Abstract: A medical instrument includes a handpiece, an electromechanical transducer disposed in the handpiece, and an electrical circuit disposed at least partially in the handpiece for supplying alternating electrical current of a predetermined frequency to the transducer. A probe is operatively connected to the transducer for transmitting vibrations generated by the transducer to an operative site in a patient. A switching device is mounted to the handpiece and is operatively connected to the circuit and the transducer for enabling the supply of power to the transducer during a motion of the probe in a preselected direction relative to the handpiece and for disabling the supply of power to the transducer upon a termination of motion of the probe in the preselected direction.

Abstract: A medical instrument includes a handpiece, an electromechanical transducer disposed in the handpiece, and an electrical circuit disposed at least partially in the handpiece for supplying alternating electrical current of a predetermined frequency to the transducer. A probe is operatively connected to the transducer for transmitting vibrations generated by the transducer to an operative site in a patient. A switching device is mounted to the handpiece and is operatively connected to the circuit and the transducer for enabling the supply of power to the transducer during a motion of the probe in a preselected direction relative to the handpiece and for disabling the supply of power to the transducer upon a termination of motion of the probe in the preselected direction.

Abstract: An ultrasonic osteotome in accordance with the present invention comprises a shaft having a distal end portion with a lateral outer surface and further comprises a cutting blade connected to the distal end portion of the shaft at least in part at the lateral outer surface. The lateral outer surface extends so far on opposite sides of the blade as to block or stop penetration of the shaft into an incision formed in bone tissue by the blade. The blade can include a cutting notch or have a variable cutting depth depending on the angle of the distal end of the instrument to the surface of a target tissue mass.

Abstract: A coupling member for an ultrasonic instrument assembly includes a body member having a first port at a first end and a second port at a second end opposite the first end, the body member having a lumen or channel extending 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 and is provided with at least one protrusion (or projection) extending into the lumen or channel. The protrusion is variously insertable into at least one cooperating groove or recess on an outer surface of a tubular member to enable an adjustment in a degree of insertion of the tubular member into the coupling member.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical blade has a blade body and a shank. The shank is fixed at one end to the blade body and is operatively connectable at an opposite end to a source of ultrasonic vibrations. The shank has a longitudinal axis. The blade body is eccentrically disposed relative to the axis.

Abstract: A compact, high power, dual mode, emitting and receiving ultrasound transducer and method for applying ultrasonic energy within a living subject and for monitoring the effects it induces in tissue comprises a set of piezoelectric polymeric transducer elements and a set of piezoelectric ceramic elements, bonded together. The polymeric transducer elements have electrodes enabling their use for low power diagnostic imaging interrogation of the tissue and the ceramic transducer elements have electrodes enabling their use for high power therapy applications.

Abstract: An ultrasound transducer assembly includes an acoustic focusing lens and a therapy transducer mounted to a holder member so that the lens is movable relative to the transducer. The lens and the transducer are mounted to the holder member so that the lens is spaced a predetermined distance from the transducer element. A liquid layer having a thickness of the predetermined distance is provided between the lens and the transducer element. A solid backing member is disposed on a side of the transducer element opposite the lens. The backing member is spaced by an additional liquid layer of a predetermined thickness from the transducer element. The focusing depth of the lens-transducer assembly is controllable by transducer operating frequency.

Abstract: A medical instrument includes a handpiece, an electromechanical transducer disposed in the handpiece, and an electrical circuit disposed at least partially in the handpiece for supplying alternating electrical current of a predetermined frequency to the transducer. A probe is operatively connected to the transducer for transmitting vibrations generated by the transducer to an operative site in a patient. A switching device is mounted to the handpiece and is operatively connected to the circuit and the transducer for enabling the supply of power to the transducer during a motion of the probe in a preselected direction relative to the handpiece and for disabling the supply of power to the transducer upon a termination of motion of the probe in the preselected direction.

Abstract: An ultrasonic medical treatment device has a probe, a transducer for mechanically vibrating the probe at an ultrasonic frequency, a voltage source for energizing the transducer, and another electrical voltage source for feeding to the probe a high-frequency alternating waveform of limited current and limited voltage to be conducted into a patient through the operative tip of the probe after placement of the operative tip into contact with the patient. The alternating waveform has a current and a voltage so limited as to prevent damage to organic tissues while stimulating nerves to reduce or suppress pain.

Abstract: A medical instrument includes a handpiece, an electromechanical transducer disposed in the handpiece, and an electrical circuit disposed at least partially in the handpiece for supplying alternating electrical current of a predetermined frequency to the transducer. A probe is operatively connected to the transducer for transmitting vibrations generated by the transducer to an operative site in a patient. A switching device is mounted to the handpiece and is operatively connected to the circuit and the transducer for enabling the supply of power to the transducer during a motion of the probe in a preselected direction relative to the handpiece and for disabling the supply of power to the transducer upon a termination of motion of the probe in the preselected direction.

Abstract: An ultrasonic probe includes a shaft having a longitudinal axis and a head disposed at a distal end of the shaft. The head has a cylindrical lateral surface and an end face oriented perpendicularly to the axis. The head has three shaping surfaces at a distal end of the cylindrical surface, each shaping surface extending at an acute angle to the axis. Each of the shaping surfaces intersects or is contiguous with both the cylindrical surface and the end face.

Abstract: In a discectomy method one removes at least a substantial portion of a spinal disc. Thereafter one operates an ultrasonic instrument to level opposing faces of vertebrae on opposite sides of the removed spinal disc. Graft or synthetic disc material is inserted between the vertebrae so that the graft or synthetic disc material is in contact with the leveled opposing faces. In an associated nucleotomy, a cannulated probe is inserted into a spinal disc and used to remove the nucleus pulposus. A synthetic or substitute nucleus material may then be inserted into the evacuated annulus.

Abstract: A surgical method utilizes a cutting blade having a thickness along a cutting edge of between about 0.0005 inch and about 0.020 inch and preferably between about 0.001 inch and 0.010 inch. The blade is moved in contact with relatively hardly tissues which are disposed adjacent to softer tissues at a surgical site in a patient. The blade is ultrasonically vibrated during the moving of the blade, whereby the hard tissue is cut with a modicum of damage being inflicted on the soft tissue.