Medtronic Xomed, Inc.

Medtronic, Inc.

Xomed Surgical Products, Inc.

Fred B Dinger

John T Cleveland

James B Hissong

Guy K Williamson

A method of thermal ablation using high intensity focused ultrasound energy includes the steps of positioning an ultrasound emitting member, emitting ultrasound energy from the ultrasound emitting member, focusing the ultrasound energy, ablating with the focused ultrasound energy to form an ablated tissue area and removing the ultrasound emitting member.

Methods of using high intensity focused ultrasound to form an ablated tissue area containing a plurality of lesions

A surgical handpiece adapter for converting rotary motion of a powered surgical handpiece into reciprocating motion to drive a cutting member includes a rear drive shaft for being removably coupled to a rotatable drive shaft of the handpiece, a front drive shaft for being removably coupled to the cutting member and a motion converting mechanism causing reciprocation of the front drive shaft and, therefore, the cutting member coupled thereto, in response to rotation of the rear drive shaft by the drive shaft of the handpiece. A handpiece adapter assembly is formed by an adapter and a cutting member coupled thereto, and a powered surgical handpiece assembly is formed by an adapter, a cutting member coupled to the adapter and a powered surgical handpiece coupled to the adapter. A cutting member includes a surgical suction rasp for being reciprocatively driven to cut anatomical tissue and having a tissue cutting surface and a suction passage with an inlet opening along the tissue cutting surface for removing anatomical debris from an operative site at which the rasp is used. A cutting member includes an osteotome for being reciprocatively power driven to cut anatomical tissue and having a cutting edge and a blunt tip extending distally of the cutting edge. A method of facial surgery includes the steps of reciprocating a distal end of a rasp to reshape the nasal bone of a patient and removing anatomical debris through a suction passage of the rasp while the nasal bone is being reshaped. Another method of facial surgery includes the steps of reciprocating a distal end of an osteotome via a powered surgical handpiece and moving the distal end of the osteotome, while it is being reciprocated, forwardly along the nasal bone of a patient in a predetermined path with a cutting edge of the osteotome in contact with the nasal bone to make a cut of desired length in the nasal bone along the predetermined path.

Suction rasp and handpiece adapter assembly and powered surgical handpiece assembly including a suction rasp

A method of making a cut in the nasal bone of a patient includes the steps of reciprocating a distal end of an osteotome via a powered surgical handpiece and moving the distal end of the osteotome, while it is being reciprocated, forwardly along the nasal bone of a patient in a predetermined path with a cutting edge of the osteotome in contact with the nasal bone to make a cut of desired length in the nasal bone along the predetermined path. The distal end of the osteotome may be moved so as to produce a straight cut and/or a curved cut in the nasal bone. The distal end of the osteotome may be reciprocated by converting rotary motion of the handpiece into reciprocating motion of the osteotome.

Method of making a cut in the nasal bone

A method of skin rejuvenation by thermal ablation using high intensity focused ultrasound energy includes the steps of positioning an ultrasound emitting member adjacent an external surface of the skin, emitting ultrasound energy from the ultrasound emitting member into the skin, focusing the ultrasound energy in the skin, ablating the skin with the focused ultrasound energy to form an ablated tissue area below the external surface of the skin containing unablated tissue of the skin and a plurality of lesions at which the tissue of the skin is ablated, and removing the ultrasound emitting member from adjacent the external surface of the skin. The lesions cause collagen production by the skin to be stimulated. The lesions can begin and end at predetermined depths beneath the external surface of the skin so that the epidermis and the deep layer of the dermis are not damaged.

