Ultrasonic surgical system

The present application is a continuation under 37 C.F.R. §1.53(b) of prior application Ser. No. 10/849,699 filed May 19, 2004, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/482,791, filed Jan. 13, 2000, by Tomohisa SAKURAI entitled ULTRASONIC SURGICAL SYSTEM.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an ultrasonic surgical system for treating a living tissue using ultrasonic waves generated by an ultrasonic transducer incorporated in a handpiece.

2. Description of the Related Art

Surgical apparatus utilizing ultrasonic waves have replaced electric cauterizing devices in various applications. For example, an ultrasonic knife unit and an ultrasonic trocar-and-cannula unit are described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-38098, and are widely known.

This sort of ultrasonic surgical apparatus has a handpiece, in which an ultrasonic transducer is incorporated, connected to a main unit which includes a driving signal generator for generating an ultrasonic driving signal and a control unit. The ultrasonic transducer is driven to oscillate using the driving signal output from the main unit, whereby ultrasonic waves are generated. The generated ultrasonic waves are propagated into a treatment unit incorporated in the distal part of the handpiece. The treatment unit is pressed against a region to be treated, whereby a living tissue is treated.

For treating a living tissue using the ultrasonic surgical apparatus, the treatment unit in the handpiece is placed into contact with a region to be treated. A foot switch is employed to activate or deactivate the treatment unit.

However, for complex surgery, various types of foot switch operated equipment are used, and many foot switches may be present in the operating room. An operator must therefore be careful as not to press an incorrect foot switch, which is a source of distraction.

Moreover, depending on the procedure being performed, a plurality of different handpieces must be required. Different handpieces can therefore be selected and connected to the main unit of an ultrasonic surgical apparatus. The handpieces are changed depending on a purpose of use and thus used for different purposes.

Each main unit has a handpiece connector. For different handpieces, the connectors must be changed and a selected connector must be connected to the main unit every time it is needed. This, too, can be a nuisance, and also time consuming, which might be critical in the case of emergency medical services. As an alternative, a plurality of main units may be provided with the necessary handpieces connected to the main units in advance. This is wasteful of both money and space. Moreover, the user must select from the plurality of available handpieces to locate the one required. This, too, is a distraction.

Alternatively, it is conceivable to connect a plurality of handpieces to one main unit. In this case, a switching device is required for switching the connected handpieces. However, the main unit is often located in a non-sterile area, so the user cannot handle the switching device. The operator must therefore ask a nurse or the like to do so, and it becomes a nuisance to have to switch the handpieces.

Furthermore, some handpieces may have a perfusion channel and a suction channel formed therein. The perfusion channel is used to supply physiological saline with which a treated region is washed or cooled, while the suction channel is used to remove fragments of tissue pulverized using ultrasonic waves, together with physiological saline from the treatment unit. For such a handpiece, a perfusing and sucking capability must be incorporated in the main unit. In addition, a perfusion tube and a suction tube are needed for linking the main unit and the handpiece.

An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic surgical system offering improved maneuverability of handpieces and operator convenience. Another object is to provide an ultrasonic surgical system which can be activated or inactivated using a hand switch or a foot switch.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic surgical system enabling connection of a plurality of handpieces to one main unit without the necessity of retrofitting the main unit. Even when a plurality of handpieces are needed for an operation, it is unnecessary to provide a plurality of main units in an operating room.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an ultrasonic surgical system offering improved maneuverability. The ultrasonic surgical system makes it possible to activate or inactivate respective handpieces connected to a main unit, and to use the plurality of connected handpieces for different purposes.

According to the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic surgical system having a main unit that includes a driving signal generator, an output unit, a manipulation signal sensing unit, a control unit, and a manipulation signal input unit. The driving signal generator generates, a driving signal used to drive an ultrasonic transducer in a handpiece. The output unit transmits the driving signal generated by the driving signal generator to the ultrasonic transducer in the handpiece. The manipulation signal sensing unit senses an input manipulation signal. The control unit controls the driving signal generator according to the manipulation signal sensed by the manipulation signal sensing unit. The manipulation signal input unit provides the manipulation signal.

The ultrasonic surgical system includes an extension unit having an input unit for providing the manipulation signal by means of a connected hand switch or foot switch. The extension unit also includes an output unit for outputting the manipulation signal input to the input unit and based on a manipulation performed on the hand switch or the foot switch to the manipulation signal input unit in the main unit.

Moreover, according to the present invention, there is provided an ultrasonic surgical system having a main unit that includes a driving signal generator, an output unit, manipulation signal sensing unit, a control unit, and manipulation signal input unit. The driving signal generator generates a driving signal to drive the ultrasonic transducer in a handpiece. The output unit provides the driving signal generated by the driving signal generator to the ultrasonic transducer in the handpiece. The manipulation signal sensing unit senses an input manipulation signal. The control unit controls the driving signal generator according to the manipulation signal sensed by the manipulation signal sense unit. The manipulation signal input unit provides the manipulation signal.