Olympus Corporation

Kiichiro Sawada

Ken Fujisaki

Takamitsu Sakamoto

Yasuo Tanigami

Satoshi Takekoshi

Chie Onuma

Sohei Ueda

Hideto Yoshimine

Hiroyuki Araki

Chikayoshi Meguro

Naoki Narumi

An ultrasonic transmitter unit includes: a sheath that forms a cylindrical shape and is having a proximal end and a distal end; an ultrasonic transmitter configured to be inserted into the sheath; and a cover member that covers a part of the ultrasonic transmitter and has an inner surface and an outer surface. The ultrasonic transmitter includes: a first area surrounded by the sheath; a second area protruding from the distal end of the sheath; and a distal-end treatment portion provided in a distal end of the second area. The cover member covers the second area of the ultrasonic transmitter, and exposes the distal-end treatment portion of the ultrasonic transmitter to an outside, and is made of fluorine-based resin.

Ultrasonic transmitter unit

The disclosed technology is directed to a transducer unit used in a treatment instrument that comprises an ultrasonic transducer configured to generate ultrasonic vibrations. A cylindrically-shaped casing is configured to hold the ultrasonic transducer therein along a central axis. The cylindrically-shaped casing includes an outer circumferential portion having respective circular arc portions and extension portions formed thereon. A virtual polygon is formed by connecting together a plurality of virtual points located at positions outside of the outer circumferential portion and is separated by a predetermined distance from the central axis when a cross-section intersecting the central axis at right angles and a first virtual distance between the central axis and each side of the virtual polygon are defined. The circular arc portions each includes, as a radius from the central axis, a first length greater than the first virtual distance but smaller than the predetermined distance.

Transducer unit and ultrasonic treatment instrument

An ultrasound probe includes a probe body, and a treatment unit. The treatment unit includes: a cutter that is provided at a distal end part of the treatment unit and that cuts the bone according to move of the treatment unit along a longitudinal axis in a state where ultrasonic vibration is being transmitted to the probe body; and a path that is provided in the treatment unit and through which debris of a bone that is cut by the cutter are discharged along the longitudinal axis toward a proximal end side with respect to the cutter. The path includes a first opening that is provided in a distal end surface of the cutter; and a second opening that is provided in a side surface part of the treatment unit, wherein the path allows the first opening and the second opening to communicate.

Ultrasound probe and ultrasound treatment tool

A method of performing a procedure on a meniscus, via an ultrasonic surgical tool. The ultrasonic tool includes a probe capable of transmitting ultrasonic vibration from a proximal end toward a front end. The probe includes a bent portion that is inclined with respect to a longitudinal axis of the probe, and a procedure portion that is disposed at the front end of the probe and has a plurality of cutting surfaces. The method includes: inserting the probe in a body; moving the probe through a space in between the femur and the tibia to position the procedure portion adjacent to the horizontal rupture in the meniscus; positioning a cutting surface of the procedure portion on a posterior portion of the meniscus; and resecting the horizontal rupture along an inclination of the meniscus to form an inclined resection plane.

Ultrasonic probe

In an arthroendoscopical surgical method, a resection target area, and a freshening treatment area which becomes repair surfaces with bleeding, are identified, and a resection line and a freshening line are drawn on a tear site in a meniscus, which is emphasized by fluorescence with use of a fluorescent medicine under excitation light. Using an ultrasonic treatment tool and an arthroscope, the resection target area is resected by a probe which generates ultrasonic vibrations, based on the resection line and freshening line under visible-light illumination. Thus, an inclined resection surface is formed, and planar repair surfaces with bleeding are joined and repaired.

Arthroendoscopical surgical method using ultrasonic treatment tool

An arthroscopical surgical method using an ultrasonic treatment device for a joint includes: transmitting ultrasonic vibration to a treatment portion of the ultrasonic treatment device, removing an injured region of an articular cartilage so that a subchondral bone is exposed, and forming a cartilage edge which is nearly angled at 90&#xb0; with the exposed surface of the subchondral bone to form a pool-shaped depression; forming a hole which pierces up to a cancellous bone of the subchondral bone through the depression, and scratching blood vessels in the cancellous bone; causing bleeding from the blood vessels so that blood is retained in the depression via the hole.

Arthroendoscopical surgical method

In an arthroendoscopical surgical method, a resection target area, which is emphasized by fluorescence with use of a fluorescent agent under excitation light, is identified on a meniscus, and a resection line or an imaginary resection line is drawn. Using an ultrasonic treatment tool and an arthroscope, the resection target area is resected by a probe which generates ultrasonic vibrations, based on the resection line or imaginary resection line under visible-light illumination, and an inclined resection surface is formed.

Growing community of inventors

Hachioji, Japan

Kiichiro Sawada