Apparatus and method incorporating an ultrasound transducer onto a delivery member
TL;DR: In this article, the ultrasound transducer is mounted on support structures which do not bridge the gap between the transducers and delivery member, which prevents heat build-up in the materials in contact therewith.
Abstract: A medical device assembly and method provides an ultrasound transducer mounted onto a catheter shaft. The ultrasound transducer is mounted such that there is a radial separation between the transducer and the underlying catheter shaft. The transducer is mounted on support structures which do not bridge the gap between the transducer and delivery member. The location of the support structures provides for an “airbacked” transducer that is very efficient and prevents heat build-up in the materials in contact therewith.
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01 Oct 2010TL;DR: A control circuit of a surgical device is described in this paper, which includes a first circuit portion coupled to at least one switch operable between an open state and a closed state.
Abstract: A control circuit of a surgical device is disclosed. The control circuit includes a first circuit portion coupled to at least one switch operable between an open state and a closed state. The first circuit portion communicates with a surgical generator over a conductor pair to receive a control signal to determine a state of the at least one switch.
1,056 citations
Patent•
30 Mar 2012TL;DR: In this paper, a transducer and an end effector are configured to provide vibrations along a longitudinal axis at a predetermined frequency and may comprise a piezoelectric stack positioned along the longitudinal axis.
Abstract: A surgical instrument. The surgical instrument may comprise a transducer and an end effector. The transducer may be configured to provide vibrations along a longitudinal axis at a predetermined frequency and may comprise a piezoelectric stack positioned along the longitudinal axis. The transducer also may comprise a first metallic end mass positioned along the longitudinal axis adjacent a first end of the piezoelectric stack and a second metallic end mass positioned along the longitudinal axis adjacent a second end of the piezoelectric stack. The length of the transducer may be greater than or equal to of one wavelength and less than ½ of one wavelength. The end effector may be coupled to the transducer and may extend along the longitudinal axis. The length of the transducer and the end effector may be a multiple of ½ of one wavelength.
954 citations
Patent•
14 Jun 2013TL;DR: In this article, a proximally positioned straight section extending along a longitudinal axis and a distally positioned curved section coupled to the straight section and curved away from the longitudinal axis are described.
Abstract: Various embodiments described herein are directed to ultrasonic blades. For example, an ultrasonic blade may comprise a proximally positioned straight section extending along a longitudinal axis and a distally positioned curved section coupled to the straight section and curved away from the longitudinal axis. The curved section may define a radius of curvature and subtend a first angle. A point of tangency between the curved section and the straight section may be positioned at either a node of the ultrasonic blade or an anti-node of the ultrasonic blade.
778 citations
Patent•
25 May 2007TL;DR: A device and method for ablating tissue is described in this paper, comprising the steps of acquiring an anatomical image of a patient, correlating the image to the patient, guiding an ablating member within the patient while tracking the position of the ablating body part in the patient.
Abstract: A device and method for ablating tissue is disclosed comprising the steps of acquiring an anatomical image of a patient, correlating the image to the patient, guiding an ablating member within the patient while tracking the position of the ablating member in the patient, positioning the ablating member in a desired position to ablate tissue, emitting ablating energy from the ablating member to form an ablated tissue area and removing the ablating member from the patient.
656 citations
Patent•
14 Jun 2013TL;DR: In this paper, a surgical instrument consisting of an end effector, an articulating shaft, and an ultrasonic transducer assembly is presented, where the transducers are positioned proximally from the end-effector along a longitudinal axis and pivotably coupled at an articulation joint.
Abstract: Various embodiments are direct to a surgical instrument comprising and end effector, an articulating shaft and an ultrasonic transducer assembly. The end effector may comprise an ultrasonic blade. The articulating shaft may extend proximally from the end effector along a longitudinal axis and may comprise a proximal shaft member and a distal shaft member pivotably coupled at an articulation joint. The ultrasonic transducer assembly may comprise an ultrasonic transducer acoustically coupled to the ultrasonic blade. The ultrasonic transducer assembly may be positioned distally from the articulation joint.
