Ultrasonic probe

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.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to an ultrasonic probe that is used to perform a procedure on a target site for procedure in a joint based on ultrasonic vibrations.

Typically, an arthroscopic surgery is known in which portals are opened at about two positions near a joint; a rigid endoscope representing an arthroscope and a therapeutic apparatus are inserted from the portals; the inside of the joint is filled with a circulating water meant to be used in a joint surgery; and a procedure is performed while checking the video displayed on a monitor.

As far as the therapeutic apparatus is concerned, an ultrasonic device is proposed that has an ultrasonic vibrator installed therein, that performs ultrasonic output using an ultrasonic probe, and that performs arbitrary procedures based on ultrasonic vibrations.

In such an ultrasonic probe, a procedure unit is installed at the front end of the probe main body that extends in a linear manner. Usually, when an operator holds the ultrasonic probe, a cutting surface made of a corrugated surface is formed on the underside of the procedure unit.

Examples of an arthroscopic surgery include a surgical procedure performed on the ruptured meniscus of a knee joint. The ultrasonic probe that undergoes ultrasonic vibrations performs the procedure of cutting the ruptured portion and fixing the shape. The meniscus is sandwiched in between the femur and the tibia of the knee joint; and, depending on the site therein, is called an anterior portion, a middle portion, a posterior horn, and a posterior portion, for example. Consider an example of performing a procedure on the targets for procedure such as the posterior portion or the posterior horn and the anterior portion or the anterior horn. In the case of inserting the ultrasonic probe from the same portal, if the positions of the damaged portions are different in the anteroposterior direction, then a situation may occur in which the cutting surface of the procedure portion either cannot make contact with the target site for procedure or does not make contact at an appropriate angle.

In such a case, the ultrasonic probe needs to be replaced with another one or, if replacement is not possible, the position of opening the portal needs to be adjusted; or a new portal needs to be opened.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for performing a procedure on a meniscus, via an ultrasonic surgical tool. The ultrasonic surgical tool may include a probe formed in an elongated shaft shape and capable of transmitting ultrasonic vibration from a proximal end to a front end. The probe may include a bent portion that is inclined with respect to a longitudinal axis of a probe main body, and a procedure portion that is disposed at the front end of the probe and that has a plurality of cutting surfaces.

The method may include inserting the probe in a body; moving the probe through a space between a femur and a tibia to position the procedure portion adjacent to a horizontal rupture in the meniscus; positioning a cutting surface of the procedure portion of the probe on posterior portion of the meniscus; and resecting the horizontal rupture along an inclination of the meniscus to form an inclined resection plane.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments of an ultrasonic probe of an ultrasonic surgical tool are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1is a diagram illustrating an exemplary system configuration of the ultrasonic surgical tool system according to an embodiment.

An ultrasonic surgical tool system1according to the present embodiment mainly includes an ultrasonic surgical tool2; an electrical power source3; and a foot switch4that is used to instruct turning on or turning off the ultrasonic vibrations. The ultrasonic surgical tool2and the electrical power source3are connected by a cable19that enables supply of driving power and communication of control signals. In the electrical power source3, a plurality of connectors20is disposed on an anterior surface18for enabling establishment of connection with the cable19, various operation switches21, and a display screen22that is used to display the information necessary for procedures. Moreover, depending on the procedure or the details of the surgery, the electrical power source3is separately used in combination with an endoscopic system.

