Abstract: Some implementations provide a high-powered compact ultrasonic transducer having an integral piezoelectric ceramic force sensing element utilized to enable enhanced tissue selectivity with a piezoelectric based transducer. Some implementations additionally or alternatively relate to methods and apparatus for driving ultrasonic surgical devices, such as methods and apparatus that modulate an amplitude of a drive signal, provided to an ultrasonic surgical device, in accordance with a selected tissue selectivity level. For example, the amplitude of the drive signal for a given tissue selectivity level can be varied with time in accordance with amplitude modification parameters that are particularized to the given tissue selectivity level. Some of those implementations additionally implement a corresponding duty cycle, for the drive signal, that corresponds to the selected tissue selectivity level.

Abstract: A flue for use with an ultrasonic surgical tip, comprising protrusions or bumps on its inner surface with improved protrusion pattern, density and location. The flue has enhanced cooling effect for the ultrasonic surgical tip.

Abstract: An ergonomic attachment system for connecting an irrigation tube or an aspiration tube to a surgical handpiece that reduces surgeon wrist fatigue due to tubing twist. The tube is connected to the handpiece through a swivel joint which allows the tube to rotate circumferentially with respect to the handpiece and self-adjust to a neutral position to relieve the twist.

Abstract: Some implementations provide a high-powered compact ultrasonic transducer having an integral piezoelectric ceramic force sensing element utilized to enable enhanced tissue selectivity with a piezoelectric based transducer. Some implementations additionally or alternatively relate to methods and apparatus for driving ultrasonic surgical devices, such as methods and apparatus that modulate an amplitude of a drive signal, provided to an ultrasonic surgical device, in accordance with a selected tissue selectivity level. For example, the amplitude of the drive signal for a given tissue selectivity level can be varied with time in accordance with amplitude modification parameters that are particularized to the given tissue selectivity level. Some of those implementations additionally implement a corresponding duty cycle, for the drive signal, that corresponds to the selected tissue selectivity level.

Abstract: A flue for use with an ultrasonic surgical tip, comprising protrusions or bumps on its inner surface with improved protrusion pattern, density and location. The flue has enhanced cooling effect for the ultrasonic surgical tip.

Abstract: Some implementations provide a high-powered compact ultrasonic transducer having an integral piezoelectric ceramic force sensing element utilized to enable enhanced tissue selectivity with a piezoelectric based transducer. Some implementations additionally or alternatively relate to methods and apparatus for driving ultrasonic surgical devices, such as methods and apparatus that modulate an amplitude of a drive signal, provided to an ultrasonic surgical device, in accordance with a selected tissue selectivity level. For example, the amplitude of the drive signal for a given tissue selectivity level can be varied with time in accordance with amplitude modification parameters that are particularized to the given tissue selectivity level. Some of those implementations additionally implement a corresponding duty cycle, for the drive signal, that corresponds to the selected tissue selectivity level.

Abstract: A flue for use with an ultrasonic surgical tip, comprising protrusions or bumps on its inner surface with improved protrusion pattern, density and location. The flue has enhanced cooling effect for the ultrasonic surgical tip.

Abstract: An ergonomic attachment system for connecting an irrigation tube or an aspiration tube to a surgical handpiece that reduces surgeon wrist fatigue due to tubing twist. The tube is connected to the handpiece through a swivel joint which allows the tube to rotate circumferentially with respect to the handpiece and self-adjust to a neutral position to relieve the twist.

Abstract: An ergonomic attachment system for connecting an irrigation tube or an aspiration tube to a surgical handpiece that reduces surgeon wrist fatigue due to tubing twist. The tube is connected to the handpiece through a swivel joint which allows the tube to rotate circumferentially with respect to the handpiece and self-adjust to a neutral position to relieve the twist.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical handpiece comprising a thermal diffuser that includes a thermal conductive layer and an electrical insulating layer. The thermal diffuser reduces hot spots that are objectionable to the user. The handpiece may also comprise an anti-rotation feature which distributes force of the metal horn applied to the polymer housing by increasing applied area under torque.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting gestures using ultrasonic clicks are described. For example, some methods include playing an ultrasonic click using an audio driver, wherein the ultrasonic click is a modulated audio pulse with a duration less than one hundred periods of a modulation frequency waveform of the ultrasonic click; accessing a recording, captured using a microphone, of the ultrasonic click; applying an ultrasonic bandpass filter to the recording to obtain a filtered signal; determining a classification of a gesture based on the filtered signal; and transmitting, storing, or displaying an indication of the classification of the gesture.

