WO2006126195A1

WO2006126195A1 - Surgical system and method

Info

Publication number: WO2006126195A1
Application number: PCT/IL2006/000607
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ishay Wohl
Original assignee: Ishay Wohl
Priority date: 2005-05-27
Filing date: 2006-05-23
Publication date: 2006-11-30
Also published as: GB0510854D0

Abstract

A liposuction device is capable of automatically scanning an area while preventing or minimizing lateral movements which may cause damage to a patient undergoing liposuction. It performs the automatic scanning of an area using a retractable tube (3) capable of extending and retracting along a circular path of fixed radius. A liposuction system comprises means (17) for automatically scanning an area while preventing or minimizing lateral movements capable of causing damage to a patient undergoing liposuction, comprising means for alternately performing a linear movement and a local area scan movement.

Description

SURGICAJL SYSTEM .4ND METHOD

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a system for removing excess fat from a patient's body, to implement an improved liposuction surgical procedure.

Heretofore, the liposuction procedure has been implemented by inserting a rigid rube into the fatty area as desired. The suction effect at the tube's end caused fat to be removed from the body. As the tube is gradually being inserted into the body, fat along its path is removed from the body, to achieve the desired effect.

It is important that the tube not be moved sideways, but only in and out along its longitudinal axis. Such a movement is required so as not to rupture the multitude of connections between the outer skin and the body parts beyond the fat region, including for example nerves and blood vessels. As the suction tube passes between these connections, they being flexible move aside and remain generally unharmed.

Therefore, the surgeon gradually inserts the suction tube along a predefined line and gradually removes it. The suction tube is then inserted at a slightly different angle to remove fat from an adjacent area, along a different line. The procedure is performed repeatedly so as to cover a predefined target area, where fat is to be removed therefrom, A problem with this prior art procedure is the possible non-uniformity of the resulting area, As fat is removed along separate, discrete lines/paths, there may remain undesirable lines/depressions on the patient's body. The purpose of the current invention is, among others, to achieve a more uniform external body surface following the liposuction procedure. Another purpose is to implement a device capable of suction over a wider area at a time, for faster, more effective liposuction. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the current invention, a liposuction tube includes means for removing fat from a predefined area in the patient's body, rather than performing suction along a linear path only. Scanning means in the system allow to perform an improved fat suction process.

Further purposes and benefits of the current invention will become apparent upon reading the present disclosure.

The invention thus provides a liposuction device comprising means for automatically scanning an area of adipose tissue while preventing or minimizing lateral movements.

The invention further provides the means for automatically scanning an area comprise a retractable tube with means for extending and retracting it along a circular path of fixed radius.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, a preferred embodiment will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 illustrates a prior art liposuction device and method. Fig. 2 illustrates the new liposuction device and method. Fig. 3 details area coverage with the new liposuction device.

Fig. 4 details the structure of the new liposuction device. Fig. 5 details the operation of the new liposuction device. Fig. 6 details a liposuction system.

Fig. 7 details a curvilinearly extensible liposuction subsystem; and Figs. 8 and 9 detail movements that do not cause damage to tissue - a linear and a circular movement, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 1 illustrates a prior art liposuction device and method, using a suction instrument including a section tube 11. The tube 11, with a handle 16 held by the surgeon, is inserted into the patient's body 18 through a hole therein. A flexible vacuum suction tube 17 removes the fat taken out of the body. - J -

The suction tube is also illustrated in other suction paths 12 13, 14. In each path, the suction tube is inserted into the patient's body as indicated by arrow 112, and is subsequently removed as indicated by 113. That is, the surgeon has to almost totally remove the tube from the patient's body, make a slight change in its orientation, then reintroduce it. The process is repeated until covering the desired area and/or achieving the desired results.

The procedure is slow and tedious, time consuming. It may leave undesired irregularities on the patient's skin, indicative of the discrete paths 11-14, etc., along which the liposuction procedure has been performed. Fig. 2 illustrates the new liposuction device and method, of a suction instrument comprising a retractable suction tube 3 capable of automatically extending along various paths, as indicated by way of example with several states 31, 32, 33.

The tube 3 extends out of the rigid tube 2. Tube 2 is connected to the handle 16 held by the surgeon. The whole instrument is inserted into the patient's body 18 through a hole therein.

