Surgery: kinesitherapy – Kinesitherapy – Ultrasonic
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-27
2004-07-13
Mercader, Eleni Mantis (Department: 3737)
Surgery: kinesitherapy
Kinesitherapy
Ultrasonic
C600S439000, C604S022000, C606S001000, C606S169000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06761698
ABSTRACT:
This application claims benefit of Japanese Application No. 2000-229296 filed in Japan on Jul. 28, 2000, Japanese Application No. 2001-177371 filed in Japan on Jun. 12, 2001, and Japanese Application No. 2001-183790 filed in Japan on Jun. 18, 2001, the contents of which are incorporated by this reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an ultrasonic surgical operation system for generating ultrasonic vibrations and performing treatments on living tissue.
2. Description of the Related Art
Ultrasonic operation systems are being developed, practically implemented, and widely used as surgical operating apparatuses replacing the electric scalpel. These systems can perform such treatments as coagulation, incision, and puncture, using ultrasonic vibrations or other energy.
An example of such a surgical operation apparatus that uses ultrasonic is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H9-38098. This is an operation apparatus wherewith a hand piece having an ultrasonic vibrator incorporated therein is attached to the main apparatus unit, ultrasonic vibrations are generated in the ultrasonic vibrator by driving signals output from that main apparatus unit, those generated ultrasonic vibrations are transmitted to an operating member at the tip end of the hand piece, that operating member is pressed against the treatment object site, and thereby living tissue is subjected to an operating procedure.
With an ultrasonic operation system such as this, as the range of applications has broadened, there are now many types of hand pieces that can be used. Thereupon, in order to meet the demand to be able to use various hand pieces in one surgical operation, configurations are being proposed wherewith multiple hand pieces are connected to the main apparatus unit.
When such multiple types of hand pieces are used, it has been necessary to perform a task to change the way connectors provided at the ends of cords extending from the hand pieces are connected to the main apparatus unit.
An expansion unit has also been proposed, with a view to cases where a plurality of hand pieces is used during one surgical operation, wherewith multiple hand pieces are attached to the main apparatus unit so that use can be made thereof, switching from one hand piece to another.
An example of this kind of thing is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-271135, wherein art is described for providing three connector ports, so that, by manipulating a selector switch provided on a front panel of an expansion unit, the connector port to be used can be selected, that is, a hand piece connected to a given connector port can be selected. In that same publication, a technology is described wherewith provision is made so that a hand switch for turning the output on and off can be attached to a hand piece, so that, when the hand switch is thrown, the hand piece to which that thrown hand switch is attached is selected.
However, when multiple hand pieces are used, there will be multiple cables extending from the hand pieces in the operating room, whereupon the operating room will possibly become congested.
With the technology described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-271135 described above, moreover, in order to select a hand piece for use, the switch on the front panel must be manipulated, but that switch is in a non-sterile area, wherefore a surgical operator actually performing the operation cannot manipulate it, but will have to ask a nurse or other assistant to manipulate it, which is confusing.
Furthermore, the surgical operator will then have to confirm the results of the switch made with the expansion unit by looking at the panel display on the main apparatus unit, but there will be cases where the surgical operator will be in a position from which it is difficult to look at that panel display, whereupon that surgical operator will have to change positions or have an assistant make the confirmation as to which port has actually been selected, which is confusing.
There is also a technology, on the other hand, wherewith a freely detachable connector is provided at the hand piece, the cord is left connected at the main apparatus, and the surgical operator is able to use a hand piece that he or she has selected, from among a plurality of types, and connected, in the sterile area where the operation is being performed. With this technology, however, it is confusing for the nurse who is passing out and taking back instruments to confirm which hand piece the surgical operator has selected and connected to the cord.
It should be noted here that, in general, the output of a hand piece such as described in the foregoing is controlled by operating a foot switch. There are cases, however, where, depending on the type of operating instrument used, it is better to use a hand switch than a foot switch.
Various types of such hand switches have been proposed. Known to the technology are, for example, a hand switch that is formed integrally on the hand piece, such as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,015,227 and Japanese Patent Publication No. H6-42893, and a hand switch configured so that it can be freely attached to and detached from the hand piece, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,702, U.S. Pat. No. 4,552,143, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-087276, etc.
However, with a configuration wherein the hand piece cable and the hand switch cable are separate, there will be cases where the operation thereof becomes onerous, as noted below.
For example, one end of the hand piece cable is connected to some operating instrument, and the other end is connected to a generator. Also, a hand switch is attached to the operating instrument, and a hand switch generator plug is connected to the generator. The operating instrument is then used in such an arrangement as this.
Subsequently, the operating instrument, with the hand switch still attached thereto, is detached from one end of the hand piece cable, another operating instrument is connected to that one end of that hand piece cable, and that other operating instrument is used by controlling it by a foot switch. If, at this time, the hand switch that is still attached to the original operating instrument is manipulated, there is a possibility that output will be effected from the other operating instrument currently being used, and measures will have to be taken to deal with that possibility, which is troublesome and leads to surgical operating times becoming lengthy.
Furthermore, with a configuration wherein the hand piece cable and the hand switch cable are separate, the number of cables extending from the hand piece will be two, making the operating room more congested.
In Japanese Patent No. 2608692, moreover, the technology is described wherewith one hand switch cable extends from a hand piece socket provided in one end of the hand piece cable, a hand switch is provided integrally at the end of that hand piece cable, and that hand switch can be attached to and detached from the hand piece.
With the technology described in the U.S. Pat. No. 2,608,692, however, the hand switch and the hand switch cable are made integral with the hand piece cable, wherefore it is not possible to select a hand switch of optimal shape according to the operating instrument that is to be attached, the operability of the operating instrument itself may be caused to deteriorate, and there may be cases where that operating instrument cannot be attached. Furthermore, even in the case of an operating instrument that does not require a hand switch, because the hand switch is integrated therewith, it has to be attached to the hand piece, and there is a possibility that it will get in the way.
An ultrasonic operation apparatus in an ultrasonic operation system such as described above will generally comprise a hand piece having an ultrasonic vibrator incorporated therein, and an ultrasonic vibration transmission member for transmitting ultrasonic vibrations to the operating member, which hand piece and ultras
Ishikawa Manabu
Karasawa Hitoshi
Okada Mitsumasa
Sakurai Tomohisa
Shibata Norikiyo
Mantis Mercader Eleni
Olympus Corporation
Scully Scott Murphy & Presser
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