Vascular tunneler
The present invention is a tunneling device for vascular tunneling procedures. The invention includes a tunneling device and a tunneling tip. The tunneling device includes a tissue-separating source of energy at the tunneling tip. The preferred source of energy is ultrasonic movement at the distal tip of the tunneler. Preferably the ultrasonic driver is disposed in a removably attached tip but it may be in the tunneler handle. Also included is a method of tunneling which includes separating tissue layers as the tunneler is advanced. The preferred method uses an ultrasonically vibrating tip.
1 . A tunneling instrument comprising:
a tubular body having a distal end and a proximal end;
a distal tip disposed at said distal end of said tubular body; and
means for delivering tissue-separating energy to tissue cells proximate said distal tip.
2 . The tunneling instrument of claim 1 wherein said tissue-separating energy is ultrasonic energy.
3 . The tunneling instrument of claim 1 wherein said tissue-separating energy is electrical energy.
4 . The tunneling instrument of claim 1 wherein said means is an ultrasonic driver.
5 . The tunneling instrument of claim 3 wherein said electrical energy is provided through one of a monopolar tip or a bipolar tip.
6 . The tunneling instrument of claim 1 wherein said distal tip is comprised of a body having a cone-shaped distal end and a proximal end, said tip body comprising an ultrasonic driver which delivers ultrasonic energy to said distal end of said tip body.
7 . The tunneling instrument of claim 1 wherein said distal tip is removably attached to said tubular body.
8 . The tunneling instrument of claim 1 wherein said distal tip is not removable from said tubular body.
9 . The tunneling instrument of claim 1 further comprising a handle disposed proximal to said proximate end of said body, said handle housing an ultrasonic driver to provide said tissue-separating energy to said distal tip.
10 . A tunneler tip for use in a surgical tunneling instrument, the tunneler tip comprising:
a body having a cavity disposed therein; and
within said cavity, means for delivering tissue-separating energy to body tissue.
11 . The tunneling tip of claim 10 wherein said tissue-separating energy is ultrasonic energy.
12 . The tunneling tip of claim 10 wherein said tissue-separating energy is electrical energy.
13 . A method of forming a tunnel in living tissue, the method comprising the steps of:
advancing a tunneling device into living tissue; and
separating tissue at the tip of the tunneling device as the tunneling device is advanced through the tissue.
14 . The method of claim 13 wherein said separating step includes cauterizing blood vessels within the living tissue.
15 . The method of claim 13 wherein said separating is achieved through the delivery of ultrasonic energy to the cells.
16 . The method of claim 13 wherein said separating is achieved through the delivery of electrical energy to the cells.