Claims for Patent: 5,620,414

Summary for Patent: 5,620,414

Title:	Apparatus and method for effecting surgical incision through use of a fluid jet
Abstract:	Applicant\'s invention is of apparatuses and associated methods in the use of high pressure, sterile water jets in effecting surgical incisions, including those of hard tissues such as bone. The combination of high pressure and sterility is achieved by enclosing a collapsible bag of sterile water within an implosion chamber itself filled with fluid. The collapsible bag is sealingly ported through an orifice in the implosion chamber. As pressure is applied to the fluid within the implosion chamber, by way of a hydraulic ram, the sterile water exits the collapsible bag under extremely high pressure through its port and is directed through a hand-held cutting nozzle to an incision site. Unintended, collateral tissue trauma is minimized in one embodiment though use of a water shroud projected about the high pressure water jet during cutting operations.
Inventor(s):	Campbell, Jr.; Robert M. (San Antonio, TX)
Assignee:
Application Number:	08/225,195
Patent Claims:	1. A method for surgically cutting human tissues comprising the steps of: selecting a cutting implement, said cutting implement comprising: an implosion chamber having a nozzle outlet and pressure means for elevating pressure in an interior space defined within said implosion chamber and means for introducing a first measure of liquid into said interior space of said implosion chamber; a vessel of variable internal volume for containing a second measure of fluid and having a nozzle port for sealingly mating with said nozzle outlet and for extending outside of said implosion chamber through said nozzle outlet, said vessel being sized and shaped for residing in said interior space of said implosion chamber, said vessel being substantially sealed except with respect to said nozzle port; conduit means sealingly connected to said nozzle outlet means of said implosion chamber; a nozzle tip sealingly connected to said conduit means, said nozzle tip having a fluid jet orifice through which a portion of said second measure of fluid may exit as pressure is applied to said second measure of fluid by way of pressure applied to said vessel through pressure applied to said first measure of fluid in said implosion chamber; said pressure means being configured for elevating said pressure of said first measure of said fluid in said interior space of said implosion chamber to a level sufficient to propel said portion of said second measure of said fluid with force sufficient to cut a tissues, said pressure being not less than approximately 100 psi and being increased according to specific nature of tissue to be cut; introducing said vessel into said interior space of said implosion chamber, said vessel having said second measure of fluid contained therein; sealingly engaging said nozzle port of said vessel with said nozzle outlet of said implosion chamber; introducing said first measure of fluid into said interior space of said implosion chamber until said first measure of fluid displaced substantially all space not occupied by said vessel contained therein; actuating said pressure means for applying pressure to said first measure of fluid and thereby applying pressure to said second measure of fluid; and directing said fluid jet orifice in the direction of human tissue which is to be cut for achieving said cut. 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said pressure means is a hydraulic piston system a displacement portion of which is in sealed fluid communication with said interior space of said implosion chamber whereby advancement of a piston of said piston system exerts pressure on said first measure of said fluid thereby raising pressure of said first measure of said fluid when contained inside said implosion chamber. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein said pressure means is a hydraulic piston system a displacement portion of which is in sealed fluid communication with said interior space of said implosion chamber whereby advancement of a piston of said piston system exerts pressure on said first measure of said fluid thereby raising pressure of said first measure of said fluid when contained inside said implosion chamber. 4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said second measure of fluid is a sterile water-based liquid. 5. The method of claim 1 wherein said nozzle tip comprises water shroud means having a water shroud orifice for emitting, from said water shroud orifice, another portion of said second measure of fluid in a direction substantially parallel with the exit of said second measure of said fluid from said fluid jet orifice, said water shroud orifice being configured to emit said third measure of fluid in an array substantially encircling said fluid jet orifice. 6. A method for effecting a surgical incision for medical or veterinary procedures comprising the steps of: selecting a cutting implement, said cutting implement comprising: an implosion chamber having a nozzle outlet and pressure means for elevating pressure in an interior space defined within said implosion chamber and means for introducing a first measure of liquid into said interior space of said implosion chamber; a vessel of variable internal volume for containing a second measure of fluid and having a nozzle port for sealingly mating with said nozzle outlet and for extending outside of said implosion chamber through said nozzle outlet, said vessel being sized and shaped for residing in said interior space of said implosion chamber, said vessel being substantially sealed except with respect to said nozzle port; conduit means sealingly connected to said nozzle outlet means of said implosion chamber; a nozzle tip sealingly connected to said conduit means, said nozzle tip having a fluid jet orifice through which a portion of said second measure of fluid may exit as pressure is applied to said second measure of fluid by way of pressure applied to said vessel through pressure applied to said first measure of fluid in said implosion chamber, said nozzle tip including valving means for selectively actuating said nozzle tip for initiating and interrupting flow of said fluid jet; introducing said vessel into said interior space of said implosion chamber, said vessel having said second measure of sterile fluid contained therein; sealingly engaging said nozzle port of said vessel with said nozzle outlet of said implosion chamber; introducing said first measure of fluid into said interior space of said implosion chamber; actuating said pressure means for applying pressure to said first measure of fluid and thereby applying pressure to said second measure of fluid; and directing said fluid jet orifice in the direction of a tissue which is to be cut for achieving said cut and actuating said valving means. 7. A cutting implement comprising: an implosion chamber having a nozzle outlet and pressure means for elevating pressure in an interior space defined within said implosion chamber and means for introducing a first measure of fluid into said interior space of said implosion chamber, said pressure means being a hydraulic piston system including a displacement portion and a piston, said displacement portion being in sealed fluid communication with said interior space of said implosion chamber whereby advancement of said piston of said piston system exerts pressure on said first measure of said fluid thereby raising pressure of said first measure of said fluid when contained inside said implosion chamber; a vessel of variable internal volume for containing a second measure of fluid and having a nozzle port for sealingly mating with said nozzle outlet and for extending outside of said implosion chamber through said nozzle outlet, said vessel being sized and shaped for residing in said interior space of said implosion chamber, said vessel being substantially sealed except with respect to said nozzle port; conduit means sealingly connected to said nozzle outlet means of said implosion chamber; a nozzle tip sealingly connected to said conduit means, said nozzle tip having a fluid jet orifice through which a portion of said second measure of fluid may exit as pressure is applied to said second measure of fluid by way of pressure applied to said vessel through pressure applied to said first measure of fluid in said implosion chamber; said pressure means being configured for elevating said pressure of said first measure of said fluid in said interior space of said implosion chamber to a level sufficient to propel said portion of said second measure of said fluid with force sufficient to cut mammalian tissues, said pressure being not less than approximately 100 psi and being increased according to specific nature of tissue to be cut. 8. The invention of claim 7 wherein said nozzle tip comprises water shroud means having a water shroud orifice for emitting, from said water shroud orifice, another portion of said measure of fluid in a direction substantially parallel with the exit of said portion of said second measure of said fluid from said fluid jet orifice, said water shroud orifice being configured to emit said third measure of fluid in an array substantially encircling said fluid jet orifice.

Details for Patent 5,620,414

Applicant	Tradename	Biologic Ingredient	Dosage Form	BLA	Approval Date	Patent No.	Expiredate
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.	ZOSTAVAX	zoster vaccine live	For Injection	125123	05/25/2006		2014-04-15