JET-PRODUCING NOZZLE HEAD AND APPARATUS COMPRISING THE SAME

Abstract

A nozzle head configured to produce at least two jets of pressurized fluid converging to a common convergence point, said the head including a casing housing at least two outlet ports that are each configured to produce a corresponding one of the jets of pressurized fluid. At least one of the outlet ports, and preferably each of the outlet ports, is formed on an adjustable positioning element housed within the casing and whose position can be adjusted to control an angle of the resulting jet of pressurized fluid, and thereby allow adjustment of a position of the convergence point.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A nozzle head configured to produce at least two jets of pressurized fluid converging to a common convergence point, the nozzle head comprising a casing housing at least two outlet ports each configured to produce a corresponding one of the jets of pressurized fluid, wherein at least one of the outlet ports is formed on an adjustable positioning element housed within the casing and whose position can be adjusted to control an angle of the resulting jet of pressurized fluid and thus allow adjustment of a position of the convergence point.

17. The nozzle head according to claim 16, wherein each outlet port is formed on a corresponding adjustable positioning element.

18. The nozzle head according to claim 16, wherein each adjustable positioning element comprises a bearing element exhibiting a substantially spherical outer surface.

19. The nozzle head according to claim 18, wherein each bearing element is received within a corresponding bore of a supporting member housed within the casing of the nozzle head and wherein each bearing element is held by friction within the bore.

20. The nozzle head according to claim 19, wherein the nozzle head is designed to take a first, adjustable configuration, in which each bearing element can be moved with respect to the supporting member to perform adjustment of the angle of the jet of pressurized fluid, and a second, locked configuration, in which each bearing element is locked in place and cannot move with respect to the supporting member.

21. The nozzle head according to claim 20, wherein the casing comprises first and second casing members, wherein, in the first, adjustable configuration, the first and second casing members are spaced one from the other to allow movement of each bearing element with respect to the supporting member, and wherein, in the second, locked configuration, the first and second casing members are pressed one onto the other or otherwise immobilized to prevent movement of each bearing element with respect to the supporting member.

22. The nozzle head according to claim 21, wherein each bearing element is located between a pair of washers located within the casing, and wherein, in the second, locked configuration, the first and second casing members cause the pair of washers to press against each bearing element and prevent movement thereof with respect to the supporting member.

23. The nozzle head according to claim 16, wherein each outlet port comprises a nozzle element provided with an orifice configured to produce a corresponding one of the jets of pressurized fluid.

24. The nozzle head according to claim 23, wherein a diameter of each orifice is comprised between 0.01 mm and 1.5 mm.

25. The nozzle head according to claim 23, wherein a distance between the common convergence point and each orifice is comprised between 10 mm and 120 mm.

26. The nozzle head according to claim 23, wherein each nozzle element consists of an orifice-forming element made of a hard material.

27. The nozzle head according to claim 26, wherein the hard material is sapphire, ruby or diamond.

28. The nozzle head according to claim 26, wherein the hard material is a hard metal.

29. The nozzle head according to claim 28, wherein the hard metal is steel.

30. The nozzle head according to claim 26, wherein the hard material is a ceramic material.

31. The nozzle head according to claim 30, wherein the ceramic material is tungsten carbide.

32. The nozzle head according to any one of claims 23, wherein each nozzle element forms part of a corresponding adjustable positioning element and is received within a recess and supported by a shoulder portion of the adjustable positioning element.

33. An apparatus comprising a nozzle head in accordance with claim 16 coupled to a source of pressurized fluid.

34. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein each jet of pressurized fluid is produced at a pressure exceeding 50 bar.

35. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the apparatus is a surgical instrument used for cutting and/or dissecting biological tissue.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly from reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention which are presented solely by way of non-restrictive examples and illustrated by the attached drawings in which:

[0029] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a nozzle head with two outlet ports in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0030] FIG. 2 is schematic cross-section of the nozzle head of FIG. 1 taken along a cross-sectional plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the two outlet ports and further showing a pair of jets of pressurized fluid produced by the nozzle head and converging to a common convergence point;

[0031] FIG. 3 is schematic cross-section of the nozzle head of FIG. 1 shown in a non-adjusted configuration;

[0032] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cross-section shown in FIG. 3;

[0033] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the cross-section shown in FIG. 3;

[0034] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cross-section of each outlet port of the nozzle head as shown in FIG. 4; and

[0035] FIG. 7 is an illustration of a surgical instrument that can be equipped with the nozzle head of the invention, which surgical instrument is also shown in exploded view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0036] The present invention will be described in relation to various illustrative embodiments. It shall be understood that the scope of the invention encompasses all combinations and sub-combinations of the features of the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0037] As described herein, when two or more parts or components are described as being connected, secured or coupled to one another, they can be so connected, secured or coupled directly to each other or through one or more intermediary parts.

