Abstract: A laparoscopic-based method of safely removing visceral fat tissue deposits from within a human patient suffering from metabolic syndrome. Laparoscopy portals are formed through small incisions in a human patient's body, and an inert gas is infused into the abdominal region of the human patient to cause abdominal distension. A laparoscope is inserted into the abdominal region of the human patient so that a surgeon can capture video images of the abdominal region of the patient, and display the captured video images within the view of the surgeon. A powered fat tissue aspiration instrument is inserted into the mesenteric region of the human patient, wherein the powered fat tissue aspiration instrument has an instrument housing and a cannula assembly mounted with respect to the instrument housing.

Abstract: A bariatric surgery operating room configured and operational for treating metabolic syndrome in human patients on an ambulatory basis. The bariatric surgery operating room includes a set of trocars for creating laparoscopy portals through small incisions formed in a human patient's body while supported upon an operating table. A source of inert gas is provided for infusion into the abdominal region of the patient so as to cause tenting of the abdominal region and abdominal distension and tenting in a human patient suffering from obesity and likely to benefit from visceral fat removal within the body of the human patient. A laparoscope is inserted through a first one of said trocars and into the abdominal region of the human patient so that a surgeon can capture video images of the abdominal region of the patient, and display the captured video images within the view of the surgeon.

Abstract: A coaxially-driven tissue aspiration instrument having a hand-supportable housing with a stationary tubing connector provided at the rear of the housing and receiving a length of flexible tubing connected to a vacuum source. A twin cannula assembly is coupled to a an electromagnetic cannula drive mechanism disposed within a guide tube structure mounted in the hand-supportable housing and powered by electrical power signals so as to periodically exert forces on the a front-loaded cannula base device slidably supported within the guide tube structure, and to which the inner cannula is releasably connected. The coaxially exerted forces cause the front-loaded cannula base device, and thus inner cannula, to reciprocate within the guide tube structure, while tissue is being aspirated along the inner cannula lumen, through the reciprocating front-loaded cannula base device, and through the stationary tubing connector, and along the flexible tubing towards the vacuum source.

Abstract: A coaxially-driven tissue aspiration instrument having a hand-supportable housing with a stationary tubing connector provided at the rear of the housing and receiving a length of flexible tubing connected to a vacuum source. A twin cannula assembly is coupled to a an electromagnetic cannula drive mechanism disposed within a guide tube structure mounted in the hand-supportable housing and powered by electrical power signals so as to periodically exert forces on the a front-loaded cannula base device slidably supported within the guide tube structure, and to which the inner cannula is releasably connected. The coaxially exerted forces cause the front-loaded cannula base device, and thus inner cannula, to reciprocate within the guide tube structure, while tissue is being aspirated along the inner cannula lumen, through the reciprocating front-loaded cannula base device, and through the stationary tubing connector, and along the flexible tubing towards the vacuum source.

Abstract: A method of safely removing mesenteric fat from the intra-abdominal region of human patients to ameliorate the metabolic syndrome, or abdominal obesity. The method involves using laparoscopically-guided intra-abdominal tissue aspiration, involving the simultaneously infusion of a tumescent solution into the mesenteric region of treatment, while synchronizing that infusion with the forward or return stroke of the inner cannula of the twin cannula assembly of a bipolar electro-cauterizing twin-cannula tissue aspiration instrument.

Abstract: A twin-cannula fat tissue aspiration instrument system equipped with a hand-supportable fat aspiration instrument having a twin irrigating-type or tumescent-type electro-cauterizing cannula assembly with an inner cannula coupled to a cannula drive mechanism and having an inner aspiration aperture that is reciprocated within an outer cannula having an outer aspiration aperture and being connected to the front portion of the hand-supportable housing, so that said inner cannula reciprocates within said outer cannula when the cannula drive mechanism drives the inner cannula. An irrigation channel is formed along the outer cannula, and in fluid communication with an irrigation aperture formed at the distal portion of the outer cannula and proximate to the outer aspiration aperture.

Abstract: Tissue sampling, processing and injection syringe device and methods of filtering and concentrating cellular components of tissue sample in situ within the device.

Abstract: A tissue sampling, collection, and processing system including a hand-supportable power-assisted tissue aspiration device having a cannula for aspirating fat tissue from a patient's body, and a multi-pack tissue sampling, processing and collecting device, installed between the tissue aspiration device and a vacuum source, and containing multiple tissue collection tubes for collection of aspirated fat tissue samples.