Abstract: An ultrasonic surgical handpiece comprising a thermal diffuser that includes a thermal conductive layer and an electrical insulating layer. The thermal diffuser reduces hot spots that are objectionable to the user. The handpiece may also comprise an anti-rotation feature which distributes force of the metal horn applied to the polymer housing by increasing applied area under torque.

Abstract: A surgical handpiece nosecone having an end overmold portion and/or an internal overmold portion. The end overmold portion is located at an end of the nosecone and compressed between the surgical handpiece housing and nosecone. The internal overmold portion is positioned radially about the nosecone on the inner surface to provide a fluid tight seal that prevents ingress of irrigation fluid into the housing.

Abstract: A flue for use with an ultrasonic surgical tip, comprising protrusions or bumps on its inner surface with improved protrusion pattern, density and location. The flue has enhanced cooling effect for the ultrasonic surgical tip.

Abstract: A surgical handpiece nosecone having an end overmold portion and/or an internal overmold portion. The end overmold portion is located at an end of the nosecone and compressed between the surgical handpiece housing and nosecone. The internal overmold portion is positioned radially about the nosecone on the inner surface to provide a fluid tight seal that prevents ingress of irrigation fluid into the housing.

Abstract: A flue for use with an ultrasonic surgical tip, comprising protrusions or bumps on its inner surface with improved protrusion pattern, density and location. The flue has enhanced cooling effect for the ultrasonic surgical tip.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting gestures using ultrasonic clicks are described. For example, some methods include playing an ultrasonic click using an audio driver, wherein the ultrasonic click is a modulated audio pulse with a duration less than one hundred periods of a modulation frequency waveform of the ultrasonic click; accessing a recording, captured using a microphone, of the ultrasonic click; applying an ultrasonic bandpass filter to the recording to obtain a filtered signal; determining a classification of a gesture based on the filtered signal; and transmitting, storing, or displaying an indication of the classification of the gesture.

Abstract: An ultrasonic horn for use with an ultrasonic surgical handpiece including a resonator comprises a linear cutting blade at the distal end of a horn body. The linear cutting blade includes adjacent side-by-side rows of teeth each of which includes a land through which ultrasonic waves are propagated outwardly from the distal end. The lands of the rows of teeth are angled so that the propagated ultrasonic waves of one plurality of lands intersects the propagated ultrasonic waves from the other row of lands. Shear stress fields are developed at the intersections of the ultrasonic waves that will perform the cutting function on target tissue. An irrigation arrangement is also disclosed.

Abstract: An ultrasonic horn for use with an ultrasonic surgical handpiece including a resonator comprises a linear cutting blade at the distal end of a horn body. The linear cutting blade includes adjacent side-by-side rows of teeth each of which includes a land through which ultrasonic energy is propagated outwardly from the distal end. The lands of the rows of teeth are angled so that the propagated ultrasonic energy of one plurality of lands intersects the propagated ultrasonic energy from the other row of lands. Shear stress fields are developed at the intersections of the ultrasonic energy that will perform the cutting function on target tissue. An irrigation arrangement is also disclosed.

Abstract: Some implementations provide a high-powered compact ultrasonic transducer having an integral piezoelectric ceramic force sensing element utilized to enable enhanced tissue selectivity with a piezoelectric based transducer. Some implementations additionally or alternatively relate to methods and apparatus for driving ultrasonic surgical devices, such as methods and apparatus that modulate an amplitude of a drive signal, provided to an ultrasonic surgical device, in accordance with a selected tissue selectivity level. For example, the amplitude of the drive signal for a given tissue selectivity level can be varied with time in accordance with amplitude modification parameters that are particularized to the given tissue selectivity level. Some of those implementations additionally implement a corresponding duty cycle, for the drive signal, that corresponds to the selected tissue selectivity level.