[0038] The invention will be described in relation to various embodiments of a nozzle head as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, which nozzle head is generally designated by reference numeral 1. This nozzle head 1 is especially intended to form part of a surgical instrument as used to carry out hydrosurgery on human or animal tissue. Such nozzle head 1 can in particular be incorporated into a surgical instrument as generally described in International (PCT) Publication No. WO 2016/156031 A1, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIG. 7 is an illustration of a ScalJet® instrument, designated by reference numeral 1000, which instrument 1000 is also shown in exploded view. As shown in FIG. 7, the nozzle head 1 can be provided at a terminal end of the instrument 1000 and be coupled to a source of pressurized fluid (not shown), such as a sterile physiological saline solution.

[0039] The nozzle head of the invention may however be used for a large variety of different applications, including for machining purposes, such as cutting of parts or surface treatment. The nozzle head of the invention may for instance form part of an industrial cutter, such as a water jet cutter, or as part of a surface treatment or ablation machine. In such case, the pressurized fluid may additionally contain an abrasive substance mixed with the relevant fluid to form an abrasive jet. Other applications could further be contemplated, such as the use of the nozzle head as part of a system to defuse or disarm explosive devices, using converging high-pressure jets of liquid to destroy or otherwise deactivate detonators.

[0040] In the example illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7, the nozzle head 1 exhibits very small dimensions with a diameter smaller than 10 mm (e.g. of the order of 8 mm) and a thickness smaller than 5 mm (e.g. less than 4 mm) and is in effect designed to produce a pair of high-pressure micro-jets extending from two outlet ports 10A, 10B. All components constitutive of the nozzle head 1 are contained within a casing 11/12 comprising a pair of casing members 11, 12. The casing 11/12 is here of substantially cylindrical shape, but it will be appreciated that this shape is not particularly restrictive and that other shapes could be contemplated within the scope of the invention.

[0041] While the nozzle head 1 shown in the Figures comprises a pair of outlet ports 10A, 10B, it will be appreciated that the invention is applicable to any nozzle head comprising two or more outlet ports configured to produce a corresponding number of jets of pressurized fluid that are intended to converge to a common convergence point.

[0042] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-section of the nozzle head 1 of FIG. 1 taken along a cross-sectional plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the two outlet ports 10A, 10B. FIG. 2 shows the nozzle head 1 in an adjusted configuration, with the outlet ports 10A, 10B being positioned to produce two converging jets J.sub.A, J.sub.B that converge to a common convergence point C that is located along a central axis forward of the nozzle head 1. In the illustrated example, the distance between each orifice of the outlet ports 10A, 10B and the convergence point C is of the order of 30 mm, but it should be appreciated that such distance is adjustable thanks to the invention. By way of preference, in the context of the surgical application being contemplated, this distance is comprised between 10 mm and 50 mm, and the lateral spacing between the outlet ports 10A, 10B is of the order of 2 mm to 6 mm. By way of illustration, the two outlet ports 10A, 10B are spaced one from the other by a distance of approximately 3.7 mm. It will however be understood that these dimensions are purely illustrative of the relevant surgical application being considered, and that such dimensions could be varied depending on the contemplated application and the desired geometry of the nozzle head. According to the invention, the distance between the common convergence point and each orifice is preferably comprised between 10 mm and 120 mm, but distances exceeding 120 mm could potentially be contemplated.

[0043] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-section of the nozzle head 1 of FIG. 1 shown in a non-adjusted configuration. FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively show a perspective view and an exploded perspective view of the cross-section shown in FIG. 3, half of the nozzle head 1 being omitted in FIGS. 4 and 5 for the purpose of explanation.

[0044] Housed within the casing 11/12 are the two outlet ports 10A, 10B, each outlet port 10A, 10B being formed on a corresponding adjustable positioning element 20A/25A, resp. 20B/25B, also illustrated in FIG. 6. The position of each adjustable positioning element 20A/25A, resp. 20B/25B, can be adjusted to control an angle of the resulting jet of pressurized fluid and thus allow adjustment of a position of the convergence point. In effect, the invention allows proper adjustment of the convergence of the jets produced by the outlet ports 10A, 10B, as well as adjustment of the position of the resulting point of convergence of the jets.

[0045] In the illustrated example, as this will become apparent, each adjustable positioning element 20A/25A, resp. 20B/25B, is preferably configured like a ball joint or spherical bearing that permits angular rotation of each outlet port 10A, 10B about a central point, with two degrees of freedom, thus providing substantial flexibility in the angular adjustment of each outlet port 10A, 10B.

[0046] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, each adjustable positioning element 20A/25A, resp. 20B/25B, includes a bearing element 20A, resp. 20B, exhibiting a substantially spherical outer surface 200a. Each bearing element 20A, resp. 20B here exhibits a recess 200b dimensioned to receive a corresponding nozzle element (or orifice-forming element) 25A, resp. 25B, which nozzle element 25A, 25B is supported by a shoulder portion 200c of the bearing element 20A, resp. 20B. Each nozzle element 25A, 25B is provided with an orifice 25a, resp. 25b, configured to produce a corresponding one of the jets of pressurized fluid. Reference 200d in FIG. 6 designates an outlet aperture formed in each bearing element 20A, 20B.

