US5449370A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Blunt tipped ultrasonic trocar
Assignee: Ethicon Endo Surgery Inc
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Filing: 1993-05-12
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Granted: 1995-09-12
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Expires: 2013-05-12
Abstract
Abstract A blunt tipped trocar which uses ultrasonic energy in the form of vibrations to assist a user in penetrating tissue. In one embodiment of the invention, a feedback mechanism is provided which senses a variation in load on the trocar tip and adjusts the ultrasonic energy level of the vibrating tip in accordance with the load condition. Another embodiment of the invention provides a trocar with a self-contained ultrasonic generator.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeffrey J. Vaitekunas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:59
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/34; A61B17/3476; A61B17/32; A61B2017/320044; A61B17/320068; A61B2017/320089
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A trocar assembly comprising a cannula comprising a cannula handle and a cannula tube extending from said cannula handle; an obturator comprising: an ultrasonic transducer, a solid blunt puncturing tip and a shaft wherein said obturator is adapted to be inserted through said cannula tube; and a housing containing said ultrasonic transducer, wherein said shaft has a proximal end coupled to said transducer and a distal end coupled to said blunt tip; and wherein electrical energy is supplied to the transducer to cause the transducer to vibrate at a selected frequency and propagate vibrations along the shaft to the tip.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
A trocar assembly comprising a cannula comprising a cannula handle and a cannula tube extending from said cannula handle; an obturator comprising: an ultrasonic transducer, a solid blunt puncturing tip and a shaft wherein said obturator is adapted to be inserted through said cannula tube; and a housing containing said ultrasonic transducer, wherein said shaft has a proximal end coupled to said transducer and a distal end coupled to said blunt tip; and wherein electrical energy is supplied to the transducer to cause the transducer to vibrate at a selected frequency and propagate vibrations along the shaft to the tip.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The trocar assembly of claim 1 wherein said housing is adapted to be used as a handle to manipulate the trocar assembly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The trocar assembly of claim 1 further comprising a connector which secures the transducer to the housing at a nodal point.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The trocar assembly of claim 3 wherein the housing connector comprises a distal end with a coupling means for coupling the housing connector to the cannula, said coupling means adapted to be received by the proximal end of the cannula handle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The trocar assembly of claim 1 wherein said housing further comprises a sheath coaxial with the shaft and fitting over the outer circumference of the shaft; and wherein said sheath of said housing is adapted to be inserted through said cannula tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The trocar assembly of claim 5 wherein said sheath comprises a polycarbonate material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The trocar assembly of claim 5 wherein said obturator further comprises isolation means for isolating vibrations along the shaft from said sheath, said isolation means located at least one nodal point.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The trocar assembly of claim 7 wherein said isolation means comprises at least one o-ring situated in a corresponding groove formed in said shaft at a nodal point.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The trocar assembly of claim 7 wherein said isolation means comprises at least one protrusion extending circumferentially inwardly from the inner circumference of the sheath to contact said shaft at a nodal point.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
69 words
A trocar obturator for puncturing tissue to access a location for endoscopic surgery comprising: an ultrasonic transducer a solid blunt puncturing tip; and a shaft having a proximal end coupled to said transducer and a distal end coupled to said blunt tip; wherein electrical energy is supplied to the transducer to cause the transducer to vibrate at a selected frequency and propagate vibrations along the shaft to the tip.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
69 words
A trocar obturator for puncturing tissue to access a location for endoscopic surgery comprising: an ultrasonic transducer a solid blunt puncturing tip; and a shaft having a proximal end coupled to said transducer and a distal end coupled to said blunt tip; wherein electrical energy is supplied to the transducer to cause the transducer to vibrate at a selected frequency and propagate vibrations along the shaft to the tip.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The trocar obturator of claim 10 wherein the transducer comprises piezoelectric elements.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The trocar obturator of claim 10 wherein the transducer comprises magnetorestrictive elements.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The trocar obturator of claim 10 further comprising a housing containing said ultrasonic transducer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
The trocar obturator of claim 10 further comprising an end mass having a distal end wherein the transducer has a proximal end and a distal end and said proximal end of the transducer is coupled to the distal end of said end mass.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The trocar obturator of claim 10 further comprising an amplifier coupled to the proximal end of the shaft and the distal end of the transducer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The trocar obturator of claim 10 further comprising an energy source for supplying electrical energy to said ultrasonic transducer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The trocar obturator of claim 16 wherein the energy source comprises a generator remote to the trocar housing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The trocar obturator of claim 16 wherein the energy source comprises electronic generating elements contained within the housing.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The trocar obturator of claim 10 wherein the ultrasonic transducer is integral with said shaft of said obturator.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
The trocar obturator of claim 10 further comprising a feedback mechanism for determining variations in load on the trocar tip and a control means for controlling the energy supplied to the obturator based on feedback from said feedback mechanism.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
The trocar obturator of claim 20 wherein said control means further comprises a shut off mechanism for turning off the deliverance of ultrasonic energy to the obturator tip when the feedback mechanism determines the existence of a preset load condition.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The trocar obturator of claim 21 wherein the preset load condition indicates that the trocar has penetrated tissue.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The trocar obturator of claim 21 wherein the preset load condition indicates one or more tissue characteristics of tissue loading the trocar tip.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
The trocar obturator of claim 21 further comprising a reset mechanism which must be used every time the trocar is turned off by the shut off mechanism before it can be powered up again.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
71 words
The trocar obturator of claim 20 wherein said feedback mechanism comprises a light source and a light receptor located on the housing, wherein said light source directs light towards an active portion of the obturator, wherein said light receptor receives light reflected from the active portion, wherein said light reflected has a doppler shifted frequency related to the load on the tip from which load on the trocar tip is determined.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
The trocar obturator of claim 20 wherein the feedback mechanism uses electrical parameters voltage and current supplied to the transducer to determine variations in load on the trocar tip.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
The trocar obturator of claim 26 wherein the electrical parameters used to determine load on the trocar tip are phase shift differences between voltage and current.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
The trocar obturator of claim 26 wherein the electrical parameters used to determine load on the trocar tip are ratios of the voltage and current magnitudes supplied to the transducer.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
39 words
The trocar obturator of claim 20 wherein the control means is capable of adjusting the amount of energy supplied to the obturator to compensate for changes in load to provide a relatively stable energy level at the obturator tip.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
16 words
The trocar obturator of claim 20 wherein said preset load level is a ceiling impedance level.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
The trocar obturator of claim 16 further comprising a triggering mechanism which switches on electrical energy to supply electrical energy to the obturator.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
The trocar obturator of claim 31 wherein said triggering mechanism comprises a foot activated switch coupled to said energy source.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
31 words
The trocar obturator of claim 31 wherein said triggering mechanism comprises a reset button associated with said obturator, said reset button, when depressed, switching on the energy supplied to the obturator.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-09-11 | 1999-03-13 | 1999-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-09-11 | 2003-03-13 | 2003-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-09-11 | 2007-03-13 | 2007-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |