Liposuction device

Claim 2

A liposuction device for removing subcutaneous fat ( 12 ) comprising a cannula ( 16 ) having a suction opening ( 22 ) for sucking therethrough subcutaneous fat ( 12 ), an injection line ( 18 ) for delivering a working fluid to an injection opening ( 20 ) of the cannula ( 16 ), the injection opening ( 20 ) being constructed and arranged at a front end of the injection line ( 18 ) and having a slit-shaped configuration whereby the working fluid exits the injection opening ( 20 ) forwardly of the front end in the shape of a working fluid fan ( 21 ), the width of the slit-shaped injection opening ( 20 ) being smaller than 1.0 mm, the slit-shaped injection opening ( 20 ) being inclined to a longitudinal axis ( 23 ) of the injection line ( 18 ) at an angle (α) thereto ranging substantially between 3 to 45° so that the working fluid fan ( 21 ) exits at said angle (α) with respect to the longitudinal axis ( 23 ), and the slit-shaped injection opening ( 20 ) being the only opening located at the front end of the injection line.

Claim 3

The liposuction device as defined in claim 1 wherein the injection line ( 18 ) includes a funnel-shaped acceleration nozzle ( 25 ) with an end portion converging toward said slit-shaped injection opening ( 20 ).

Claim 4

The liposuction device as defined in claim 1 including a fluid pump ( 38 ) for pumping working fluid to the injection opening ( 20 ), and pressure selector means ( 62 ) for selectively adjusting the delivery pressure of the fluid pump ( 38 ).

Claim 5

The liposuction device as defined in claim 1 including a handle ( 17 ) for holding the cannula ( 16 ) and the injection line ( 18 ), a fluid pump ( 38 ) for pumping working fluid to the injection opening ( 20 ), and a pump switch ( 70 ) at the handle ( 17 ) for controlling the operation of the fluid pump ( 38 ).

Claim 6

The liposuction device as defined in claim 1 including a fluid pump ( 38 ) for pumping working fluid to the injection opening ( 20 ), and the working fluid pump ( 38 ) is an interval pump for intermittently pumping the working fluid ( 21 ).

Claim 7

The liposuction device as defined in claim 1 including a handle ( 17 ) at an end of the cannula ( 16 ) opposite the injection opening ( 20 ), and means ( 85 ) for axially oscillating the injection opening ( 20 ) relative to the handle ( 17 ).

Claim 8

The liposuction device as defined in claim 1 wherein the injection line ( 18 ) is arranged substantially centrally of the cannula ( 16 ), and the cannula ( 16 ) includes additional suction openings ( 22 ) distributed over a circumferential wall thereof.

Claim 9

The liposuction device as defined in claim 1 wherein the range of the angle (α) is preferably substantially between 10 through 30°.

Claim 10

The liposuction device as defined in claim 1 wherein the angle (α) is preferably substantially 18 degrees.

Claim 11

The liposuction device as defined in claim 1 wherein the slit width of the injection opening ( 20 ) is smaller than substantially 0.1 mm.

Claim 12

A liposuction device for removing subcutaneous fat ( 12 ) comprising a cannula ( 16 ) having a suction opening ( 22 ) for sucking therethrough subcutaneous fat ( 12 ), an injection line ( 18 ) for delivering a working fluid to an injection opening ( 20 ) of the cannula ( 16 ), the injection opening ( 20 ) being constructed and arranged at a front end of the injection line ( 18 ) and having a slit-shaped configuration whereby the working fluid exits the Injection opening ( 20 ) forwardly of the front end in the shape of a working fluid fan ( 21 ), the width of the slit-shaped injection opening ( 20 ) being smaller than 1.0 mm, the slit-shaped injection opening ( 20 ) being inclined to a longitudinal axis ( 23 ) of the injection line ( 18 ) at an angle (α) thereto ranging substantially between 3 to 45° so that the working fluid fan ( 21 ) exits at said angle (α) with respect to the longitudinal axis ( 23 ), the slit-shaped injection opening ( 20 ) being the only opening located at the front end of the injection line, a working fluid pump ( 38 ) for pumping working fluid to the injection opening ( 20 ), a suction pump ( 30 ) for sucking the subcutaneous fat ( 12 ), and control means ( 60 ) for controlling the suction power of the suction pump ( 30 ) in dependence on the pumping power of the working fluid pump ( 38 ).