The ultrasonic surgical tool2includes a device main body11and an ultrasonic probe14. The device main body11has a tubular shape with a holdable diameter, and includes a housing11athrough which the ultrasonic probe14is disposed and an ultrasonic vibrator unit (an ultrasonic wave generating unit)11bthat is detachably attached to the housing11a. Inside the ultrasonic vibrator unit11b, an ultrasonic wave generating unit12that is made of ultrasonic vibrators such as piezoelectric bodies is housed along with a horn13that is meant for efficiently transmitting the ultrasonic waves. When the ultrasonic vibrator unit11bis attached to the housing11a, the proximal end of the ultrasonic probe14and the front end of the horn13are sonically connected, and the ultrasonic vibrations generated in the ultrasonic wave generating unit12are transmitted to a procedure portion15(described later) of the ultrasonic probe14. On the top surface of the housing11ais disposed an operation switch17that is used instruct turning on or turning off the ultrasonic vibrations according to finger operations. Thus, the foot switch4has an equivalent function to the operation switch17.

The ultrasonic probe14is an elongated rod-like shaft member (probe main body) that transmits the ultrasonic vibrations, and is made of a metallic material such as a titanium alloy. Moreover, to the proximal end of the ultrasonic probe14, the front end of the horn13is sonically connected; and, to the front end of the ultrasonic probe14, the procedure portion15is disposed in an integrated manner. Furthermore, the ultrasonic probe14has a curvature (a curved portion) that becomes bowed or bends in such a way that, when an operator holds the ultrasonic probe14in the normal holding pattern in which the cutting surface is on the underside, the ultrasonic probe14bends upward at a position more on the proximal end of the probe main body than the procedure portion15. Because of the bending, the procedure portion15becomes more raised obliquely upward than usual.

The ultrasonic probe14is covered by a sheath16for an arbitrary length starting from the housing11a. The sheath16is not closely attached to the ultrasonic probe14but is disposed with a small clearance gap from the ultrasonic probe14so as to prevent attenuation of the ultrasonic vibrations. Moreover, the sheath16is fixed to the front end side of the housing11aat the nodal position of the ultrasonic vibrations. As a result of disposing the sheath16, in case there is contact with sites other than the target for procedure or contact with other surgical tools or an endoscope, the effect of the contact can be eliminated and the devices and the sites can be protected.

Given below is the explanation of a surgery system that includes an ultrasonic surgical tool and an endoscopic system.

FIG. 2is a diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of the surgery system that includes an ultrasonic surgical tool according to an exemplary embodiment. A surgery system10according to an exemplary embodiment is configured with the ultrasonic surgical tool2and an endoscopic system30that includes an arthroscope.

As described earlier, the ultrasonic surgical tool2includes the ultrasonic wave generating unit12, the ultrasonic probe14, the electrical power source3, and the operation switch17.

The endoscopic system30is configured with the following: an arthroscope31that is made of a rigid endoscope representing a type of endoscope; a visible-light source32that functions as the light source of illumination light and that emits visible illumination light; a control unit33that controls the entire endoscopic system30; an input unit34such as a keyboard or a touch-sensitive panel; a display unit35that displays surgery information containing the photographed surgery status; and a saline delivery-drainage unit36that delivers, drains, and perfuses a normal saline solution in the surroundings of a procedure target site100. In the present embodiment, the saline delivery-drainage unit36is configured to perform delivery and drainage of a normal saline solution at the location for procedure via the arthroscope31. However, alternatively, the configuration can be such that a perfusing medium including a normal saline solution is delivered and drained from the ultrasonic surgical tool2.

Explained below with reference toFIGS. 3 and 4is a structure of the procedure portion15of the ultrasonic probe14.FIG. 3is a diagram illustrating the external shape of the procedure portion of the ultrasonic probe according to an exemplary embodiment, when viewed from an obliquely upward direction.FIG. 4is a diagram illustrating the external shape of the procedure portion illustrated inFIG. 3, when viewed from an obliquely downward direction.

The procedure portion15according to the present embodiment is cuboid in shape; has a bone cutting function and a cartilage cutting function based on ultrasonic vibrations as described later; and is capable of performing the desired surgical procedure (mainly the resection procedure) on the procedure target site (or the procedure target location)100. Meanwhile, as long as the procedure portion is substantially cuboid in shape, it serves the purpose. Moreover, the procedure portion has a flat shape.

