Abstract: A hand held skin abrading apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises a handle configured for gripping by a human operator; a reciprocating motion generator, in the form of a magnetostrictive ultrasonic transducer, associated with the handle; an applicator attached to the handle and having an applicator blade for applying abrading motion to a surface and a coupler for coupling the applicator to the magnetostrictive ultrasonic transducer. The applicator is releasably securable to the handle of a skin abrading apparatus and includes a connector portion extending from the applicator blade, the connector portion having a central axis, wherein the applicator blade is offset from the central axis to enable the apparatus to be operated with the handle above the plane of the surface being abraded. The apparatus may include provision for irrigation of the surface being abraded.

Abstract: A hand held skin abrading apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises a handle configured for gripping by a human operator; a reciprocating motion generator, in the form of a magnetostrictive ultrasonic transducer, associated with the handle; an applicator attached to the handle and having an applicator blade for applying abrading motion to a surface and a coupler for coupling the applicator to the magnetostrictive ultrasonic transducer. The applicator is releasably securable to the handle of a skin abrading apparatus and includes a connector portion extending from the applicator blade, the connector portion having a central axis, wherein the applicator blade is offset from the central axis to enable the apparatus to be operated with the handle above the plane of the surface being abraded. The apparatus may include provision for irrigation of the surface being abraded.

Abstract: An improved ultrasonic surgical instrument is disclosed having a design that extends horn or tip life and minimizes instrument breakage and disintegration during use. The instrument comprises an ultrasonic tip having a distal working end and a metal sheath around the tip; the tip further having projections located in the vicinity of nodal points near the tip working end, said tip radially extending from the tip towards the sheath so as to provide the tip with radial inward support. The instrument can further comprise said tip with a substantially flat or convex end and said sheath with an inwardly projecting portion located distally of said tip projection and extending sufficiently radially inward so as to capture the tip with its projection should a tip break occur.

Abstract: A control for an ultrasonic surgical instrument is described wherein a transducer having an elongate tip is vibrated to perform surgery. The amplitude of the vibrations by the tip are controlled and the power delivered to the tip can be set so that the operator of the instrument can in effect render the instrument sensitive to different tissues to avoid damage thereto and enhance the safety of the patient.

Abstract: An ultrasonic oscillator drives a tool at a set frequency. An amplitude control runs the oscillator to set the vibration level. A frequency regulator joins the amplitude and the oscillator. A control feedback loop, in the frequency regulator, keeps handpiece linear dynamics. An operational transconductance amplifier, in the oscillator, governs gain of the loop. A circuit connects to the control to retard the rate of current application over time to the amplifier. The circuit has switching to either retard the rate or reset for start up. The amplifier is a current output device with current directly proportional to the bias current and input voltage with bias as gain change for the loop. The circuit limits the bias to the amplifier to modify frequency response and output current. A capacitor delays application of the bias to the amplifier. Replaceable tools of various lengths or shapes positioned along an axis vibrate for surgery at the frequency and a wave length.

Abstract: An improved device for delivering RF current to the operating tool of an ultrasonic surgical apparatus which comprises a switch module for selecting said RF current, an electrically conducting metal band connected to the switch module and an electrically conductive O-ring in electrical contact with the metal band and located around the acoustic conecting member of the apparatus.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical aspirator having an improved irrigation/aspiration manifold and components to facilitate quick connections of the irrigation and aspiration lines to a handpiece. In combination with a handle assembly having an ultrasonic vibrator for vibrating an ultrasonic tip and a nosecone, a nosecone extension defining a rotating joint for connection to the nosecone in an articulating joint for connection to a rigid or flexible flue is provided. The nosecone extension further defines an irrigation cowl having an irrigation port for receiving an irrigation connector for connecting the irrigation fluid to the nosecone extension for passage of irrigation fluid through the nosecone extension and a flue about the surgical tip. An aspiration tubulation connector adapted to securely fit a slot through the nosecone and nosecone extension connects an aspiration port on the tip to the aspiration tube for connection to a pump into a discard area.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive transducer comprising a plurality of elongated strips of magnetostrictive material, each strip having a proximal end, a distal end and a substantially V-shaped cross section wherein each arm of the V is formed by a longitudinal length of the strip, each strip being attached to an adjacent strip at both the proximal end and the distal end to form and integral substantially rigid column having a central axis with fins extending radially relative to said axis; and an ultrasonic resonant vibrator including such a transducer.

Abstract: An ultrasonic resonant vibrator comprising an ultrasonic vibration magnetostrictive transducer, and a resonant member having a proximal end and a distal end for transmitting ultrasonic vibrations to an operating member which is part of the resonant structure. The vibrator comprises an integral substantially rigid column having a central axis with fins extending radially relative to said axis and having a longitudinal hole defining a tunnel centered along the central axis, wherein at least part of the resonant member is located within the tunnel; and a surgical handpiece incorporating such a vibrator.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling and disassembling threadably engageable members, which comprises: (a) wrenching means and (b) an integral securing means and torque limiter assembly; said assembly comprising, in combination, securing means operatively associated with a pinion block pivotally mounted on a solid base, said pinion block having a surface which bears against biasing means connected to force means, preferably a compression spring, which provides a predetermined amount of torquing when a first member is held in said securing means and a second member is turned relative thereto by said wrenching means, whereby the amount of torquing is limited by the pivotal movement of said pinion block.

