rotates.

Claim 8

The improved lipectomy cannula of claim 6 further comprising means for biasing said lever member and said cylindrical member to said first orientation.

Claim 9

An improved lipectomy cannula comprising: a tubular member having first and second ends, for insertion into the fatty tissue of a patient, said tubular member having an opening at said first end; handle means having first and second ends and having a cavity extending therethrough, sadi first end of said handle means being connected to said second end of said tubular member, and said second end of said handle means having a port for attachment to a vacuum source, said port being in fluid communication with said cavity; valve means having first and second positions whereby, when said valve means is in said first position, negative pressure is maintained along a line connecting said port to said vacuum source and the inside of said tubular member is vented to surrounding atmosphere, and, when said valve means is in said second position, said vacuum source is in fluid communication with said handle means and said opening of said tubular member.

Claim 10

An improved lipectomy cannula comprising: a tubular member having first and second ends, for insertion into the fatty tissue of a patient, said tubular member having an opening at said first end; handle means having first and second ends and having a cavity extending therethrough, sadi first end of said handle means being connected to said second end of said tubular member, and said second end of said handle means having a port for attachment to a vacuum source, said port being in fluid communication with said cavity; valve means having first and second positions whereby, when said valve means is in said first position, negative pressure is maintained along a line connecting said port to said vacuum source and the inside of said tubular member is vented to surrounding atmosphere, and, when said valve means is in said second position, said vacuum source is in fluid communication with said handle means and said opening of said tubular member.

Claim 11

The improved lipectomy cannula of claim 8 wherein said valve means is located with said handle means.

Claim 12

The improved lipectomy cannula of claim 9 further comprising activation means for switching said valve means from said first position to said second position, and from said second position to said first position.

Claim 13

The improved lipectomy cannula of claim 10 wherein: said handle means further has a cylindrical void therein, said void bisecting said cavity into distal and proximate portions, and adjacent to a vent hole in said handle means; said valve means includes a cylindrical member whose dimensions approximately equal the size of said void, said cylindrical member being rotatably mounted in said void, the axis of rotation of said cylindrical member being generally perpendicular to said extended cavity; and said cylindrical member further has primary and secondary channels therein forming a "Y", both of said channels being generally perpendicular to said axis of rotation of said cylindrical member, whereby when said cylindrical member is placed in a first orientation corresponding to said first position of said valve means, said secondary channel aligns with said distal portion of said extended cavity, said primary channel aligns with said vent hole, and said proximate portion of said cavity is obstructed, allowing said tubular member to equalize with ambient pressure while maintaining negative pressure in said proximate portion of said cavity, and whereby, when said cylindrical member is placed in a second orientation corresponding to said second position of said valve means, said primary channel aligns with said extended cavity allowing fluid communication between said distal and proximate portions of said cavity, and said vent hole is obstructed.

Claim 14

The improved lipectomy cannula of claim 11 wherein said activation means comprises a lever member coupled to said cylindrical member whereby, when said lever member is moved, said cylindrical member rotates.

Claim 15

The improved lipectomy cannula of claim 12 further comprising means for biasing said lever member and said cylindrical member to said first orientation.

Claim 16

The improved lipectomy cannula of claim 8 wherein said valve means is located intermediate said port and said vacuum source.

Claim 17

An improved lipectomy device comprising: a cannula having distal and proximate ends; a handle having distal and proximate ends, and having a cavity extending therethrough, said distal end of said handle being attached to said proximate end of said cannula, said handle further having a cylindrical shaped void therein bisecting said cavity, and having a vent hole adjacent to said void; a cylindrical three-way valve whose dimensions approximately equal the size of said void, said cylindrical valve being rotatably mounted within said void, the axis of rotation of said cylindrical valve being generally perpendicular to said cavity, and said cylindrical valve having primary and secondary channels therethrough forming a "Y", both of said channels being generally perpendicular to said axis of said cylindrical valve whereby said cylindrical valve may be placed in a first orientation wherein said secondary channel aligns with said cavity and said primary channel aligns with said vent hole, allowing said cannula to fluidly communicate with ambient atmosphere but obstructing fluid communication between said proximate end of said handle and said cannula, and further whereby said cylindrical valve may be placed in a second orientation wherein said primary channel aligns with said cavity allowing fluid communication between said proximate end of said handle and said cannula but obstructing said vent hole; a lever coupled to said cylindrical valve and adjacent said handle for rotating said valve within said void; and spring means for biasing said lever to a first position corresponding to said first orientation of said cylindrical valve.

Claim 18

An improved lipectomy device comprising: a cannula having distal and proximate ends; a handle having distal and proximate ends, and having a cavity extending therethrough, said distal end of said handle being attached to said proximate end of said cannula, said handle further having a cylindrical shaped void therein bisecting said cavity, and having a vent hole adjacent to said void; a cylindrical three-way valve whose dimensions approximately equal the size of said void, said cylindrical valve being rotatably mounted within said void, the axis of rotation of said cylindrical valve being generally perpendicular to said cavity, and said cylindrical valve having primary and secondary channels therethrough forming a "Y", both of said channels being generally perpendicular to said axis of said cylindrical valve whereby said cylindrical valve may be placed in a first orientation wherein said secondary channel aligns with said cavity and said primary channel aligns with said vent hole, allowing said cannula to fluidly communicate with ambient atmosphere but obstructing fluid communication between said proximate end of said handle and said cannula, and further whereby said cylindrical valve may be placed in a second orientation wherein said primary channel aligns with said cavity allowing fluid communication between said proximate end of said handle and said cannula but obstructing said vent hole; a lever coupled to said cylindrical valve and adjacent said handle for rotating said valve within said void; and spring means for biasing said lever to a first position corresponding to said first orientation of said cylindrical valve.