Ultrasonic surgical instrument for intracorporeal sonodynamic therapy

Abstract

The present invention relates, in general, to ultrasonic surgical instruments and, more particularly, to an intracorporeal ultrasonic surgical instrument for sonodynamic therapy. Disclosed is an ultrasonic surgical system comprising: a generator and an instrument comprising: a housing; a transducer; a semi-permeable membrane; a pharmaceutical agent; and an agent delivery system. The transducer is adapted to convert the electrical energy of the generator into mechanical energy. The pharmaceutical agent, delivered into a chamber of the semi-permeable membrane, is driven through the semi-permeable membrane by the mechanical energy. A method in accordance with the present invention comprises the steps of: providing a surgical instrument comprising: a housing; a transducer connected to the housing; a semi-permeable membrane; a pharmaceutical agent; and an agent delivery system; inserting the surgical instrument into a patient; delivering a drug to the patient; and locally activating the drug with the surgical instrument.

1 . An ultrasonic surgical system comprising: 
 a housing;    a transducer connected to said housing;    a membrane surrounding said transducer; and    a pharmaceutical agent within the membrane; and    an agent delivery system.    
   
   
       2 . The ultrasonic surgical system of  claim 1 , wherein said transducer operates within the range of about 500 kilohertz to about 50 megahertz.  
   
   
       3 . The ultrasonic surgical system of  claim 2 , wherein said transducer operates within the range of about 500 kilohertz to about 2 megahertz.  
   
   
       4 . The ultrasonic surgical system of  claim 3 , wherein said membrane is porous or semi-permeable.  
   
   
       5 . The ultrasonic surgical system of  claim 1 , further comprising a feedback device selected from the group consisting of a non-thermal response monitor, a thermal response monitor, a cavitation monitor, a streaming monitor, an ultrasonic imaging device, a drug activation monitor, an infusion rate control, a source control, a duty cycle control, a piezo sensor, a piezo receiver, a thermocouple, and a frequency control.  
   
   
       6 . An ultrasonic instrument comprising: 
 a housing;    a transducer connected to said housing;    a membrane surrounding said transducer;    a pharmaceutical agent; and    an agent delivery system;    wherein said agent delivery system delivers said pharmaceutical agent into a chamber of said membrane; and    whereby said pharmaceutical agent is driven through said membrane by ultrasonic energy delivered from said transducer.    
   
   
       7 . A method of treating tissue comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a surgical instrument, said instrument comprising:    a housing;    a transducer connected to said housing;    b) inserting said surgical instrument into the patient;    c) delivering a drug to said patient; and    d) locally activating said drug with said surgical instrument.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising the step of: 
 e) ablating tissue of said patient with said surgical instrument.    
   
   
       9 . An ultrasonic surgical system comprising: 
 a) a generator;    b) an instrument comprising: 
 i) a housing;  
 ii) an electromechanical element contained in an interior portion of said housing;  
 iii) a waveguide originating at said electromechanical element and terminating at an end-effector extending out of said housing;  
 iv) a membrane surrounding said end-effector;  
 v) a pharmaceutical agent; and  
 vi) an agent delivery system;  
   wherein said generator is adapted to provide electrical energy to said electromechanical element;    wherein said transducer is adapted to convert said electrical energy into mechanical energy; and    whereby said pharmaceutical agent is driven through said membrane by said mechanical energy.    
   
   
       10 . The ultrasonic surgical system of  claim 9 , wherein said electromechanical element operates within the range of about 10 kilohertz to about 200 kilohertz.  
   
   
       11 . The ultrasonic surgical system of  claim 9 , wherein said membrane is porous or semi-permeable.  
   
   
       12 . An ultrasonic surgical instrument comprising: 
 a) a housing;    b) a transducer connected to said housing;    c) a membrane adjacent said transducer;    d) a pharmaceutical agent; and    e) an agent delivery system;    wherein said agent delivery system delivers said pharmaceutical agent into a chamber of said membrane.    
   
   
       13 . The ultrasonic surgical system of  claim 12 , wherein said transducer operates within the range of about 500 kilohertz to about 50 megahertz.  
   
   
       14 . The ultrasonic surgical system of  claim 12 , wherein said transducer operates within the range of about 10 kilohertz to about 200 kilohertz.  
   
   
       15 . The ultrasonic surgical system of  claim 12 , wherein said membrane is porous or semi-permeable.