Medical Tool for Reduced Penetration Force with Feedback Means

Abstract

A medical device for reducing the force necessary to penetrate living being tissue using a variety of reciprocating motion actuators, including piezoelectric, voice coil, solenoids, pneumatics or fluidics. The reciprocating actuator drives a penetrating member through the tissue at a reduced force while the device detects the passage of the penetrating member through the tissue. Upon passage of the penetrating member through the tissue, electrical power to the reciprocating actuator is automatically terminated. A fluid-containing syringe may be coupled to a channel within the penetrating member. Once the penetrating member tip has passed through the living tissue, the fluid within the syringe no longer experiences any pressure and a plunger within the syringe displaces indicating passage of the penetrating member tip. This motion can provide direct tactile feedback to an operator of the medical device or can automatically open a switch providing electrical power to the medical device.

1 .- 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A medical device for penetrating living being tissue, said device comprising:
 a penetrating member which is vibrated to reduce the force needed to penetrate living being tissue;   a driving actuator coupled to said penetrating member and causing said vibration when energized;   an electrical power cut off automatically de-energizing the driving actuator when said penetrating member has passed through the living being tissue; and   a side port through which fluid pressure is monitored to initiate the automatic electrical power cut off, wherein fluid is introduced through the side port and into the penetrating member, wherein a longitudinal axis of the side port intersects a longitudinal axis of a bore and is oriented at a non-parallel angle at the intersection to the longitudinal axis of the bore, wherein the longitudinal axis of the bore is in turn oriented at a parallel angle to a longitudinal axis of the penetrating member;   wherein the fluid introduced through the side port and into the penetrating member is dispensed from a distal end of the penetrating member out of the medical device.   
     
     
         35 . The medical device of  claim 34  wherein said penetrating member is one of a hypodermic needle, catheterization needle, Tuohy needle, bone biopsy trocar, spinal needle, nerve block needle, trocar access ports and interventional radiology needle. 
     
     
         36 . The medical device of  claim 34  wherein a pressure transducer detects pressure within a channel of said penetrating member and activates said electrical power cut off. 
     
     
         37 . The medical device of  claim 34  wherein the vibrating penetrating member comprises a hollow needle disposed in an attachment fitting, the attachment fitting coupled to the driving actuator. 
     
     
         38 . The medical device of  claim 34  wherein said driving actuator comprises a voice coil coupled to said penetrating member. 
     
     
         39 . The medical device of  claim 38  wherein said voice coil comprises a coil surrounding permanent magnets and a portion of said penetrating member. 
     
     
         40 . The medical device of  claim 38  wherein said voice coil comprises a coil surrounding permanent magnets and a shaft, said shaft coupled to said penetrating member. 
     
     
         41 . The medical device of  claim 38  further comprising vibration amplifiers positioned on opposite sides of said coil. 
     
     
         42 . The medical device of  claim 41  wherein the vibration amplifiers comprise springs positioned on opposite sides of said coil. 
     
     
         43 . The medical device of  claim 34  wherein said driving actuator is one of a pneumatic or fluidic actuator. 
     
     
         44 . The medical device of  claim 34 , wherein the penetrating member has a penetrating member hub, wherein the bore is in the penetrating member hub, and wherein the longitudinal axis of the bore is coaxial with a longitudinal axis of a channel of the penetrating member. 
     
     
         45 . A medical device for penetrating living being tissue, said device comprising:
 a penetrating member which is ultrasonically vibrated to reduce the force needed to penetrate living being tissue;   a driving actuator coupled to said penetrating member and causing said ultrasonic vibration when energized;   an electrical power cut off automatically de-energizing the driving actuator when said penetrating member has passed through the living being tissue;   a tubular body that has an interior;   a biasing element that moves from an at rest position and upon so doing is sensed by a sensor to trigger the electrical power cut off to automatically de-energize the driving actuator, wherein the sensor senses movement of the biasing element relative to the tubular body to trigger the electrical power cut off; and   a side port in fluid communication with the interior of the tubular body.   
     
     
         46 . The medical device of  claim 45 , wherein said driving actuator comprises a Langevin actuator. 
     
     
         47 . The medical device of  claim 45 , wherein said driving actuator comprises a Langevin transducer. 
     
     
         48 . The medical device of  claim 45 , wherein said driving actuator comprises a flextensional actuator assembly. 
     
     
         49 . The medical device of  claim 48 , wherein said driving actuator comprises a cymbal actuator. 
     
     
         50 . The medical device of  claim 48 , wherein said driving actuator comprises an amplified piezoelectric actuator. 
     
     
         51 . The medical device of  claim 45 , further comprising a penetrating member hub that carries the penetrating member, wherein the side port is located at the penetrating member hub. 
     
     
         52 . The medical device of  claim 45 , wherein the side port is located at the driving actuator.