Curved ultrasonic surgical aspirator

Claim 2

Ultrasonic surgical aspirator apparatus for breaking apart and removing tissue from a recessed operative site, comprising, transducer means operable to convert high frequency electrical energy to high frequency mechanical vibrations, elongated straight probe means having an axial bore extending therethrough, elongated vibration transmitting means having an enlarged body portion at one end operably connected with said transducer means and an elongated slender body portion at its other end operably associated with said probe means whereby longitudinal vibrations produced by said transducer means are transmitted to said probe, an elongated handpiece supporting said transmitting means and enclosing said transducer means, said elongated slender body portion of said transmitting means projecting outwardly from one end of said elongated handpiece and being curved along at least a portion of its length at a location spaced from said handpiece, the curvature of said slender body portion being the arc of a circle having a radius R of sufficient length to satisfy the condition R≧0.7λ, where λ is the length of the longitudinal vibration wave transmitted and wherein the length of said elongated body portion is at least equal to one-half the wave length of the vibrations produced by said transducer means, said elongated slender body portion having an axial passage extending therethrough in communication with said axial bore in said probe for aspirating fluid and tissue therethrough from the operative site; and an irrigation fluid housing mounted on said handpiece and extending in parallel surrounding relation to and cooperating with said slender body portion to define an irrigation fluid passage for conducting irrigation fluid to be discharged adjacent the free end of said probe, and wherein said transducer is operable to generate a standing wave pattern in said transmitting means, said standing wave pattern including at least one node in said slender body portion adjacent said other end, said elongated probe being rigidly attached to said slender body portion substantially at a vibration node.

Claim 3

The ultrasonic surgical aspirator defined in claim 1 wherein said standing wave pattern includes two vibrational nodes one located adjacent each end of said elongated slender body portion.

Claim 4

The ultrasonic surgical aspirator defined in claim 2 wherein said elongated slender body portion is uniformly curved throughout its length between said two vibrational nodes.

Claim 5

The ultrasonic surgical aspirator defined in claim 1 wherein the included angle between the longitudinal axis of said straight probe means and the longitudinal axis of said transducer is at least about 15°.

Claim 6

The ultrasonic surgical aspirator defined in claim 1 wherein said elongated slender body portion is of substantially uniform cross section throughout its length.

Claim 7

The ultrasonic surgical aspirator defined in claim 1 wherein said elongated slender body portion is uniformly curved throughout substantially its full length.

Claim 8

The ultrasonic surgical aspirator defined in claim 1 wherein said elongated slender body portion includes a segment of reduced cross-sectional area extending along a portion only of its length, said segment of reduced cross-sectional area acting as a vibration amplifier.

Claim 9

The ultrasonic surgical aspirator defined in claim 1 further comprising an irrigation fluid housing mounted on said handpiece and extending in parallel surrounding relation to and cooperating with said slender body portion to define an irrigtion fluid passage for conducting irrigation fluid to be discharged adjacent the free end of said probe.

Claim 10

Ultrasonic surgical aspirator apparatus for breaking apart and removing tissue from a recessed operative site, comprising: transducer means operable to convert high frequency electrical energy to high frequency mechanical vibrations; elongated straight probe means having an axial bore extending therethrough, wherein the included angle between the longitudinal axis of said straight probe means and the longitudinal axis of said transducer means is at least approximately 15°; elongated vibration transmitting means having an enlarged body portion at one end and operably connected with said transducer means, said transmitting means having an elongated slender body portion at its other end operably associated with said probe means such that longitudinal vibrations produced by said transducer means are transmitted to said probe, said elongated slender body portion including a segment of reduced cross sectional area extending along a portion only of its length, said segment of reduced cross sectional area acting as a vibration amplifier; an elongated handpiece supporting said transmitting means and enclosing said transducer means; said elongated slender body portion of said transmitting means projecting outwardly from one end of said elongated handpiece and being curved along at least a portion of its length at a location spaced from said handpiece, the curvature of said slender body portion being the arc of a circle having a radius R of sufficient length to satisfy the condition R≧0.7λ, where λ is the length of the longitudinal vibration wave transmitted; said elongated slender body portion having an axial passage extending therethrough in communication with said axial bore in said probe for aspirating fluid and tissue therethrough from the operative site; and an irrigation fluid housing mounted on said handpiece and extending in parallel surrounding relation to and cooperating with said elongated slender body portion to define an irrigation fluid passage for conducting irrigation fluid to be discharged adjacent the free end of said probe, and wherein said transducer means is adapted to generate a standing wave pattern in said transmitting means, said standing wave pattern including at least one node in said elongated slender body portion adjacent said other end, said elongated probe being rigidly attached to said elongated slender body portion substantially at a vibration node.