Of the procedure portion15, the top surface and the under surface (the principal surfaces) are rectangular in shape with rounded corners. Moreover, the thickness of the procedure portion15is such that it can pass through the space in between narrow joints (in the case of a knee joint, the space in between the femur and the tibia) and can reach the target site for procedure. There is no restriction on the thickness, and it can be appropriately set depending on the intended usage. Regarding the probe main body of the ultrasonic probe14too, the length thereof is set according to the position of the target site for procedure.

As illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4, in the procedure portion15, a cutting surface15a[a first main cutting surface] that is made of a corrugated surface having a crosshatch pattern due to a plurality of U-shaped grooves is formed on the lower principal surface. In an identical manner, a cutting surface15b[a second main cutting surface] that is made of a corrugated surface having the same crosshatch pattern is formed on the upper principal surface. The arrangement of U-shaped grooves is such that a parallel flounder pattern, a crosshatch pattern, or a twill line pattern is formed. Moreover, the U-shaped grooves either can be arranged at regular intervals or can be arranged with different intervals set therebetween.

Moreover, on both lateral surfaces of the procedure portion15, lateral cutting surfaces15care formed in which a plurality of U-shaped grooves is arranged in a seriate flounder pattern in the vertical direction (the thickness direction). Moreover, on the anterior surface (the apical surface) too, an apical cutting surface15dis formed in which a plurality of U-shaped grooves is arranged in a flounder pattern.

Meanwhile, as far as the cutting surfaces of the procedure portion15according to the present embodiment are concerned, the cutting surfaces can be formed on the abovementioned five surfaces excluding the surface connected to the probe main body. From among the cutting surfaces; three cutting surfaces, namely, the first main cutting surface15aformed on the underside and the lateral cutting surfaces15cformed on both lateral surfaces represent reference surfaces for cutting that are fundamentally essential in cutting procedures, and hence are called “reference cutting surfaces”. On the other hand, in the procedure portion15, the second main cutting surface formed on the top surface and the apical cutting surface formed on the apical surface are formed only if necessary and are required depending on the procedure details, and hence are called “selective cutting surfaces”. This line of thinking is based on the following presumption: regarding an ultrasonic probe having excess cutting surfaces formed thereon that are not used according to the procedure details, the operator needs to ensure that the unused cutting surfaces of such an ultrasonic probe does not come in contact with and cause damage to the surrounding sites. In that regard, in order to be able to deal with the procedure details, the second main cutting surface and the apical cutting surface can be selectively formed depending on the procedure details. For that reason, those cutting surfaces are called selective cutting surfaces.

Moreover, when an operator holds the ultrasonic probe14in the normal holding pattern in which the cutting surface15a(described later) is on the underside, the front end side of the ultrasonic probe14is bent upward in such a way that the probe main body bends backward at a position away by about 10 mm from the front end of the procedure portion15. Meanwhile, the corrugated pattern formed on each cutting surface of the ultrasonic probe14is not limited to the arrangement described above, and can be appropriately modified according to the intention of the procedure.

The procedure portion15of the ultrasonic probe14performs mechanical cutting according to minor sliding to which ultrasonic vibrations are applied. Herein, the amount of scraping can be adjusted according to the strength of the press against the procedure target site100(i.e., depending on the pressing pressure). That is, the scraping amount is controlled according to the adjustments made by the operator, thereby enabling efficient cutting and resection. In the following explanation, in the case of performing cutting or performing a procedure using the procedure portion15, it is assumed that the procedure portion15undergoes ultrasonic vibrations even if it is not explicitly mentioned. Moreover, although the ultrasonic surgical tool2according to the present embodiment is configured without a mechanism for delivering and draining a perfusing medium, it is alternatively possible to dispose a mechanism for delivering and draining a perfusing medium depending on the intended usage.

