Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical device has a hand piece, a probe, and an electromechanical transducer assembly disposed inside the hand piece. The probe is mounted to a distal end of the hand piece and is operatively connected to the transducer assembly. An electrical connector is mounted at least indirectly to the hand piece, while an electrical circuit electrically or operatively connects the probe to the electrical connector. A wire or cable is operatively coupled at one end to the electrical connector and at an opposite end to electrical ground.

Abstract: A surgical method uses a surgical instrument having an operative tip or end effector and an applicator of energy having an energy-transmitting interface, the applicator being different from the surgical instrument and separate therefrom. The method contemplates conducting an interventional procedure including steps of: (i) manipulating the instrument to place the operative or end effector in contact with bone tissue of a patient at a surgical site, (ii) using the surgical instrument to surgically operate on the bone tissue at the surgical site, (iii) prior to a termination of the procedure, manipulating the applicator to place the interface in contact with bone of the patient at or proximate the surgical site, and (iv) operating the applicator to apply, to the bone via the interface, energy with parameters of type, intensity, and duration selected for stimulating the healing of bone tissue.

Abstract: A method for reducing or removing biofilm on a target tissue or prosthesis surface includes providing a coupling space or antechamber between the operative tip or end of an ultrasonic probe and a target treatment surface, the space or antechamber being fillable with a liquid irrigant to transmit ultrasonic vibration and facilitate extraction of biofilm fragments including potentially pathogenic particles. A second phase of treatment in the case of organic tissue involves the attachment of one or more ultrasonic transducers to a patient over or near a surgical treatment site after surgery is terminated. Each applied ultrasonic transducer is used to vibrate the patient's tissues at the treatment site to disrupt biofilm formation.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical probe has an elongate shaft and a probe head that is enlarged to extend laterally or transversely in two opposed directions relative to the shaft The head is formed with a recess or cavity facing laterally in a third direction relative to the shaft and the axis. Where the head lies in a plane, owing to its lateral enlargement or extension, the recess or cavity faces in a direction perpendicular to that plane. The recess or cavity is defined in part by an inclined floor or base surface contiguous at a proximal end with the shaft. The recess or cavity is defined in part by a peripheral wall extending only partway around the recess or cavity, along a distal side and two lateral sides thereof. The cavity or recess is closed on a proximal side by the inclined surface and the shaft.

Abstract: A coupling member for an ultrasonic instrument assembly has a tubular body with a first port at a first end and a second port at a second end opposite the first end. A lumen in the body member extends from the first end to the second end so that the first and the second port communicate with one another. The body member is made of a flexible resilient material such as silicone rubber and at least one reinforcement element is joined to the body member. The reinforcement element is configured so as to at least inhibit a collapse of the body member.

Abstract: A two phase method for reducing the formation of biofilm includes an evacuation of ambient air from a region about the surgical or treatment site, to extract airborne or aerosolized bacteria ejected from the site by the treatment. The extracted bacteria are prevented from settling back onto the cleansed tissue surface, thus at least reducing colonial bacteriological growth and concomitantly exuded biofilm material. A second phase involves the attachment of one or more ultrasonic transducers to the patient over or near a surgical treatment site after the surgery is terminated. Each applied ultrasonic transducer is used to vibrate the patient's tissues at the treatment site to disrupt biofilm formation.

Abstract: A surgical instrument assembly has (i) a surgical instrument including a handpiece and a probe or horn attached to the handpiece, (ii) a source of ultrasonic vibratory energy operatively connected to the probe or horn, (iii) a source of electrical current operatively connected to deliver electrical current to organic tissues of a patient at a surgical site contacted by a distal end of the probe or horn, and (iv) a sensor of electrical potential disposable in contact with the patient at a desired distance from the surgical site. The sensor is operatively connected to the source of ultrasonic vibratory energy to automatically attenuate an output thereof in response to a detected potential of a predetermined magnitude.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical drill or drill bit includes a tubular member having a longitudinal axis of symmetry and a plurality of fins extending in longitudinal planes each containing the axis. In a surgical method utilizing the drill bit, one places a distal tip of the drill bit in contact with bone, presses the drill bit against the bone, and during that pressing of the drill bit, conducts ultrasonic vibrations into the drill bit. With the fins in contact with the bone, the drill bit is oscillated or angularly reciprocated about a longitudinal axis, so that the fins fragment bone material located between the fins.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument has a shaft and a probe head, the shaft and the probe head have a lumen or channel and a longitudinal axis and the probe head having a distal end face. The probe head has at least one operative surface engageable with organic tissues for the application of ultrasonic vibratory energy to the tissues. The end face is oriented at least partially transversely to the axis. The lumen or channel has a first outlet opening in the end face and at least one second outlet opening in a lateral surface of either the shaft or the probe head at a position spaced from the end face. The probe head has a plurality of teeth extending laterally from the end face, in two rows on opposing side of the end face.