The system further includes a flexible vacuum suction tube 17 and power cord for the electrical system therein.

For a fixed location of tube 2, tube 3 slides out thereof at a predefined curvature; the radius of curvature is fixed for each extension/retraction cycle, but will change from one cycle to the next.

This is an example of one embodiment of an important aspect of the present invention - to perform automatic scanning of the area, while the suction tube moves along its central/longitudinal axis not sideways, so as not to damage the patient's tissue.

In this embodiment, each small part of the tube 3 is a tiny cylinder; it moves along its axis of symmetry rather than sideways, see also Figs. 8 and 9.

Fig. 3 details area coverage with the neλv liposuction device. As detailed below, the system performs a sequential movement, alternately moving the rigid tube 2 and the curvilinear tube 3 at its end.

The device with tube 2 and handle 16 held by the surgeon, is inserted into the patient's body as indicated by arrow 112, and is removed along the same line, as indicated with arrow 113.

In each such position of the instrument as indicated - the retractable suction tube 3 goes out and back into tube 2, while achieving an area scan in the X-Y plane. While the tube 2 is inserted slowly, the tube 3 may move faster, so as to perform a vibrating type of movement. The movements of tube 3 are preferably implemented automatically, using various linear motors as known in the art.

For example, solenoids may be used. In another embodiment, electrical motors with gears may be used. The gear may transform the fast motor's rotation into a lower, more powerful rectilinear movement. Electrical control circuits may precisely control the rectilinear movement, as known in robotics for example.

Other movement means may include pneumatic or hydraulic means.

Fig. 4 details the structure of the new liposuction device. The handle 16 may include activation buttons 162. These buttons may be activated by the surgeon to activate the vibration of tube 3.

The amount/amplitude of the vibrations of tube 3 may be controlled as well: the amount of extension, the range of radii of curvature, the rate (speed) of activating the tube 3. Scan plane guiding recesses 161 may help the surgeon to better manipulate the device. The liposuction device should be kept horizontal or parallel to the patient's outer skin surface or the area to remove fat thereof.

The tube 3 scans in the plane indicated by the recesses 161.

Fig. 5 details the combined linear/circular movements in one embodiment of the new liposuction device.

The stages may include:

A - Tube 3 extends as indicated in 312 and retracts per 313, while tube 2 remains at a fixed location.

Tube 3 moves along a circular path of radius Rl. B, C - Tube 3 moves along a plurality of other circular paths of radii R2, R3... etc., each time extending and retracting along a fixed radius path.

D - The tube 2 is further inserted as indicated by 212, while tube 3 is retracted.

E, F, G - Tube 3 moves along a plurality of circular paths of radii R2, R3...etc, each time extending and retracting along a fixed radius path, while tube 2 remains at a fixed location.

Thus, the new device performs a sequential movement, of alternatively moving the tube 2 and the tube 3. According to the present invention, it is important that the tube 3 be kept retracted when the tube 2 is moved, otherwise, as tube 2 moved along its axis, tube 3 will move laterally and may cause damage.

In another embodiment, the tube 3 is kept extended, but collinear with the tube 2 (thus extending straight ahead) thus in fact forming one linear, concentric tube made of tubes 2, 3.

Fig. 6 details the linear/circular driving mechanism of the liposuction system. This system may be used to implement the method as detailed in Fig. 5 for example.

The rigid tube 2 is inserted into the patient's body 18 through a hole therein. At the insertion or near thereto, for example, may be located a movement sensor 41 which measures the^s precise amount of insertion or removal of tube 2 from the patient's body.

Such movements are caused by the surgeon, while implementing the liposuction procedure.

During a first cycle of operation (A,B,C,E,F,G. in Fig. 5) the system causes an equal and opposite movement of tube 2 by a linear/curvilinear movement mechanism 42 attached to the handle 16 held by the surgeon. The net effect is that, although the surgeon is manually inserting/removing the device, tube 2 will remain at a fixed location or generally at such a location.

Tube 3, however, moves in and out to cover an area there.

During a first cycle of operation (D in Fig. 5) the system stops the tube 3 in its retracted state, and moves the tube 2 in or out by the required degree. Thus, the surgeon feels the instruments goes in or out t6he required distance, however the instruments performs it in jumps (discretely) rather than continuously.

