System and method for minimally invasive tissue treatment using ultrasonic cannula

1. A method of delivering ultrasonic energy for a debridement of musculoskeletal tissue, the method comprising:

connecting a delivery device to a vacuum source, a fluid source, and a power signal source;

generating ultrasonic energy by sending a power signal from a power signal source to an ultrasonic transducer that is secured coaxially about a mounting post, the transducer and mounting post being contained within a housing;

transmitting the ultrasonic energy from the ultrasonic transducer to a cannula, at least a portion of the cannula also being contained within the housing;

percutaneously inserting at least a portion of the cannula proximal to a musculoskeletal tissue site;

delivering fluid from a fluid source to an exposed portion of the cannula; and

activating a vacuum source to remove fluid delivered from the fluid source,

wherein the vacuum source is inactivated if fluid flow to the vacuum source is undesirably reduced;

wherein the exposed portion of the cannula is optimized to deliver ultrasonic energy at a frequency of 25 kHz to 29 kHz; and

wherein the exposed portion of the cannula is imaged by an ultrasound imaging device during the insertion and the debridement of the musculoskeletal tissue.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the delivery device is integrally connected to a removable cassette, wherein the removable cassette provides the connection between the delivery device and the vacuum source, the fluid source, and the power signal source.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the delivery device and the removable cassette are disposable.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising replacing the delivery device and removable cassette with a second delivery and a second removable cassette, wherein the second delivery device is integrally connected to the second removable cassette.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the second delivery device and the second removable cassette are disposable.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein fluid flow to the vacuum source is undesirably reduced when there is an occlusion in the fluid flow to the vacuum source.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein fluid flow to the vacuum source is undesirably reduced when there is an interruption in the fluid flow from the fluid source.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising percutaneously inserting the tip portion to a musculoskeletal tissue site.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising debriding musculoskeletal tissue with the ultrasonic energy delivered from the cannula while ultrasonically imaging the tip portion of the delivery device.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the exposed portion of the cannula comprises a tip that is cylindrical and does not have serrated edges.

11. A method of delivering ultrasonic energy for a debridement of musculoskeletal tissue, the method comprising:

connecting a delivery device to a vacuum source, a fluid source, and a power signal source;

generating ultrasonic energy by sending a power signal from a power signal source to an ultrasonic transducer that is secured coaxially about a mounting post, the transducer and mounting post being contained within a housing;

transmitting the ultrasonic energy from the ultrasonic transducer to a cannula, the ultrasonic energy being delivered to the musculoskeletal tissue from an exposed portion of the cannula, at least a portion of the cannula also being contained within the housing;

percutaneously inserting at least a portion of the cannula proximal to a musculoskeletal tissue site;

delivering fluid from a fluid source to the exposed portion of the cannula; and

activating a vacuum source to remove fluid delivered from the fluid source,

wherein an interruption in the fluid flow to the vacuum source generates a signal that inactivates the power signal source;

wherein the exposed portion of the cannula is optimized to deliver ultrasonic energy at a frequency of 25 kHz to 29 kHz; and

wherein the exposed portion of the cannula is imaged by an ultrasound imaging device during the insertion and the debridement of the musculoskeletal tissue.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the delivery device is integrally connected to a removable cassette, wherein the removable cassette provides the connection between the delivery device and the vacuum source, the fluid source, and the power signal source.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the delivery device and the cassette are disposable.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising replacing the delivery device and removable cassette with a second delivery device and a second removable cassette, wherein the second delivery device is integrally connected to the second removable cassette.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the second delivery device and the second removable cassette are disposable.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein fluid flow to the vacuum source is undesirably reduced when there is an occlusion in the fluid flow to the vacuum source.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein fluid flow to the vacuum source is undesirably reduced when there is an interruption in the fluid flow from the fluid source.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising percutaneously inserting the tip portion to a musculoskeletal tissue site.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising debriding musculoskeletal tissue with the ultrasonic energy delivered from the cannula while ultrasonically imaging the tip portion of the delivery device.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the exposed portion of the cannula comprises a tip that is cylindrical and does not have serrated edges.