Tissue liquefaction and aspiration

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for liquefying target tissue within a body and aspirating the same while leaving non-target tissue intact. A biocompatible fluid is heated and contacted with target tissue so that the target tissue is melted while non-target tissue remains intact. As the target tissue is being melted it is also aspirated from the body.

1. A method for liquefying diseased dentin tissue within a body comprising the steps of:
 heating a biocompatible fluid; 
 presenting said fluid to the diseased tissue within a surgical area so that the tissue is liquefied when contacted with said heated fluid while leaving healthy tissue intact; and 
 aspirating said liquefied tissue. 
 
     
     
       2. The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said fluid is saline. 
     
     
       3. The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the dentin tissue is the diseased tissue lying underneath a hole formed in the enamel of a tooth. 
     
     
       4. The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said heating step includes heating said fluid to a temperature at which temperature only the diseased tissue liquefies. 
     
     
       5. The method as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said fluid is heated to a temperature between 98.6 and 250° F. 
     
     
       6. The method as claimed in  claim 1  further including the step of adding chemical substances to the heated fluid to facilitate liquefying the diseased tissue. 
     
     
       7. The method as claimed in  claim 1  further including the step of irrigating the surgical area while simultaneously aspirating said liquefied tissue. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1  further including the steps of irrigating the surgical area as a portion of the diseased tissue is liquefied and aspirated and repeating said presenting, irrigating, and aspirating steps until the desired amount of said diseased tissue has been liquefied and aspirated. 
     
     
       9. A method of removing fat tissue from a region within a body that contains both fat tissue and other tissue, the method comprising the steps of:
 presenting moving fluid to the tissues in the region, wherein the pressure and temperature of the fluid are such that (a) fat tissue in the region is liquefied by the fluid and (b) the other tissue in the region remains intact; and   aspirating the liquefied fat tissue and the fluid.   
     
     
       10. The method of claim 9, wherein the fluid comprises saline. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 9, wherein the temperature of the fluid is about 120° F. 
     
     
       12. A method of removing fat tissue from a region within a body that contains both fat tissue and other tissue, the method comprising the steps of:
 presenting numerous pulses of fluid to the tissues in the region, wherein the pressure and temperature of the pulses of fluid are such that (a) fat tissue in the region is liquefied by the pulses of fluid and (b) the other tissue in the region remains intact; and   aspirating the liquefied fat tissue and the fluid.   
     
     
       13. The method of claim 12, wherein, in the presenting step, a plurality of pulses are delivered per second. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 12, wherein, in the presenting step, the pulses are delivered at a rate of about 20 pulses per second. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 12, wherein, in the presenting step, each pulse contains about ¼ ml of fluid. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 12, wherein, in the presenting step, the pulses are delivered at a pressure of about 75 psi. 
     
     
       17. The method of claim 12, wherein the fluid comprises saline. 
     
     
       18. The method of claim 12, wherein the temperature of the fluid is about 120° F. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 18, wherein, in the presenting step, a plurality of pulses are delivered per second. 
     
     
       20. An apparatus for removing subcutaneous fat tissue from a region within a body that contains both fat tissue and other tissue, the apparatus comprising:
 a heating element configured to heat a fluid;   a conduit configured to direct the fluid to the tissues in the region;   a pump adapted to pump the fluid through the conduit so that the fluid impinges on the tissues in the region, at a pressure and temperature that causes (a) the fat tissue in the region to be liquefied by the impinging fluid and (b) the other tissue in the region to remain intact; and   an aspiration tube operatively connected to a vacuum source for aspirating the liquefied fat and the fluid from the region.   
     
     
       21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the heated fluid is obtained by heating water contained in a reservoir to a set temperature. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the pump pumps the fluid by ejecting a plurality of boluses of fluid per second. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein about 20 boluses are ejected per second. 
     
     
       24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein each bolus contains about ¼ ml of fluid. 
     
     
       25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the fluid is delivered to the tissues in the region at a pressure of about 75 psi. 
     
     
       26. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the fluid comprises saline. 
     
     
       27. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the fluid is delivered to the tissues in the region at a temperature of about 120° F. 
     
     
       28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the pump pumps the fluid by ejecting a plurality of boluses of fluid per second.