Medical Instrument for Suction Lipectomy

This invention is directed to a medical instrument and in particular to a medical instrument for removing fat from within the human body.

In recent years, a new type of plastic surgery has been introduced wherein fat is removed from within the human body by using a thin metal suction tube that is introduced through a tiny skin incision and repeatedly thrust through the unwanted fat to break up the fat globules. Vacuum is applied when it is desired to remove the loosened fat globules. The medical instrument for performing such an operation comprises a hollow body for holding by the hand. At one end, a suction probe is attached to the body and the other end of the body is connected to a source of vacuum. The probe is used to break the fat globules and then suction is applied to suck the loosened fat globules out of the body. The probing and sucking is repeated until the desired amount of fat is removed. In some cases, the operation will require hours of probing and sucking. In the past, a foot control valve has been used to apply the suction even though medical instruments used in oral surgery, such as those marketed by Lorenz, have had suction control valves associated with a hollow body.

The medical instrument of this invention comprises a hollow body having a first and a second projection extending therefrom. The first and second projections are provided with means so that they may be readily connected to a suction probe or to a source of vacuum. A control valve is associated with the body so that the first or second projection may be quickly and easily connected to the vacuum source.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the hollow body is divided into a first and a second section. The longitudinal axes of the first section and the first projection are in alignment while the longitudinal axis of the second projection extends at an angle of about 45.degree. to the first section. In normal practice, a suction probe is connected to the first projection and end one of a transparent tube is connected to the second projection with the other end of the tube connected to a source of vacuum. A control valve is associated with the hollow body so that the connection to the vacuum source may be opened and closed readily. Since the vacuum tube is located on the first or second projection, the surgeon will immediately detect any bleeding so that the operation may be halted to enable the surgeon to stop the bleeding. In use, a small incision is made in the skin and the suction probe is inserted therethrough. With the control valve in the off position, force is applied to the suction probe to break down the fat globules. When sufficient fat globules have been broken down, the control valve is moved to the open position and the vacuum sucks out the broken down fat globules. This is repeated as often as it is required to remove the desired quantity of fat.

It is an object of this invention to provide a medical instrument useful in removing fat from within the human body wherein all the major components are adjacent one end of a body.

It is another object of this invention to provide a medical instrument useful in removing fat from within the human body wherein the fat globules as they are being removed are readily observable.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a medical instrument useful in removing fat from the human body where the mode of the application of the force by the operator may be readily varied.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the various views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a portion of a medical instrument of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2; with portions of the valve excluded therefrom.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are plan views of some suction probes useful with a medical instrument of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of one portion of the valve taken on line 7--7 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of another portion of the valve;

FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 are plan views of other portions of the valve; and

FIG. 12 is a modification of the invention.

A preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, comprises a body 2 having a first projection 4 extending therefrom and a second projection 6 extending at an angle therefrom. The body 2 is divided into two hollow sections 8 and 10 by the member 12 which is secured to the inner surface 14 of the body 10 so that the section 8 is sealed off from the section 10. The first projection 4 has circular opening 16 adjacent the end thereof and the second projection 6 has circular opening 18 adjacent the end thereof. The inner surface 20 of the first projection 4 adjacent the opening 16 and the inner surface 22 of the second projection 6 are generally cylindrical in cross section.

A variety of suction probes 24 are illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. It is to be understood that an infinite number of suction probes differing in size and shape may be used. Each suction probe 24 has a hollow tubular body 26 closed at one end 28. An opening 30 is provided in the sidewall of the body 26 adjacent the end 28. The other end 32 of the suction probe 24 is provided with an opening 34. The outer surface 36 of the other end 32 is conical with the smallest diameter adjacent the opening 34. An annular ring 38 having a knurled surface is secured to the body 26 adjacent the other end 32.