The control unit 43 powers the device, supplying energy to the liposuction device: electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, vacuum and/or mechanical energy. It is possible to stop the sideways scan whilst the surgeon moves the device forward or back.

In this case, the tube 3 either remains stationary or scans along the axis of tube 2. This may achieve a simpler, lower cost embodiment of the invention.

This mode by be initiated automatically: when the system detects that the device is stationary, a lateral scan is initiated. When an in/out movement of the whole device is detected, then the tube 3 is retracted into tube 2, or is aligned with tube 2, or performs a scan, in a linear path along the axis of symmetry of tube 2.

Fig. 7 details a curvilinearly extensible liposuction subsystem. A flexible suction tube 48 is mounted between two flexible steel bands 46, 47. As unequal lengths of the steel bands 46, 47 are pushed out the mechanism 42, the device assumes a curvilinear shape of the radius R2. For various differences in length, the radius of curvature will be different. The average of the extension length of bands 46, 47 will determine the measure of extension of the device, it is part 3 mentioned above.

The control unit 43 creates the vacuum required for the liposuction. Other means of achieving an extending tube of curvilinear shape may be used.

Alternatively, the tube 3 may extend linearly, but its angle relative to the axis of the tube 2 may be changed for each extension cycle. Again, each part of tube 3 will move along its longitudinal axis not sideways, to prevent or minimize damage to living tissue.

Preferably, the bands 46, 47 are removably coupled to the motors in unit 42.

Tube 48 may be removably coupled to unit 43. This allows to sterilize the unit including parts 46, 47 and 48 (which is easy to perform), whilst the motor means 42 and unit 43 need not be sterilized. That is, the system preferably includes a removable canula that may be easily sterilized, and actuators/suction means that need not be sterilized.

Figs. 8 and 9 further detail movements that do not cause damage to tissue - a linear and a circular movement, respectively. In the former case, there is no lateral movement but only along the axis of symmetry 108 of the rod 11.

In the latter case, each infinitesimal piece 39 of the circularly shaped rod moves along its axis of symmetry 398, thus again there is no lateral movement that may cause damage to tissue.

Various other embodiments of the above detailed device may be implemented, as will become apparent to person skilled in the art upon reading the present disclosure, together with the associated drawings and claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A liposuction device comprising means for automatically scanning an area of adipose tissue while preventing or minimizing lateral movements.

2. The liposuction device according to claim 1, wherein the means for automatically scanning an area comprise a retractable tube with means for extending and retracting it along a circular path of fixed radius.

3. The liposuction device according to claim 2, further including means for selecting the radius of the circular arc.

4. The liposuction device according to claim 2, wherein scanning parameters are selectable.

5. The liposuction device according to claim 2, wherein the second tube includes a flexible tube held between two flexible bands of non-extending length, wherein each band is connected to a movement device configured to generate longitudinal movement of the flexible bands.

6. The liposuction device according to claim 5, wherein the longitudinal movement of the two bands determines the amount of extension of the distal end of the second tube beyond the distal end of the first tube.

7. The liposuction device according to claim 5, wherein difference in longitudinal movement between the two flexible bands determines a radius of curvature of the distal end of the second tube extending beyond the distal end of the first tube.

8. The liposuction device according to any one of the previous claims further comprising means for automatically scanning an area of adipose tissue, the scanning means comprising means for extending and retracting the second tube along a linear path at a predefined angle with the axis of symmetry of the first tube.

9. The liposuction device according to claim 8, further including means for automatically changing the angle of the linear path for each cycle of extending and retracting it.

10. The liposuction device according to claim I₅ further including means for activating the area scanning whilst the device is not being moved.

11. The liposuction device according to claim 10, further including means for activating a linear scan along the axis of the device whilst the device is being moved.

12. The liposuction system according to any one of the previous claims further comprising means for alternately performing a linear movement and a local area scan movement of the first tube in the body.

13. The liposuction system according to claim 12, further including means for measuring the linear movement of the device and compensation means for preventing a linear movement during the local area scan cycle, and for performing the linear movement while the local area is stopped.

14. The liposuction system according to claim 12, further including means for changing parameters of the automatic scanning.