Abstract: A tissue sampling, processing and collection device for connection in-line to a hand-held power-assisted tissue aspiration instrument and a vacuum source. The tissue sampling, processing and collection device includes a suction plate, mounted within a collection chamber, and having multiple hollow projections for supporting the open proximal ends of a plurality of tissue collection and processing tubes. Each of these tissue collection and processing tubes has micro-pores formed in the side walls thereof and its distal end opening is capped, thereby allowing fluid to flow and filter therethrough while the tissue collection and processing tube is mounted on the suction plate during tissue aspiration operations. The in-line tissue sampling, processing and collection device is provided with a knob for manually selecting the tissue collection and processing tube, into which a sampled of aspirated fat tissue to is be collected and processed in situ during tissue aspiration operations.

Abstract: Methods of collecting fat tissue samples in tissue collection syringes mounted in an in-line fat sampling device connected to a hand-held power-assisted tissue aspiration instrument.

Abstract: A method of collecting and in situ processing of aspirated fat tissue sampled from a human patient. The method involves providing a surgeon with a powered-assisted hand-held fat tissue aspiration instrument having a cannula, and a fat tissue sampling, processing and collection device installed between the power-assisted fat aspiration instrument and a vacuum source. The fat tissue sampling, collection and processing device includes a suction plate, mounted within a collection chamber, and having multiple hollow projections for supporting the open proximal ends of a plurality of tissue collection and processing tubes, wherein each tissue collection and processing tube has micro-pores formed in the side walls thereof, and its distal end opening is capped. Aspirated fat tissue is collected in a selected tissue collection and processing tube, while allowing fluid to flow and filter through the micro-pores as aspirated fat tissue flows through the cannula of the fat aspiration instrument.

Abstract: An endoscopically-guided intra-abdominal fat aspiration system for performing fat aspiration operations, including an endoscopy subsystem for capturing and recording captured digital video images of the intra-abdominal region of a patient, and a twin-cannula powered fat aspiration subsystem having a powered hand-supportable fat aspiration instrument provided with a bipolar electro-cauterizing twin-cannula assembly.

Abstract: An endoscopically-guided power-assisted tissue aspiration method of and system for safely removing fat tissue from the mesenteric region of a patient.

Abstract: A power-assisted tissue-aspiration instrument employing a new and improved twin-cannula assembly. The twin-cannula assembly includes: an outer cannula mounted stationary to the front portion of a hand-supportable housing containing an inner cannula reciprocation mechanism, and an inner cannula having an open-end type aspiration aperture. The outer cannula has three groups of outer aspiration apertures about its distal portion. The open-end type aspiration opening of the inner cannula reciprocates back and forth to a mid position between the first group of aspiration apertures, and the third group of outer aspiration apertures, so that vacuum pressure is always delivered to at least 1/2 of one the outer aspiration aperture groups as the inner cannula is reciprocated back and forward within the outer cannula.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for mechanically-assisted liposuction treatment. The apparatus includes a hand-holdable housing, a cannula assembly, and a reciprocation mechanism. The hand-holdable housing has a cavity adaptable for receipt of a portion of the cannula assembly. The cannula assembly includes an inner cannula and an outer cannula, each having a distal end and a proximal end and at least one aspiration aperture about the distal end. The inner cannula is disposed within the outer cannula and the inner and outer aspiration apertures are in at least partial registration to form an effective aspiration aperture. The reciprocation mechanism is disposed within the housing and is operably associated with either the inner or outer cannula so that one of the cannulas can be selectively caused to reciprocate relative to the housing while the other is stationarily disposed relative to the housing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for mechanically-assisted liposuction treatment. The apparatus includes a hand-holdable housing, a cannula assembly, and a reciprocation mechanism. The hand-holdable housing has a cavity adaptable for receipt of a portion of the cannula assembly. The cannula assembly includes an inner cannula and an outer cannula, each having a distal end and a proximal end and at least one aspiration aperture about the distal end. The inner cannula is disposed within the outer cannula and the inner and outer aspiration apertures are in at least partial registration to form an effective aspiration aperture. The reciprocation mechanism is disposed within the housing and is operably associated with either the inner or outer cannula so that one of the cannulas can be selectively caused to reciprocate relative to the housing while the other is stationarily disposed relative to the housing.