Abstract: An electrical waveform generator for driving an electromechanical load includes a digital signal processor connected to a waveform generator component in turn connected to an amplifier section with a filter network, the latter being connected to sensing and conditioning circuit componentry that is in turn connected to analog-to-digital converter circuitry. A digital memory stores digitized voltage and current waveform information. The processor determines a phase difference between voltage and current waveforms, compares the determined phase difference to a phase difference command and generates a phase error or correction signal. The processor also generates an amplitude error signal for inducing the amplifier section to change its output amplitude to result in a predetermined amplitude error level for a respective one of the voltage and current waveforms.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument for dissection and coagulation of tissue is provided. The surgical instrument includes a vibration coupler supported within a housing and operably connected to an ultrasonic generator. An angled blade member is connected to the distal end of the vibration coupler to conduct high frequency vibration from the ultrasonic generator to the blade member. A clamp member is positioned adjacent to the blade member and is movable from a first position to a second approximated position. The clamp member and angled blade member combine to enhance contact between the tissue and the blade member during operation of the instrument to improve the performance of the instrument.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe assembly is provided. The probe assembly includes a cannula and an ultrasonic probe disposed within the cannula. The probe assembly further includes a low-friction bushing disposed within the cannula and adapted to maintain the cannula and ultrasonic probe in a relatively fixed longitudinal relationship.

Abstract: At an ultrasonic surgical blade has a blade body with a smooth continuous cutting edge and a shank connected at one end to the blade body and operatively connectable at an opposite end to a source of ultrasonic vibrations. The shank is provided with at an axially extending bore for the conveyance of cooling fluid to the cutting edge, while the blade body is provided with at an axially extending through-slot communicating at one end with the bore. The blade body is preferably provided at an end opposite the shank with a recess communicating with the bore for distributing fluid from the slot towards the cutting edge.

Abstract: A handle assembly of a medical instrument has a handle with an axis extending from a proximal end of the instrument toward a distal end thereof; and an electrical circuit incorporated at least partially in the handle for controlling an application of an action to a patient via the medical instrument. The circuit has a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact each projecting from a surface of the handle. The electrical contacts are spaced from one another. An actuator ring is slidably disposed on the handle and surrounding the same for motion in alternately opposite directions along the handle under the control of an operator. A bridging electrical contact is disposed on the ring for conductively connecting the first and second electrical contacts at a first predetermined longitudinal position of the ring along the handle, thereby closing the circuit at that position of the ring, and for opening the circuit at another longitudinal position of the ring along the handle.

Abstract: An ultrasonic lipectomy probe device comprises, in accordance with the present invention, a shank having a proximal end and a distal end, a connector at the proximal end of the shank for connecting the shank to a source of ultrasonic vibrational energy, and an enlarged head at the distal end of the shank. The probe head has a width, in a first direction, substantially larger than an outer diameter of the shank at the distal end thereof. In addition, the head has a thickness, in a second direction essentially orthogonal with respect to the first direction, substantially equal to the outer diameter of the shank. Accordingly, the probe head is flattened, for facilitating the removal of fat in accordance with the present invention. In most applications, the shank is provided with a longitudinally extending channel, while the head may be provided with a pair of inlet bores communicating with the channel and extending at substantial angles to the channel on substantially opposite sides thereof.

Abstract: An electromechanical transducer device includes a casing having a distal end and a proximal end, and an acoustic wave generator disposed inside the casing for generating an acoustic type vibration in response to an electrical signal. The acoustic wave generator having an axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end of the casing. An electrical transmission lead is mounted to the casing and is operatively connected to the acoustic wave generator for transmitting an electrical signal to the acoustic wave generator to energize the generator. A wave transmission member is in acoustic contact with the acoustic wave generator for transmitting the vibration from the acoustic wave generator to an active point outside the casing.

Abstract: A catheterization assembly comprises an elongate substantially cylindrical catheter having an outer surface, and a flexible collapsible guide element attached to the outer surface of the catheter at a distal end thereof. A guidewire extends generally parallel to the catheter and through the guide element so that the guide element is held in an extended guide configuration away from the outer surface.

Abstract: A method for removing adipose tissue uses an elongate rigid tube or probe member having a distal end and a proximal end and an axially extending lumen. An incision is formed in a skin surface of a patient, the tube being inserted through the incision into subcutaneous adipose tissues of the patient. Upon insertion of the tube through the incision, an ultrasonic pressure wave is generated at the proximal end of the tube, the waveform being transmitted through the tube to establish a standing wave therein. The standing ultrasonic wave in the insertion tube produces cavitation bubbles at the distal end of the tube, the bubbles causing liquefaction of adipose tissues of the patient at a surgical site located distally of the distal end of the insertion tube. Suction is applied to the lumen of the tube, thereby aspirating the liquefied adipose tissues from the surgical site through the lumen.