Claim 13

A liposuction device for removing subcutaneous fat ( 12 ) comprising a cannula ( 16 ) having a suction opening ( 22 ) for sucking therethrough subcutaneous fat ( 12 ), an injection line ( 18 ) for delivering a working fluid to an injection opening ( 20 ) of the cannula ( 16 ), the injection opening ( 20 ) being constructed and arranged at a front end of the injection line ( 18 ) and having a slit-shaped configuration whereby the working fluid exits the Injection opening ( 20 ) forwardly of the front end in the shape of a working fluid fan ( 21 ), the width of the slit-shaped injection opening ( 20 ) being smaller than 1.0 mm, the slit-shaped injection opening ( 20 ) being inclined to a longitudinal axis ( 23 ) of the injection line ( 18 ) at an angle (α) thereto ranging substantially between 3 to 45° so that the working fluid fan ( 21 ) exits at said angle (α) with respect to the longitudinal axis ( 23 ), the slit-shaped injection opening ( 20 ) being the only opening located at the front end of the injection line, a working fluid pump ( 38 ) for pumping working fluid to the injection opening ( 20 ), a suction pump ( 30 ) for sucking the subcutaneous fat ( 12 ), and control means ( 60 ) for controlling the suction power of the suction pump ( 30 ) in dependence on the pumping power of the working fluid pump ( 38 ).

Claim 14

The liposuction device as defined in claim 11 wherein the injection line ( 18 ) includes a funnel-shaped acceleration nozzle ( 25 ) with an end portion converging toward said slit-shaped injection opening ( 20 ).

Claim 15

The liposuction device as defined in claim 11 wherein the injection line ( 18 ) is arranged substantially centrally of the cannula ( 16 ), and the cannula ( 16 ) includes additional suction openings ( 22 ) distributed over a circumferential wall thereof.

Claim 16

A liposuction device for removing subcutaneous fat ( 12 ) comprising a cannula ( 16 ) having a suction opening ( 22 ) for sucking therethrough subcutaneous fat ( 12 ), an injection line ( 18 ) for delivering a working fluid to an injection opening ( 20 ) of the cannula ( 16 ), the injection opening ( 20 ) being constructed and arranged at a front end of the injection line ( 18 ) and having a slit-shaped configuration whereby the working fluid exits the injection opening ( 20 ) in the shape of a fan ( 21 ), a handle ( 17 ) at an end of the cannula ( 16 ) opposite the injection opening ( 20 ), and means ( 85 ) for axially oscillating the injection opening ( 20 ) relative to the handle ( 17 ).

Claim 17

A liposuction device for removing subcutaneous fat ( 12 ) comprising a cannula ( 16 ) having a suction opening ( 22 ) for sucking therethrough subcutaneous fat ( 12 ), an injection line ( 18 ) for delivering a working fluid to an injection opening ( 20 ) of the cannula ( 16 ), the injection opening ( 20 ) being constructed and arranged at a front end of the injection line ( 18 ) and having a slit-shaped configuration whereby the working fluid exits the injection opening ( 20 ) in the shape of a fan ( 21 ), a handle ( 17 ) at an end of the cannula ( 16 ) opposite the injection opening ( 20 ), and means ( 85 ) for axially oscillating the injection opening ( 20 ) relative to the handle ( 17 ).

Claim 18

The liposuction device as defined in claim 14 wherein the injection line ( 18 ) includes a funnel-shaped acceleration nozzle ( 25 ) with an end portion converging toward said slit-shaped injection opening ( 20 ).

Claim 19

The liposuction device as defined in claim 14 wherein the injection line ( 18 ) is arranged substantially centrally of the cannula ( 16 ), and the cannula ( 16 ) includes additional suction openings ( 22 ) distributed over a circumferential wall thereof.