649 citations
References
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11 Aug 1993
TL;DR: A medical probe device comprises a catheter having a stylet guide housing with one or more stylet ports in a side wall of the probe, which can be used to direct a flexible stylet outward through the stylet port and through intervening tissue at a preselected, adjustable angle to a target tissue as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: A medical probe device comprises a catheter having a stylet guide housing with one or more stylet ports in a side wall thereof and a stylet guide for directing a flexible stylet outward through the stylet port and through intervening tissue at a preselected, adjustable angle to a target tissue. The total catheter assembly includes a stylet guide lumen communicating with the stylet port and a stylet positioned in said stylet guide lumen for longitudinal movement from the port through intervening tissue to a target tissue. The stylet can be an electrical conductor enclosed within a non-conductive layer, the electrical conductor being a radiofrequency electrode. Preferably, the non-conductive layer is a sleeve which is axially moveable on the electrical conductor to expose a selected portion of the electrical conductor surface in the target tissue. The stylet can also be a microwave antenna. The stylet can also be a hollow tube for delivering treatment fluid to the target tissue. It can also include a fiber optic cable for laser treatment. The catheter can include one or more inflatable balloons located adjacent to the stylet port for anchoring the catheter or dilation. Ultrasound transponders and temperature sensors can be attached to the probe end and/or stylet. The stylet guide can define a stylet path from an axial orientation in the catheter through a curved portion to a lateral orientation at the stylet port.
1,634 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, an acoustic imaging system for use within a heart has a catheter, an ultrasound device, and an electrode mounted on the catheter to create an ultrasonic image, and the electrode is arranged for electrical contact with the internal structure.
Abstract: An acoustic imaging system for use within a heart has a catheter, an ultrasound device incorporated into the catheter, and an electrode mounted on the catheter. The ultrasound device directs ultrasonic signals toward an internal structure in the heart to create an ultrasonic image, and the electrode is arranged for electrical contact with the internal structure. A chemical ablation device mounted on the catheter ablates at least a portion of the internal structure by delivery of fluid to the internal structure. The ablation device includes a material that vibrates in response to electrical excitation, the ablation being at least assisted by vibration of the material. The ablation device may alternatively be a transducer incorporated into the catheter, arranged to convert electrical signals into radiation and to direct the radiation toward the internal structure. The electrode may be a sonolucent structure incorporated into the catheter, through which the ultrasound device is arranged to direct signals. An acoustic marker mounted on the catheter emits a sonic wave when electrically excited. A central processing unit creates a graphical representation of the internal structure, and super-imposes items of data onto the graphical representation at locations that represent the respective plurality of locations within the internal structure corresponding to the plurality of items of data. A display system displays the graphical representation onto which the plurality of items of data are super-imposed.
1,541 citations
TL;DR: Since September 1987, this surgical procedure has been applied in seven patients and all seven patients have been cured of atrial fibrillation and none is receiving any postoperative antiarrhythmic medications.
1,519 citations
TL;DR: In some patients, the surface ECG pattern of atrial fibrillation is due to a focal rapidly firing source of activity that can be eliminated by discrete radiofrequency energy applications.
Abstract: Background Atrial fibrillation is usually thought to be due to multiple circulating reentrant wavelets. From previous studies, a focal mechanism is considered to be very unlikely. In this report, focal atrial fibrillation is defined on an ECG pattern of atrial fibrillation and later demonstrated to be due to a focal source. Methods and Results Nine patients (five men and four women; age, 38±7 years) with paroxysmal focal atrial fibrillation are reported here. All were free of structural heart disease and had frequent episodes of atrial fibrillation despite the use of a mean of 4±2 antiarrhythmic drugs. Atrial fibrillation was associated with runs of irregular atrial tachycardia or monomorphic extrasystoles. The electrophysiological study demonstrated that all the atrial arrhythmias were due to the same focus firing irregularly and exhibiting a consistent and centrifugal pattern of activation. Three foci were found to be located in the right atrium, two near the sinus node and one in the ostium of the coro...
1,178 citations
Patent•
28 Feb 2001
TL;DR: In this article, radio frequency energy is used to both temporarily stun tissue and to ablate tissue through a common electrode, which can be accomplished by tissue ablation or by the administration of medication.
Abstract: Systems and methods for diagnosing and treating tissue transmit an electrical energy pulse that temporarily stuns a zone of tissue, temporarily rendering it electrically unresponsive. The systems and methods sense an electrophysiological effect due to the transmitted pulse. The systems and methods alter an electrophysiological property of tissue in or near the zone based, at least in part, upon the sensed electrophysiological effect. The alteration of the electrophysiological property can be accomplished, for example, by tissue ablation or by the administration of medication. In a preferred implementation, radio frequency energy is used to both temporarily stun tissue and to ablate tissue through a common electrode.
1,098 citations