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: An ultrasonic surgical instrument includes a handpiece casing and an electromechanical transducer assembly disposed inside the handpiece casing, where the transducer assembly includes a front driver and the transducer assembly has a longitudinal axis. A probe is operatively connected to the front driver at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the transducer assembly. A sheath surrounds the probe and is connected at a proximal end to the handpiece casing. The sheath is attached to the casing by a twist quick release coupling. A diaphragm seal inside the proximal end of the sheath blocks liquid irrigant in a cylindrical space between the sheath and the probe from penetrating proximally of a port feeding irrigant to the space. The front driver is geometrically configured to enable an angled connection of probe to handpiece proximate a nodal plane.

Abstract: An ultrasonic medical probe has a horn or shaft, a shank at a proximal end of the shaft, a probe head at a distal end of the horn or shaft, opposite the shank, and at least one polymeric component fixed to at least one of the horn or shaft, the shank, and the probe head. The shank is provided at a proximal end opposite the horn or shaft with an externally threaded connector for attaching the probe to a source of ultrasonic vibratory energy. The polymeric component is of a composition that transmits and is essentially impervious to ultrasonic vibratory energy but that degrades or decomposes upon exposure to a source of extreme energy (other than ultrasonic vibratory energy), rendering the probe inoperative for use.

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: 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 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 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 blades, whereby the hard tissue is cut with a modicum of damage being inflicted on the soft tissue.

Abstract: A method for minimally invasive surgery using therapeutic ultrasound in spine and orthopedic orthopedic procedures. The method includes a minimally invasive access port, a therapeutic ultrasound probe to treat a targeted area through the port, and a protective sheath that enables application of the therapeutic ultrasound without causing unintended tissue damage.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical instrument assembly includes a handpiece, a generator of ultrasonic mechanical vibrations disposed in the handpiece, a probe, and a light source. The probe is attached to a distal end of the handpiece and is operatively connected to the generator. The light source is removably attached to the handpiece and is configured and mounted to direct at least visible electromagnetic radiation in a direction along the probe so as to illuminate a surgical site distal of the probe.

Abstract: An ultrasonic tool or instrument has a probe shaft with a linear proximal end portion and a linear distal end portion disposed at an angle relative to one another and joined at a bend in the shaft. A coupling is provided at a proximal end of the shaft for connecting the probe to a source of ultrasonic vibrational energy. A head provided at a distal end of the shaft extends eccentrically in a transverse direction to one side of the shaft. The head has an operative tip spaced laterally from the axis and is formed with at least one cutout for reducing mass of the head and concomitantly eccentric mass of the probe. The tool or instrument has at least one interior antinode along the shaft and the bend is located substantially distally of the antinode.

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 blades, whereby the hard tissue is cut with a modicum of damage being inflicted on the soft tissue.

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 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: An ultrasonic surgical tool has probe body with an operative surface or edge contactable with organic tissues for performing a surgical operation on the tissues. A shank of the probe body is provided with a connector for operatively attaching the tool to a source of ultrasonic mechanical vibrational energy. The shank and a portion of the probe body are formed with a channel for fluid delivery to the probe body. At least a portion of the probe body located between the channel and the operative surface or edge has a microporous or sintered structure enabling fluid penetration to the operative surface or edge from the channel.

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.

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: 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.