Given below is the explanation of an example of a procedure performed on a meniscus that represents an example of the target for procedure of the ultrasonic surgical tool2according to the present embodiment.FIG. 5is a diagram illustrating a cross-section structure of the meniscus.FIG. 6is a diagram illustrating an overall structure of the meniscus.

As illustrated inFIG. 5, in the cross-section of the meniscus100, a dense-blood-flow area A [blood circulation field: dense-blood-flow area (red zone)] is present on the outer periphery in which there is a large amount of blood flow (a large number of blood vessels), and an area B [blood circulation field: a coarse-blood-flow area (white-red zone)] is present toward the inside of the arc in which there is a smaller in amount of blood flow than in the area A. Moreover, on the inside of the area B, an area C [no-blood-circulation field: a no-blood-flow area (white zone)] is present in which there is no blood flow at all. In case the meniscus100is damaged, the areas A and B in which there is blood flow can be regenerated. Hence, the damaged surfaces are fixed using the ultrasonic probe14, and a suture procedure is performed. However, in case the area C representing a no-blood-flow area without any blood flow is damaged, it cannot be regenerated. Hence, a resection procedure is performed using the ultrasonic probe14.

For example, as illustrated inFIG. 6, if a horizontal rupture101reaching the blood flow area A is developed near the posterior portion of a medial meniscus100B; the rupture of the no-blood-flow area C is resected to form an inclined resection plane, a procedure is performed on the ruptured surfaces of the dense-blood-flow area A and the coarse-blood-flow area B using the ultrasonic probe14, and suturing is performed once the blood dries.

On the other hand, in case a horizontal rupture is developed only within the range of the no-blood-flow area C, the ruptured location is resected to form an inclined resection plane102. In order to form the inclined resection plane, it becomes necessary to adjust the manner of abutment (i.e., the angle of surface contact) of the ultrasonic probe14(described later).

Meanwhile, the inclination of the resection plane, which is formed using the ultrasonic probe14, is used to avoid concentration of and enable dispersion of the stress attributed to a femur43. More particularly, in a normal meniscus, the top surface making contact with the femur as illustrated inFIG. 5is an inclined surface, thereby enabling dispersion of the stress being applied from the femur43. However, if resection is performed using a conventional tool such as a punch, it results in the formation of a cross-sectional surface that is vertically cut from the top surface of the meniscus, thereby leading to the formation of a horn portion. Since the internal condyle of the femur and the external condyle of the femur are round in shape, it becomes easier for the stress to get concentrated at the horn portion of the meniscus, which may lead to new damage. In order to prevent such concentration of the stress, it is important to perform resection in such a way that the resection plane102is an inclined surface having an inclination opposing the internal condyle and the external condyle.

Moreover, as illustrated inFIG. 6, the meniscus100includes a lateral meniscus100A and the medial meniscus100B against which the medial condyle and the lateral condyle of the femur abut. The lateral meniscus100A is divided, starting from the dorsal side, into a posterior portion100a, a body portion (middle portion)100b, and an anterior portion100c. The medial meniscus100B is divided, starting from the dorsal side, into parts named as a posterior horn, a posterior portion, a middle portion, an anterior portion, and an anterior horn. When portals are formed on the anterior side of the body, in order for the ultrasonic probe14to perform a procedure by reaching the posterior portion of the lateral meniscus100A and to reach the posterior portion and the posterior horn of the medial meniscus100B, the ultrasonic probe14needs to pass through the space in between the femur and the tibia. Meanwhile, regarding an arthroscopic surgery (described later), the explanation is given about an example in which the horizontal ruptures101are developed in the target sites for procedure such as the posterior portion100a, the middle portion100b, and the anterior portion100cof the lateral meniscus100A as illustrated inFIG. 6.