Abstract: An apparatus having a vibratable tip for ultrasonically disintegrating tissue in a surgical procedure and for aspirating the disintegrated tissue and fluids away from the surgical site through an opening in the tip. A connection to an electrosurgical unit provides for delivery of RF cutting current, RF coagulating current or a blend thereof to the tip so that electrosurgical procedures can be conducted separately or simultaneously with ultrasonic aspiration through the tip. It thus is now possible, for example, to electrocauterize simultaneously with ultrasonic fragmentation with a single handheld surgical device. The simultaneous delivery of ultrasonic vibrations and RF current to the tip also has been found to increase the tissue fragmentation rate.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical aspirator having an improved irrigation/aspiration manifold and components to facilitate quick connections of the irrigation and aspiration lines to a handpiece. In combination with a handle assembly having an ultrasonic vibrator for vibrating an ultrasonic tip and a nosecone, a nosecone extension defining a rotating joint for connection to the nosecone in an articulating joint for connection to a rigid or flexible flue is provided. The nosecone extension further defines an irrigation cowl having an irrigation port for receiving an irrigation connector for connecting the irrigation fluid to the nosecone extension for passage of irrigation fluid through the nosecone extension and a flue about the surgical tip. An aspiration tubulation connector adapted to securely fit a slot through the nosecone and nosecone extension connects an aspiration port on the tip to the aspiration tube for connection to a pump into a discard area.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical aspirator having an improved irrigation/aspiration manifold and components to facilitate quick connections of the irrigation and aspiration lines to a handpiece. In combination with a handle assembly having an ultrasonic vibrator for vibrating an ultrasonic tip and a nosecone, a nosecone extension defining a rotating joint for connection to the nosecone in an articulating joint for connection to a rigid or flexible flue is provided. The nosecone extension further defines an irrigation cowl having an irrigation port for receiving an irrigation connector for connecting the irrigation fluid to the nosecone extension for passage of irrigation fluid through the nosecone extension and a flue about the surgical tip. An aspiration tubulation connector adapted to securely fit a slot through the nosecone and nosecone extension connects an aspiration port on the tip to the aspiration tube for connection to a pump into a discard area.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for assembly and disassembly of interchangeable surgical acoustic members includes a fixture for securing by a key a handpiece to which a tip and/or extender is attached. A torquing wrench has a tightening head and an untightening head on the same body, wherein the tightening head permits torquing of the tip and/or extender to a predetermined tightening torque in cooperation with a socket having a central bore therethrough so that the wrench and socket may be slid over an axially elongated combination and used at a point intermediate along the length thereof. In use, the handpiece is secured in the handpiece fixture and receives the tip and/or extender in a handtightened condition to be torqued to a predetermined limit by the torquing wrench while secured against rotation in the handpiece fixture. A table support structure for supporting a handpiece fixture for an alternative operation is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for periodically interrupting ultrasonic power applied to a ultrasonically vibrating tip to control its amplitude between high and low or zero amplitudes with a selectible duty cycle and repetition rate provides enhanced fragmentation and improves surgical control. The duty cycle may also vary as a function of a remotely sensed parameter such as tissue temperature.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical aspirator having an improved irrigation/aspiration manifold and components to facilitate quick connections of the irrigation and aspiration lines to a handpiece. In combination with a handle assembly having an ultrasonic vibrator for vibrating an ultrasonic tip and a nosecone, a nosecone extension defining a rotating joint for connection to the nosecone in an articulating joint for connection to a rigid or flexible flue is provided. The nosecone extension further defines an irrigation cowl having an irrigation port for receiving an irrigation connector for connecting the irrigation fluid to the nosecone extension for passage of irrigation fluid through the nosecone extension and a flue about the surgical tip. An aspiration tubulation connector adapted to securely fit a slot through the nosecone and nosecone extension connects an aspiration port on the tip to the aspiration tube for connection to a pump into a discard area.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for cleaning and refurbishing the adjacent planar surfaces of a pair of interchangeable surgical acoustic members. The device includes a spaced pair of outwardly biased abrasive members mounted on a rotatable housing so that the tool can be located between the adjacent planar faces and about a threaded connection between them. Rotation of the device causes the abrasive members in contact with the opposed planar surfaces to clean and refurbish those surfaces. The method of using the device is also disclosed. The device is provided as a component of a maintenance kit for the acoustic members. The kit also includes a wire brush for cleaning the threaded joint, non-shredding swabs for wiping the threads and acoustic joint, and a brush for cleaning the bores of the acoustic member.

Abstract: An improved ultrasonic surgical handpiece includes an angled connecting body between the transducer and operative tip, with the connecting body being bent at a location between the node and antinode at its respective ends and with a second nodal plane support in the transducer section. The vibrating assembly is impedance matched to the frequency of a handpiece employing a straight connecting body of subtantially equal length and dimension whereby straight and angulated handpieces may be interchangeably used in an ultrasonic surgical system employing a common drive and common operative tips. In a preferred embodiment, the ultrasonic transducer has a nodal plane midway between its ends and is supported at this nodal plane.

Abstract: Apparatus for the surgical removal of tissue is disclosed comprising a handpiece having a resonant vibrator with a magnetostrictive stack and connecting body encompassing a hollow elongated tool which is ultrasonically vibrated at its tip longitudinally to a peak to peak stroke of at least 0.005 inches at about 25,000 cps (25 KHz). A generator powers the vibrator and is automatically controlled at the frequency to maintain the resonant vibration. Aspiration is provided by suction through the hollow tool at its tip, and a manifold enclosing the tool end of the handpiece provides irrigation.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in surgically removing tumorous neurological tissue comprises a handpiece in which a tool tip vibrating transversely to its long axis in the ultrasonic range, is mounted an irrigation fluid outlet for introducing fluid adjacent the tool tip to flush the operative site, and a fluid inlet adjacent the tool tip for withdrawing a fluid mixture from the site.