Ultrasonic probe

Abstract

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for performing a procedure on a target site of a meniscus, using an ultrasonic surgical tool, the meniscus including a blood-flow area and a no-blood-flow area in a posterior portion of the meniscus, the method comprising:
 inserting a probe of the ultrasonic surgical tool in a body, the probe having an elongated shaft shape and being configured to transmit ultrasonic vibration from a proximal end to a front end, the probe comprising:
 a bent portion that is inclined with respect to a longitudinal axis of a probe main body, and 
 a procedure portion disposed at the front end of the probe and comprising a cutting surface; 
   moving the probe through a space in between a femur and a tibia to position the procedure portion adjacent to the target site;   positioning the cutting surface of the procedure portion on the target site; and   performing the procedure on the target site,   
       wherein:
 in a case where the target site is positioned to extend from the no-blood-flow area to the blood-flow area, the procedure comprises:
 forming an inclined resection plane without corner portions by resecting a portion of the target site that is positioned in the no-blood-flow area using the cutting surface; and 
 smoothing a portion of the target site that is positioned in the blood-flow area using the cutting surface, and 
 
 in a case where the target site is positioned only in the no-blood-flow area, the procedure comprises forming an inclined resection plane without corner portions by resecting the target site positioned in the no-blood-flow area using the cutting surface. 
 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 moving the probe such that the procedure portion is positioned adjacent to a second target site near a middle portion of the meniscus;   positioning the cutting surface of the procedure portion on the second target site; and   resecting the second target site along an inclination of the meniscus using the cutting surface of the procedure portion to form a second inclined resection plane while ensuring that no horn portion is developed in the meniscus.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising moving the probe to position the procedure portion adjacent to another target site developed near an anterior portion of the meniscus. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the inclined resection plane is formed while ensuring that no horn portion is developed in the meniscus. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising changing a posture of the probe to change an orientation of the bent portion of the probe before resecting the target site or the portion of the target site that is positioned in the no-blood-flow area. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein an angle at which the procedure portion makes surface contact with a surface of the target site increases in inclination due to the changing of the posture of the probe. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the procedure portion comprises a lower cutting surface and lateral cutting surfaces. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cutting surface comprises at least two cutting surfaces selected from the group consisting of: a lower cutting surface, an upper cutting surface, an apical cutting surface, and a lateral cutting surface. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the at least two cutting surfaces of the procedure portion do not include the apical cutting surface. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the cutting surface is a corrugated surface.