Methods of skin rejuvenation using high intensity focused ultrasound to form an ablated tissue area containing a plurality of lesions

A surgical osteotome for being reciprocatively driven to cut anatomical tissue includes an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end presenting a cutting element. The cutting element comprises an upper part and a lower part, with the lower part having inwardly angled lateral surfaces merging at a cutting edge. The upper part forms a blunt tip disposed distally of the cutting edge. A handpiece adapter assembly includes the osteotome removably coupled to a handpiece adapter. The handpiece adapter includes a motion converting mechanism for converting rotary motion of a powered surgical handpiece into reciprocating motion of the osteotome. A powered surgical handpiece assembly includes the osteotome, the handpiece adapter and a powered surgical handpiece having a rotatable drive shaft.

Osteotome and handpiece adapter assembly and powered surgical handpiece assembly including an osteotome

Method of surgically reshaping the nasal bone

A method of tongue reduction by thermal ablation using high intensity focused ultrasound includes the steps of introducing an ultrasound emitting member in a patient's oral cavity, positioning the ultrasound emitting member adjacent an external surface of the tongue, emitting ultrasound energy from the ultrasound emitting member into tissue of the tongue, focusing the ultrasound energy within the tongue at a focusing zone contained in a target area disposed beneath the external surface, heating the tissue with the focused ultrasound energy such that the tissue at the target area is heated to an ablative temperature to form a lesion and withdrawing the ultrasound emitting member from the oral cavity. The lesion is allowed to be absorbed by the patient's body and/or to remain as altered tissue such that the tongue is reduced in size to correspondingly increase the size of the patient's airway and/or is stiffened to resist vibration. The lesion begins a predetermined distance from the external surface of the tongue such that the mucosa remains undamaged and preserved.

Method of tongue reduction by thermal ablation using high intensity focused ultrasound

A method of tongue reduction by thermal ablation using high intensity focused ultrasound includes the steps of introducing an ultrasound emitting member in a patient's oral cavity, positioning the ultrasound emitting member adjacent an external surface of the tongue, emitting ultrasound energy from the ultrasound emitting member into the tissue of the tongue, focusing the ultrasound energy in the tongue, ablating the tissue of the tongue with the focused ultrasound energy to form an ablated tissue area below the external surface of the tongue containing unablated tissue of the tongue and a plurality of lesions at which the tissue of the tongue is ablated, and withdrawing the ultrasound emitting member from the oral cavity. The lesions are allowed to be absorbed by the patient's body and/or to remain as altered tissue such that the tongue is reduced in size to correspondingly increase the size of the patient's airway and/or is stiffened to resist vibration. The lesions preferably begin a predetermined distance below the external surface of the tongue such that the mucosa remains undamaged and preserved.

Methods of tongue reduction using high intensity focused ultrasound to form an ablated tissue area containing a plurality of lesions

Powered surgical handpiece assemblies and handpiece adapter assemblies

A drill guide for positioning on a surface of a bone includes a projection for penetrating the bone, an abutment for engaging the surface of the bone to ensure penetration of the bone by the projection to a predetermined depth, less than the length of the projection, and a pair of guide passages having central longitudinal axes, respectively, converging at a predetermined point in the bone when the projection penetrates the bone to the predetermined depth. A kit for fixating soft tissue to bone includes a drill guide, a drill bit, a suture and a suture passer. The drill bit is insertable in a pair of guide passages of the drill guide to cut first and second passages converging in the bone to define a continuous tunnel. The suture passer has a portion for being introduced in the tunnel to engage the suture externally of the bone such that the suture is drawn through the tunnel when the suture passer is withdrawn therefrom. A method of fixating soft tissue to bone includes the steps of penetrating a bone with a projection of a drill guide, engaging the bone with an abutment of the drill guide to ensure penetration of the bone by the projection to a predetermined depth, introducing a drill bit through a pair of guide passages of the drill guide and into the bone to form first and second passages converging in the bone to define a continuous tunnel, introducing a suture passer into the tunnel such that a suture engaging member of the suture passer protrudes externally of the bone, engaging a suture with the suture engaging member, withdrawing the suture passer from the tunnel to draw the suture through the tunnel and using the suture to fixate soft tissue to the bone.

Growing community of inventors

Jacksonville, FL, United States of America

Fred B Dinger