The valve 42 is illustrated in FIGS. 3, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 and comprises a unit 44 having an outer surface 46 shaped to unite with the inner surface 48 of the first projection 4. The unit 44 is secured to the first projection 4 so as to form a complete annular seal therebetween. The unit 44 has an annular passageway 50 extending therethrough. A hollow tube 52 is secured to the unit 44. The hollow tube 52 is provided with aligned openings 56 passing through the sidewall of the hollow tube 52. The hollow tube 52 is secured to the unit 44 so that the openings 56 are aligned with the passageway 50. At one end 58, the hollow tube 52 is provided with a bore 60 and at the other end 62, a portion of the sidewall is removed to form shoulders 64, each for a purpose to be described below. The means for opening and closing the valve 42 comprises a solid tubular stem 66 having a passageway 68 extending therethrough. A handle 70 having a knob 72 having a knurled surface is secured to the stem 66. The knob 72 extends in a direction parallel to the extent of stem 66. The outer surface 74 of the stem 66 tapers gradually with the smallest diameter being adjacent the end 76. A threaded bore 78 is provided in the one end 76 of the stem 66. In operational association, the stem 66 is inserted into the hollow tube 52 so that the openings 56 will be aligned with the passageway 68 when the valve 42 is in the opened position.

The means for holding the stem 66 in the tube 52 and permitting relative rotation between the stem 66 and the tube 52 is illustrated in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11. A spring 80 is dimensioned to fit inside the bore 60 and abut against the shoulder 82. A hollow cylindrical member 84 having a base 86 with a central opening 88 is also dimensioned to fit inside the bore 60 and abut against the shoulder 82. The member 84 has internal dimensions so that the spring 80 will fit inside the member 84. A threaded screw 90 passes through the opening 88 and is threadedly engaged in the threaded bore 78. The screw 90 is adjusted until the proper amount of frictional force is established between the stem 66 and the tube 52 so that the valve 42 may be rotated to an opened or closed position and be retained in either position by the frictional force. The valve is in an opened or closed position when the handle 70 abuts against either of the shoulders 64.

In operation, a suction probe 24 is inserted through the opening 16 in the first projection 4 until the outer surface 36 is in engagement with the inner surface 20. Sufficient force is applied to the probe 24 so that the probe 24 will remain in position while being used in the operation. A transparent hollow tube 92 is pushed over the outer surface 94 of the second projection 6 and partially up the outer surface 96 of a conical ring 98 secured to the outer surface of the second projection 6. The other end of the tube 92 is secured to a source of vacuum (not shown). The valve 42 is rotated to a closed position wherein the passageway 68 is not exposed to any portion of either opening 56 by movement of the knob 72. The vacuum source is then turned on. A small incision is made in the skin of the patient. The body 2, having a knurled surface 100, is grasped by the physician and inserted through the incision into the patient. Force is applied to the probe 24 so that the end 28 thereof will break down any fat it contacts into fat globules. When sufficient fat globules have been broken down, the knob 76 is pushed and the stem 66 is rotated to an opened position with passageway 68 aligned with the openings 56. In this opened position, the opening 30 is connected to the vacuum source through a continuous passageway comprising the hollow body 26, the opening 34, the opening 16, the passageway 50, the openings 56 and passageway 68, the hollow section 8, the opening 18 and the transparent tube 92. Since the transparent tube 92 is located adjacent the suction probe 24, the physician may readily observe the broken down fat globules being removed. If excessive bleeding is observed, the valve 42 is moved to a closed position and the suction probe 24 is removed so that the physician may stop the excessive bleeding. In the preferred embodiment the operation is performed in an intermitted mode with the valve 42 in a closed position while the suction probe 24 is being used to break down the fat into fat globules or, if desired, in a continuous mode with the valve 42 always opened. If the physician tires during the operation, the positions of the suction probe 24 and the transparent tube 92 are reversed so that the suction probe 24 is retained in the second projection 6 and the transparent tube is over the outer surface 102 of the first projection 4. The outer surface 102 is conical with dimensions similar to the outer surface 96 of the ring 98. The inner surface 104 of the second projection 6 is dimensioned similarly to the inner surface 20 so as to be in engagement with the outer surface 36 of the end 32 of the suction probe 24.

A modification of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 12 and comprises a hollow adapter 106 having dimensions similar to the outer surface 36 of the end 32 of the suction probe 24 and a knob similar to the knob 38. A hollow projection 108 extends from the knob and is provided with an outer surface 110 over which the transparent tube 92 is positioned. Any type of means may be provided to insure a sealed relationship between the outer surface 110 and the transparent tube 92.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, it may be otherwise embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.