Explained below with reference toFIGS. 7 to 13is a resection procedure performed on the damaged meniscus100using the surgery system10that includes the ultrasonic surgical tool2and the endoscopic system30.FIG. 7is a diagram that conceptually illustrates an arthroscopic surgery performed using an ultrasonic surgical tool.FIG. 8is a diagram illustrating a situation in which a target site for procedure present in the posterior portion of the lateral meniscus between joints is subjected to a procedure using the front end side of the cutting portion formed on the underside of a procedure portion.FIG. 9is a diagram that conceptually illustrates a state of the procedure performed on the concerned posterior portion.FIG. 10is a diagram illustrating a situation in which a target site for procedure present in the body portion of the lateral meniscus between joints is subjected to a procedure using the entire surface of the cutting portion formed on the underside of the procedure portion.FIG. 11is a diagram that conceptually illustrates a state of the procedure performed on the concerned body portion.FIG. 12is a diagram illustrating a situation in which a target site for procedure present in the anterior portion of the lateral meniscus between joints is subjected to a procedure using the entire surface of the cutting portion formed on the top surface of the procedure portion.FIG. 13is a diagram that conceptually illustrates a state of the procedure performed on the concerned anterior portion.

An exemplary embodiment is discussed below under the assumption that a horizontal rupture is developed in each portion of the meniscus100representing the target for procedure. InFIG. 7is illustrated a state in which the patient has bent the knee and opened the joint region. Thus, a patellar surface43aof the femur43is oriented in the anterior direction.

Firstly, the ultrasonic probe14is inserted from a portal51, and the arthroscope31is inserted from a portal52. The positions of the portals should be appropriately set according to the individual differences of the patient, the targets for procedure, and the procedure details.

As illustrated inFIG. 8, the ultrasonic probe14passes through the space in between the femur43and a tibia41, and the front end thereof reaches the location of the rupture developed near the posterior portion100aof the meniscus (lateral meniscus)100A as illustrated inFIG. 8. In the present embodiment, the ultrasonic probe14has the procedure portion15disposed at the end that is bent upward. Hence, the procedure portion15can easily pass through the space in between the femur43and the tibia41, and can reach the target location for procedure in the posterior portion100aof the meniscus100A.

With reference toFIG. 9, of the procedure portion15of the ultrasonic probe14, the front end side of the apical cutting surface15dand the lower cutting surface15ais put in the posterior portion100a, and the horizontal rupture101is resected along the inclination of the top surface of the meniscus100A, so that the inclined resection plane102is formed.

Then, as illustrated inFIG. 10, the procedure portion15is moved to the target location for procedure represented by the horizontal rupture101developed near the middle portion100bof the meniscus100A. With reference toFIG. 11, of the procedure portion15, the lower cutting surface15ais applied to the target location for procedure represented by the rupture101of the meniscus100B, and the horizontal rupture is resected along the inclination of the top surface of the meniscus100A, so that the inclined resection plane102is formed while ensuring that no horn portions are developed.

Subsequently, as illustrated inFIG. 12, the procedure portion15is moved to the target location for procedure represented by the horizontal rupture101developed near the anterior portion100cof the meniscus100A. While moving the procedure portion15, the operator inverts the ultrasonic probe14and holds it with the bend of the bent portion oriented downward. As a result of changing the holding pattern, the cutting surface15bthat was the top surface of the procedure portion15changes to be the under surface, and thus faces the target location for procedure. Because of the inversion of the bent portion, as compared to the cutting-plane angle of the cutting surface15a, the cutting plane of the cutting surface15bbecomes a larger angle approaching the vertical direction. That is, the angle at which the procedure portion15makes surface contact with the target site for procedure increases in inclination from 10° to 20°, for example.

With reference toFIG. 13, of the procedure portion15, the cutting surface15bis applied to the target location for procedure represented by the rupture101of the meniscus100B, and the horizontal rupture101is resected along the inclination of the top surface of the meniscus100A, so that the inclined resection plane102is formed while ensuring that no horn portions are developed.

