Surgical pre-aspirator

Claim 1

An ultrasonic surgical apparatus, comprising: a hollow concentric surgical tool having a longitudinal axis; means for ultrasonically vibrating said tool for fragmenting body material at a surgical site; said tool having an internal suction passage formed along said longitudinal axis for connection to a source of suction; said suction passage defining a suction port at an open end of said suction passage for aspirating fragmented body material from the surgical site into said suction passage; a sleeve concentrically spaced about and free from contact with said tool, said sleeve extending longitudinal along said tool to substantially the end of said tool adjacent said suction port so as to define a fluid supply passage about said tool for connection to a fluid supply source; said sleeve further defining an open annular orifice around said tool at an end face of said sleeve; said tool further having at least one pre-aspirating orifice means formed through a wall portion of said tool disposed within said sleeve for admitting at least some fluid into said suction passage; and said pre-aspirating orifice means, said suction source, said fluid supply passage and said suction passage each dimensioned to provide means for pre-aspirating substantially all of said fluid through said at least one pre-aspirating orifice so as to prevent substantially all of said fluid flowing from said fluid supply source from reaching said surgical site.