Abstract: A switch unit (40) is mountable to a distal end of a handpiece of an electrically-activatable surgical tool, such as an ultrasonically-vibratable surgical tool. The switch unit (40) has a generally bullet-shaped outer form with an axial bore (42) through which a waveguide of the tool extends. A resiliently deformable band (1) extends around the switch unit (40) above a polygonal-section contact zone (2), such that fingertip pressure on the band (1) may locally depress the band (1) towards a flat area (12) of the contact zone (2). Switch contacts (11) are mounted to an inner surface of the band (1) opposite a plated circuit (10) located on each flat area (12) so as to form a plurality of switches. A switch to activate the tool is thus easily accessible to a user's fingertip in any orientation of the handpiece in the user's hand. The switch contacts (11) may each comprise a body having an electrical resistance dependent on a pressure exerted thereon.

Abstract: A surgical tool having an elongate shaft, with a directional operative element at its distal end, is provided with a mechanism to rotate the shaft and the operative element about a longitudinal axis shaft. This allows the operative element to be aligned with an element of tissue without excessive hand movement by the user. In a preferred version, the mechanism is electrically powered and is regulated to produce smooth, controlled, accurate motion between selected rotational positions. The mechanism may include a linear magnetic motor drive to move a drive element longitudinally along the tool. This drive element is engaged with a helical formation on a drive shaft, such that longitudinal motion of the drive element is converted to rotational motion of the drive shaft, and of the shaft and operative element, to which the shaft is mounted.

Abstract: A bone resector tool (100) comprises an ultrasonic transducer (8), typically generating longitudinal mode vibrations at around 40 kHz, and having an elongate blade portion (2) mounted thereto. The transducer (8) and blade portion (2) are mounted to a rotatably-drivable converter element (3). Rotation of the converter element (3) produces reciprocal longitudinal motion of the transducer (8) and blade portion (2). A counterweight (5B) is also mounted to the converter element (3), moving exactly out of phase with the transducer (8) and blade portion (2), such that a centre of mass of the whole system is stationary, reducing vibration of the tool (100) in a user's hand. The peak velocity due to the ultrasonic vibrations of a distal tip (6A) of the blade portion (2) is up to seven times greater than its peak velocity due to the reciprocal longitudinal motion. This permits rapid, low-effort cutting of bone with easy removal of cut debris and minimal consequent necrosis.

Abstract: The shaped output is for use with an ultrasonic surgical tool vibratable in torsional mode. The output has a generally cylindrical first waveguide (1) with, at a distal end a second waveguide extension member (3) of reduced diameter. The second waveguide (3) is curved in one plane from the axis of the first waveguide. It has at least two blade faces (4) extending radially outwardly from its distal end.

Abstract: Apparatus (5,50) for generating torsional-mode ultrasonic vibrations comprises a stack of axially-polarised piezo-electric ceramic rings (10) having a torsional converter (1,51,53) mounted coaxially to either one face of the stack or to two opposite faces thereof. Each torsional converter (1,51,53) has a cross-sectional inhomogeneity comprising a plurality of helically-extending grooves (2,55) extending substantially from end to end of the converter. The grooves (2,55) each have a length, measured axially along the converter (1,51,53), of approximately half the wavelength of ultrasonic vibrations therein. When the stack is energised, the stack and the converter (1) or converters (51,53) resonate together in a purely torsional-mode vibration. The apparatus (5,50) is compact and axisymmetric, and is straightforward to incorporate into a simple tool handpiece. The ultrasonic vibrations may be transmitted along a conventional elongate waveguide (3) of a tool to a distal operative tip (35).

Abstract: The system generates resonant ultrasonic vibrations, preferably in a torsional mode. A control circuit monitors, feedback signals therefrom, which are scanned to determine the frequency at which minima occur. The frequency of the ultrasonic signal is then adjusted to the frequency at which the minimum occurs.

Abstract: A switch unit (40) is mountable to a distal end of a handpiece of an electrically-activatable surgical tool, such as an ultrasonically-vibratable surgical tool. The switch unit (40) has a generally bullet-shaped outer form with an axial bore (42) through which a waveguide of the tool extends. A resiliently deformable band (1) extends around the switch unit (40) above a polygonal-section contact zone (2), such that fingertip pressure on the band (1) may locally depress the band (1) towards a flat area (12) of the contact zone (2). Switch contacts (11) are mounted to an inner surface of the band (1) opposite a plated circuit (10) located on each flat area (12) so as to form a plurality of switches. A switch to activate the tool is thus easily accessible to a user's fingertip in any orientation of the handpiece in the user's hand. The switch contacts (11) may each comprise a body having an electrical resistance dependent on a pressure exerted thereon.

Abstract: The ultrasonic surgical tool has an elongate waveguide (1) operatively connected or connectable at a proximal end to a source of ultrasonic vibrations. At a distal end, an operative element comprises a radially-extending ridge (2) defined between a substantially parallel pair of grooves (4) extending longitudinally of the waveguide (1). The operative element is curved in a plane transverse to that of the ridge (2). This arrangement is ergonomically superior and allows a surgeon to work for longer and with improved control. It also allows a clear visualisation of the operative elements of the tool and the target tissue.