Meanwhile, the target sites for procedure are not limited to the meniscus. As illustrated inFIG. 14, using the apical cutting surface15dof the procedure portion15of the ultrasonic probe14, it also becomes possible to resect a cartilage formed on the patellar surface43aof the femur43.

According to the present embodiment, a cutting procedure on the target sites for procedure can be performed using the principal surfaces formed on the upper side and the lower side of the ultrasonic probe, using both lateral surfaces, and using the apical surface. Hence, even if the approach is from the same portal, by changing the posture of the ultrasonic probe, the reachable range of the procedure portion15becomes wider thereby widening the procedure range. As a result, the desired cutting procedure can be performed without having to open new portals.

Given below is the explanation of another exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 15is a diagram illustrating the external shape of a procedure portion of the ultrasonic probe according to the present embodiment, when viewed from an obliquely upward direction. The ultrasonic probe of this embodiment, except for the procedure portion, is equivalent to the above embodiment. Hence, the same explanation is not given again.

In a procedure portion25of the ultrasonic probe14according to the present embodiment, a cutting surface25athat is meant for rough cutting and that is made of a corrugated surface having a crosshatch pattern or a twill line pattern due to a plurality of U-shaped grooves is formed on the lower principal surface. In an identical manner, a cutting surface25bthat is made of a corrugated surface having a crosshatch pattern or a twill line pattern is formed on the upper principal surface.

Moreover, on one lateral surface of the procedure portion25, for example, a raspatory surface25dcan be formed by cohesively using granular diamond or borazon abrasive grain. Furthermore, on the lateral surface is formed a lateral cutting surface25cin which a plurality of U-shaped grooves is arranged in a flounder pattern. Moreover, on the anterior surface (the apical surface) is formed an apical cutting surface25ein which a plurality of U-shaped grooves is arranged in a flounder pattern. Furthermore, when an operator holds the ultrasonic probe14in the normal holding pattern in which the cutting surface25a(described later) is on the underside, the front end side of the ultrasonic probe14is bent upward in such a way that the probe main body14bends backward at a position away by about 10 mm from the front end of the procedure portion25. Meanwhile, the raspatory surface25dformed by cohesively using granular diamond or borazon abrasive grain can be adapted in other exemplary embodiments too.

According to the present embodiment, because of the procedure portion25of the ultrasonic probe14, in the cutting procedure, operations from rough cutting to finishing of the target site for procedure can be performed using only a single ultrasonic probe without having to replace it. As a result, the surgery can be continued without any interruption for probe replacement, thereby enabling achieving reduction in the time and efforts of the operator and shortening of the period of time taken for surgery. Particularly, in the ultrasonic probe14according to the present embodiment, since the probe main body on the near side is configured to have a bent shape, when the insertion path inside a joint is curved, the procedure portion25can be inserted using the bend thereby enabling achieving enhancement in the accessibility.

In the exemplary embodiments described above, the ultrasonic probe14is configured to have a bent shape. However, the ultrasonic probe14need not always be bent. For example, at the time of resecting a bony spur, it is expected to use a probe not having any bends. Moreover, because of not having any bends, when there are different cutting blades for all cutting surfaces, it becomes possible to deal with various procedures.

Given below is the explanation of another exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 16is a diagram illustrating the external shape of a procedure portion of the ultrasonic probe according to this embodiment, when viewed from an obliquely upward direction.FIG. 17is a diagram illustrating the external shape of the procedure portion illustrated inFIG. 16, when viewed from an obliquely downward direction. The ultrasonic probe of the present embodiment, except for the procedure portion, is equivalent to the above embodiment. Hence, the same explanation is not given again.

As illustrated inFIGS. 16 and 17, in a procedure portion26, a cutting surface26athat is made of a corrugated surface having a crosshatch pattern due to a plurality of U-shaped grooves28is formed on the lower principal surface (the under surface). However, there is no cutting surface formed on the upper principal surface. Thus, the procedure portion26is equivalent to the configuration in which the procedure portion15illustrated inFIG. 3does not have a cutting surface formed on the top surface.

