Patent ID: 6394973
Filing Date: 2002-05-28
Classification: A61B,A61M,Y10S

Abstract:
Apparatus for use in liposuction treatment of tissue on a patient operably connected to an electrical grounding plate, which comprises:a hand-holdable housing having a longitudinal axis; a reciprocation mechanism disposed within said hand-supportable housing; a hollow cannula operably connectable to said hand-holdable housing and said reciprocation mechanism and having a distal end, a proximal end, and a suction aperture disposed about said distal end, said proximal end further including an outlet port and a continuous passageway which communicates said suction aperture with said outlet port; said reciprocation mechanism automatically reciprocating said hollow cannula relative to said hand-supportable housing along said longitudinal axis so that the location of aspiration through said suction aperture is periodically displaced along said longitudinal axis, while permitting aspiration through said suction aperture, along said continuous passageway, and out of said outlet port; a radio-frequency (RF) power supply terminal disposed within said hand-holdable housing, for supplying to said hollow cannula, during liposuction operations, RF power signals produced by a RF power signal generator; and a cauterizing electrode provided about said suction aperture and electrically connected to said RF power supply terminal, for conducting said RF power signals about said suction aperture and through tissue being aspirated through said suction aperture while tissue is maintained at electrical ground potential by means of an electrical grounding plate connected to the patient, and thereby effecting coagulation of protein molecules within the tissue being aspirated through said suction aperture.