Abstract: An apparatus to aid removal of a prosthetic implant (2, 62) cemented into bone comprises an adapter (5, 35, 45, 55) to engage a proximal end (9, 63) of the implant (2, 62), a clamp screw (1, 6, 56) to hold said engaged end (9, 63) to the adapter (5, 35, 45, 55) in good acoustic contact, a generator (23) for torsional or longitudinal mode ultrasonic vibrations and a coupling link (1, 61) to transmit the ultrasonic vibrations to the adapter means (5, 35, 45, 55) and thence to the implant (2, 62). The proximal end (9,63) of the implant (2, 62) is ideally gripped between a conical tip (57) of the clamp screw (56) and a raised portion (41, 54) of the adapter (35, 45, 55) to avoid damping flexural mode oscillations induced in the implant.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises an ultrasonic vibration generator (1) and a lens (2) affixed thereto adapted to focus the ultrasonic vibration at a predetermined zone. It may be used to destroy certain types of cancerous cell which lie close beneath the surface, such as skin cancers and other melanomas. Other cosmetic skin treatments may also be carried out, such as restructuring collagen molecules in order to tighten and restructure skin tissue, depilation and to destroy dyed tissue and thereby aid removal of unwanted tattoos.

Abstract: At the surgical tool's proximal end, there is a first means (3) to generate ultrasonic vibration in a torsional shear mode. There is also a second means (2) to generate ultrasonic vibration in a longitudinal compression mode. A wave guide (4) is operatively connected to both generating means and extending therefrom by a distance of n?/2 to a distal end provided with cutting and/or coagulating means. The ratio of the wavelengths of the longitudinal compression wave and the torsional shear wave, ?c: ??, is an odd number. Preferably ?c=Nx?? (where N is an odd integral number and x is an integer). Delicate shear motion of the torsional ultrasonic vibrational mode is combined with the more vigorous excitation of the longitudinal compression wave ultrasonic vibration.

Abstract: The tool's elongate waveguide is operatively connected at a proximal end to a source of ultrasonic vibrations. Cutting and/or coagulating blades are mounted to a distal end of the waveguide. These blades act generally within an operative plane. A handle is mounted to the proximal end of the waveguide and is provided with a re-aligner, operable with a fingertip of a hand grasping the handle, to realign the operative plane of the blades to a preferred direction.

Abstract: The surgical tool comprises a longitudinally extending waveguide (1) defining a longitudinal axis (2). A first jaw member (1b) is connected at a distal end of the waveguide (1). A longitudinally extending carrier tube (3) is rotatable about the waveguide (1) and a second jaw member (6) is pivotably mounted to a distal end of the carrier tube (3). An outer shroud (7) includes a guide lobe (9) bearing on a rearward face of the second jaw member. Rotation of the carrier tube (3) causes pivoting of the second jaw member (6) into and out of operative relationship with the first jaw member (1b).

Abstract: The system generates resonant ultrasonic vibrations, preferably in a torsional mode. A control circuit monitors, feedback signals therefrom, which are scanned to determine the frequency at which minima occur. The frequency of the ultrasonic signal is then adjusted to the frequency at which the minimum occurs.

Abstract: A tool (1, 31) for cutting bone comprises an elongate blade (7,37) connectable to a generator of longitudinal-mode ultrasonic vibrations. The blade (7,37) has two lateral cutting edges (9,10) linked by a rounded distal tip (8). A series of triangular teeth (13) extends along each cutting edge (9,10) and the distal tip (8). The blade (37) may taper towards each cutting edge (9,10) and the distal tip (8). A variant of the tool (21) comprises an elongate part-cylindrical blade (27) connectable to a generator of torsional-mode ultrasonic vibrations. The blade (27) has a cutting edge at its distal tip (28) provided with a plurality of triangular teeth (23). All forms of the tool (1, 21, 31) are particularly suitable for cutting cancellous bone around an implant to be removed during revision of a joint arthroplasty.

Abstract: The system controls the frequency of an ultrasonic signal to be applied to a waveguide, such that the frequency corresponds to a preferred resonance mode of the waveguide and not to adjacent undesirable resonance modes. The system operates by carrying out a first scan of a predetermined portion of the generated signal, determining the number of resonance modes of the waveguide within this portion and selecting from these resonance modes either that one mode which is at a central frequency or that one mode which is at a frequency nearest thereto. The system may also set limits on each side of the selected resonance mode and carry out a second scan within these limits each time that the generator is activated to check whether the selected resonance mode is drifting.

Abstract: The mechanism is applicable to a surgical tool which has a jaw (57) pivotably mounted to a distal end of a longitudinally extending support (58). The jaw is operated by action on a rearwardly facing cam follower (52, 53) by a lobe (51) on the distal end of an actuating tube (50). Rotation of the actuating tube (50) causes pivoting of the jaw (57) into and out of operative relationship with another jaw member (21) of the tool. The mechanism may be applied to any manipulative or gripping type of surgical implement, but is particularly applicable to ultrasonic tools adapted for cutting and/or coagulating.

Abstract: The tool comprises an ultrasonic vibration generator and a waveguide operatively connected thereto at one end. The distal end of the waveguide is provided with cutting and/or coagulating means. A shroud is adapted to surround and isolate the waveguide, and an actuating rod surrounds the shroud, or vice versa. The shroud and actuating rod are detachably connected at their proximal ends to the generator.

Abstract: An apparatus for treatment of subcutaneous tissue including ultrasonic, e.g. piezoelectric, generators to generate ultrasonic vibrations. Each generator has a lens to focus the ultrasonic vibration at a point within the tissue. The focal point may be moved so that the generated ultrasonic vibrations may be focussed exactly at a point within the tissue that requires treatment. The energy enters the surface of the body over a very wide area, and therefore causes minimum damage to healthy overlying tissue.

Abstract: The mechanism is applicable to a surgical tool which has a jaw (57) pivotably mounted to a distal end of a longitudinally extending support (58). The jaw is operated by action on a rearwardly facing cam follower (52, 53) by a lobe (51) on the distal end of an actuating tube (50). Rotation of the actuating tube (50) causes pivoting of the jaw (57) into and out of operative relationship with another jaw member (21) of the tool. The mechanism may be applied to any manipulative or gripping type of surgical implement, but is particularly applicable to ultrasonic tools adapted for cutting and/or coagulating.