[0047] By way of preference, a diameter of each orifice 25a, 25b is comprised between 0.01 mm and 1.5 mm. In the illustrated example, the diameter of each orifice 25a, 25b is of 0.08 mm.

[0048] Each nozzle element 25A, 25B preferably consists of an orifice-forming element made of a hard material, such as sapphire. The orifice-forming element may alternatively be made of ruby or diamond, of a hard metal, such a steel, or of a ceramic material, such as but not limited to tungsten carbide.

[0049] By way of preference, each bearing element 20A, 20B is received within a corresponding bore 30A, resp. 30B, of a supporting member 30 that is likewise housed within the casing 11/12, each bearing element 20A, 20B being held by friction within the relevant bore 30A, 30B. The supporting member 30 thus holds both bearing elements 20A, 20B in position, while allowing each bearing element 20A, 20B to be selectively moved with respect to the supporting member 30 to perform adjustment operations.

[0050] Even more preferably, the nozzle head 1 is designed to take a first, adjustable configuration, in which each bearing element 20A, 20B can be moved with respect to the supporting member 30 to perform adjustment of the angle of the jet of pressurized fluid, and a second, locked configuration, in which each bearing element 20A, 20B is locked in place and cannot move with respect to the supporting member 30. In the illustrated example, this is achieved by designing the first and second casing members 11, 12 to be spaced one from the other, in the first, adjustable configuration, to allow movement of each bearing element 20A, 20B with respect to the supporting member 30. In the second, locked configuration, the first and second casing members 11, 12 are pressed one onto the other (or otherwise immobilized) to prevent movement of each bearing element 20A, 20B with respect to the supporting member 30.

[0051] More specifically, in the illustrated example, each bearing element 20A, 20B is located between a pair of washers 31A, 32A, resp. 31B, 32B, also located within the casing 11/12. Pressing of the first and second casing members 11, 12 one against the other causes each pair of washers 31A, 32A, resp. 31B, 32B, to press against each bearing element 20A, 20B and prevent movement thereof with respect to the supporting member 30. As a result, the supporting member 30 is compressed within the casing 11/12, thereby also contributing to preventing movement of the bearing elements 20A, 20B.

[0052] Any suitable locking arrangement ensuring that the nozzle head 1 takes and remains in a locked configuration could be contemplated. For instance, the first and second casing members 11, 12 could be screwed one on the other, or glued or welded one onto the other to ensure immobilization of the bearing elements 20A, 20B.

[0053] The aforementioned supporting member 30 may be made of polyoxymethylene (also referred to by the acronym “POM”), such as Delrin® from DuPont, or any other adequate material, for example polyether ether ketone (also referred to by the acronym “PEEK”) which is a biocompatible polymer material usable for medical applications. The casing 11/12, bearing elements 20A, 20B and washers 31A, 31B, 32A, 32B may be made of a medical grade metal such as SAE 316L stainless steel.

[0054] Various modifications and/or improvements may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. In particular, while the use of a bearing element exhibiting a substantially spherical outer surface is particularly preferred, other solutions could possibly be contemplated. For instance, the outlet ports 10A, 10B could each be formed on eccentric bearings to allow adjustment of the angle of each jet.

[0055] One will also understand that, while it is preferable that each outlet port be formed on a corresponding adjustable positioning element, one outlet port could be fixed while the other is formed on an adjustable positioning element.

TABLE-US-00001 LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS AND SIGNS USED THEREIN 1 nozzle head 10A (first) outlet port 10B (second) outlet port 11 (first) casing member 12 (second) casing member 20A (first) bearing element (part of adjustable positioning element 20A/25A) 20B (second) bearing element (part of adjustable positioning element 20B/25B) 25A (first) nozzle element (part of adjustable positioning element 20A/25A) 25a orifice of nozzle element 25A 25B (second) nozzle element ((part of adjustable positioning element 20B/25B) 25b orifice of nozzle element 25B 30 supporting member 30A (first) bore in supporting member 30 configured to receive and hold adjustable positioning element 20A/25A 30B (second) bore in supporting member 30 configured to receive and hold adjustable positioning element 20B/25B 31A, 32A (first) pair of washers positioned on opposing sides of adjustable positioning element 20A/25A 31B, 32B (second) pair washers positioned on opposing sides of adjustable positioning element 20B/25B 200a spherical outer surface of bearing element 20A, 20B 200b recess formed in bearing element 20A, 20B and dimensioned to receive nozzle element 25A, 25B 200c shoulder portion of bearing element 20A, 20B supporting nozzle element 25A, 25B 200d outlet aperture formed in bearing element 20A, 20B 1000 surgical instrument J.sub.A (first) jet of pressurized fluid produced by outlet port 10A J.sub.B (second) jet of pressurized fluid produced by outlet port 10B C point of convergence of jets J.sub.A, J.sub.B