Piezoelectric bone surgery is a process that utilizes
piezoelectric
Piezoelectricity (, ) is the electric charge that accumulates in certain solid materials—such as crystals, certain ceramics, and biological matter such as bone, DNA, and various proteins—in response to applied stress (mechanics), mechanical s ...
vibrations in the application of cutting bone tissue. The process was patented by Fernando Bianchetti, Domenico Vercellotti, and Tomaso Vercellotti.
It was first used clinically in 1988. It is indicated for use in oral, maxillofacial, cranial and spinal procedures; but is mainly used in
orthodontics
Orthodontics (also referred to as orthodontia) is a dentistry specialty that addresses the diagnosis, prevention, management, and correction of mal-positioned teeth and jaws, as well as misaligned bite patterns. It may also address the modificati ...
and
craniofacial surgery
Craniofacial surgery is a surgical subspecialty that deals with congenital disorder, congenital and acquired deformity, deformities of the human head, head, human skull, skull, face, neck, jaws and associated structures. Although craniofacial treat ...
.
By adjusting the
ultrasonic
Ultrasound is sound with frequencies greater than 20 kilohertz. This frequency is the approximate upper audible limit of human hearing in healthy young adults. The physical principles of acoustic waves apply to any frequency range, includi ...
frequency of the device, it is possible to cut hard tissue while leaving
soft tissue
Soft tissue connective tissue, connects and surrounds or supports internal organs and bones, and includes muscle, tendons, ligaments, Adipose tissue, fat, fibrous tissue, Lymphatic vessel, lymph and blood vessels, fasciae, and synovial membranes. ...
untouched by the process. The ultrasonic frequency is modulated from 10, 30, and 60 cycles/s (Hz) to 29 kHz. The low frequency enables cutting of mineralized structures, not soft tissue. Power can be adjusted from 2.8 to 16 W, with preset power settings for various types of bone density. The tip vibrates within a range of 60–200 μm, which allows clean cutting with precise incisions. In 2020 an article on the topic of
piezoelectricity
Piezoelectricity (, ) is the electric charge that accumulates in certain solid materials—such as crystals, certain ceramics, and biological matter such as bone, DNA, and various proteins—in response to applied mechanical stress.
The piezoel ...
have named piezoelectric surgery as one of the most important applications of this concept, in addition to medical
ultrasound imaging
Medical ultrasound includes diagnostic techniques (mainly imaging) using ultrasound, as well as therapeutic applications of ultrasound. In diagnosis, it is used to create an image of internal body structures such as tendons, muscles, join ...
. Additionally in 2021 the Malhotra laboratory at
Penn Neurosurgery
Penn may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Penn'' (film), 1954 Tamil film starring Vyjayanthimala
* ''Penn'' (TV series), a 1991 Tamil mini-series
* ''Penn'' (TV series), a 2006 Tamil-language soap opera
* '' The Penn'', or ''The Stylus'', ...
has published additional work on this procedure for rare
cancer
Cancer is a group of diseases involving Cell growth#Disorders, abnormal cell growth with the potential to Invasion (cancer), invade or Metastasis, spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Po ...
s of the
spinal column
The spinal column, also known as the vertebral column, spine or backbone, is the core part of the axial skeleton in vertebrates. The vertebral column is the defining and eponymous characteristic of the vertebrate. The spinal column is a segmen ...
.
See also
*
Surgery
Surgery is a medical specialty that uses manual and instrumental techniques to diagnose or treat pathological conditions (e.g., trauma, disease, injury, malignancy), to alter bodily functions (e.g., malabsorption created by bariatric surgery s ...
*
Piezomagnetism
Piezomagnetism is a phenomenon observed in some antiferromagnetic and ferrimagnetic crystals. It is characterized by a linear coupling between the system's magnetic polarization and mechanical strain. In a piezomagnetic material, one may induce ...
*
Piezoelectricity
Piezoelectricity (, ) is the electric charge that accumulates in certain solid materials—such as crystals, certain ceramics, and biological matter such as bone, DNA, and various proteins—in response to applied mechanical stress.
The piezoel ...
References
External links
*
Detchou DK, Dimentberg R, Vaughan KA, Kolster R, Braslow BM, Malhotra NR. Navigated Ultrasonic Osteotomy to Aid in En Bloc Chordoma Resection via Spondylectomy. World Neurosurg. 2020 Nov;143:319-324. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2020.08.021. Epub 2020 Aug 10. PMID: 32791231.
Detchou DK, Glauser G, Dimentberg R, Schuster JM, Malhotra NR. Case Series of Ultrasonic Navigated Osteotomy for the Treatment of Spinal Chordomas. World Neurosurg. 2021 Mar 8:S1878-8750(21)00367-3. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.03.001. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33706017.
Orthopedic surgical procedures
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