Moreover, in the procedure portion26, a plurality of vertical U-shaped grooves27are formed in a flounder pattern on both lateral surfaces and the anterior surface (the apical surface), thereby resulting in the formation of cutting surfaces26cand26e. The arrangement of the U-shaped grooves27and the U-shaped grooves28is such that a flounder pattern, a crosshatch pattern, or a twill line pattern is formed. Moreover, the U-shaped grooves27as well as the U-shaped grooves28either can be arranged at regular intervals or can be arranged with different intervals set therebetween.

When an operator holds the ultrasonic probe14in the normal holding pattern in which the cutting surface26a(described later) is on the underside, the front end side of the ultrasonic probe14is bent upward in such a way that the probe main body14bends backward at a position away by about 10 mm from the front end of the procedure portion26.

According to the present embodiment, apart from the fact that resection is performed using only one principal surface, it becomes possible to achieve the identical actions and effect to the embodiment described above.

Given below is the explanation of another exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 18is a diagram illustrating the external shape of a procedure portion of the ultrasonic probe according to the present embodiment, when viewed from an obliquely upward direction.FIG. 19is a diagram illustrating the external shape of the procedure portion illustrated inFIG. 18, when viewed from an obliquely downward direction. The ultrasonic probe of the present embodiment, except for the procedure portion, is equivalent to the above embodiment. Hence, the same explanation is not given again.

In a procedure portion29of the ultrasonic probe14, cutting surfaces29aand29bthat are made of corrugated surfaces having a crosshatch pattern due to the plurality of U-shaped grooves28are formed on the lower principal surface and the upper principal surface, respectively. The arrangement of the U-shaped grooves28is such that a flounder pattern, a crosshatch pattern, or a twill line pattern is formed. Moreover, the U-shaped grooves28either can be arranged at regular intervals or can be arranged with different intervals set therebetween.

Moreover, on both lateral faces of the procedure portion29, lateral cutting surfaces29care formed in which the plurality of U-shaped grooves27is arranged in a seriate flounder pattern in the vertical direction (the thickness direction). However, there is no cutting surface formed on the anterior surface (the apical surface).

When an operator holds the ultrasonic probe14in the normal holding pattern in which the cutting surface29a(described later) is on the underside, the front end side of the ultrasonic probe14is bent upward in such a way that the probe main body14bends backward at a position away by about 10 mm from the front end of the procedure portion29.

According to the present embodiment, apart from eliminating the cutting using the front end, it becomes possible to achieve the identical actions and effect to the embodiment described above. Moreover, this ultrasonic probe14is suitable for such target sites for procedure in which even though the front end of the procedure portion makes contact, the location of contact is not to be cut.

Meanwhile, in the above exemplary embodiments, the explanation is given for an example in which the procedure portion is cuboid in shape with rounded corners (having only rectangular surfaces, or a box shape enclosed by rectangular surfaces or square surfaces). However, that is not the only possible case. Herein, the surface at which the procedure portion and the target site for procedure come in contact is treated as the bottom surface.

Thus, the procedure portion having a cuboid shape is formed using the surfaces formed by the sides present in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the probe main body. Alternatively, using the surfaces such as trapezoids formed by the sides present in the directions intersecting with the longitudinal axis of the probe main body, the procedure portion having the shape of a quadratic prism can be formed. For example, the surface on which the procedure portion is to be formed can be of a box shape formed by combining trapezoids. For example, when the two principal surfaces (15aand15b) have a trapezoidal shape, a quadratic prism is obtained whose front end side in the width direction has a narrowing shape or an expanding shape in the width direction. When both lateral surfaces have a trapezoidal shape, a quadratic prism is obtained that becomes smaller or bigger in the thickness direction of the front end side. Of course, it is possible to have a quadratic prism in which the two principal surfaces and both lateral surfaces have a trapezoidal surface shape.