Claim 11

Ultrasonic surgical aspirator apparatus for breaking apart and removing tissue from a recessed operative site, comprising: transducer means operable to convert high frequency electrical energy to high frequency mechanical vibrations; elongated straight probe means having an axial bore extending therethrough, wherein the included angle between the longitudinal axis of said straight probe means and the longitudinal axis of said transducer means is at least approximately 15°; elongated vibration transmitting means having an enlarged body portion at one end and operably connected with said transducer means, said transmitting means having an elongated slender body portion at its other end operably associated with said probe means such that longitudinal vibrations produced by said transducer means are transmitted to said probe, said elongated slender body portion including a segment of reduced cross sectional area extending along a portion only of its length, said segment of reduced cross sectional area acting as a vibration amplifier; an elongated handpiece supporting said transmitting means and enclosing said transducer means; said elongated slender body portion of said transmitting means projecting outwardly from one end of said elongated handpiece and being curved along at least a portion of its length at a location spaced from said handpiece, the curvature of said slender body portion being the arc of a circle having a radius R of sufficient length to satisfy the condition R≧0.7λ, where λ is the length of the longitudinal vibration wave transmitted; said elongated slender body portion having an axial passage extending therethrough in communication with said axial bore in said probe for aspirating fluid and tissue therethrough from the operative site; and an irrigation fluid housing mounted on said handpiece and extending in parallel surrounding relation to and cooperating with said elongated slender body portion to define an irrigation fluid passage for conducting irrigation fluid to be discharged adjacent the free end of said probe, and wherein said transducer means is adapted to generate a standing wave pattern in said transmitting means, said standing wave pattern including at least one node in said elongated slender body portion adjacent said other end, said elongated probe being rigidly attached to said elongated slender body portion substantially at a vibration node.

Claim 12

The ultrasonic surgical aspirator defined in claim 9 wherein said standing wave pattern includes two vibrational nodes one located adjacent each end of said elongated slender body portion.

Claim 13

The ultrasonic surgical aspirator defined in claim 9 wherein said segment of reduced cross-sectional area is substantially straight and wherein said elongated slender body portion is substantially uniformly curved throughout the portion thereof other than said segment of reduced cross-sectional area.

Claim 14

Ultrasonic surgical apparatus for breaking apart, irrigating, aspirating and removing tissue from a recessed surgical site, and adapted when in use to vibrate within a liquid medium, said apparatus comprising: transducer means having a longitudinal axis and operable to convert high frequency electrical energy to high frequency mechanical vibrations; elongated straight probe means operatively connected with said transducer means, said probe means having a longitudinal axis and having an axial bore extending therethrough for aspirating tissue and fluid from said surgical site, the longitudinal axis of said probe means and the longitudinal axis of said transducer means including an angle therebetween of at least approximately 15° for increasing visibility at said surgical site; elongated vibration transmitting means having an enlarged body portion provided at a first end portion operatively associated with said transducer means and having an elongated slender body portion provided at a second end portion of said vibration transmitting means, said elongated slender body portion operatively connected with said probe means such that longitudinal vibrations produced by said transducer means are transmitted to said probe means in a standing wave pattern including at least one node in said slender body portion adjacent said second end portion of said vibration transmitting means, said probe means attached to said slender body portion substantially at a vibration node so as to minimize energy losses therebetween; an elongated handpiece supporting said transmitting means and enclosing said transducer means, said elongated slender body portion of said transmitting means projecting outwardly from one end of said elongated handpiece and being curved along at least a portion of its length at a location spaced from said handpiece, the curvature of said slender body portion being the arc of a circle having a radius R of sufficient length to satisfy the condition R≧0.7λ, where λ is the length of the longitudinal vibration wave transmitted through said elongated slender body portion, said elongated slender body portion having an axial passage extending therethrough in communication with said axial bore in said probe for aspirating fluid and tissue therethrough from said surgical site such that longitudinal waves containing sufficient energy are propagated through said elongated slender body portion independently of flexural waves of excessive magnitude and without such flexural waves interfering with desired longitudinal movement of said elongated straight probe means.

Claim 15

Ultrasonic surgical apparatus for breaking apart, irrigating, aspirating and removing tissue from a recessed surgical site, and adapted when in use to vibrate within a liquid medium, said apparatus comprising: transducer means having a longitudinal axis and operable to convert high frequency electrical energy to high frequency mechanical vibrations; elongated straight probe means operatively connected with said transducer means, said probe means having a longitudinal axis and having an axial bore extending therethrough for aspirating tissue and fluid from said surgical site, the longitudinal axis of said probe means and the longitudinal axis of said transducer means including an angle therebetween of at least approximately 15° for increasing visibility at said surgical site; elongated vibration transmitting means having an enlarged body portion provided at a first end portion operatively associated with said transducer means and having an elongated slender body portion provided at a second end portion of said vibration transmitting means, said elongated slender body portion operatively connected with said probe means such that longitudinal vibrations produced by said transducer means are transmitted to said probe means in a standing wave pattern including at least one node in said slender body portion adjacent said second end portion of said vibration transmitting means, said probe means attached to said slender body portion substantially at a vibration node so as to minimize energy losses therebetween; an elongated handpiece supporting said transmitting means and enclosing said transducer means, said elongated slender body portion of said transmitting means projecting outwardly from one end of said elongated handpiece and being curved along at least a portion of its length at a location spaced from said handpiece, the curvature of said slender body portion being the arc of a circle having a radius R of sufficient length to satisfy the condition R≧0.7λ, where λ is the length of the longitudinal vibration wave transmitted through said elongated slender body portion, said elongated slender body portion having an axial passage extending therethrough in communication with said axial bore in said probe for aspirating fluid and tissue therethrough from said surgical site such that longitudinal waves containing sufficient energy are propagated through said elongated slender body portion independently of flexural waves of excessive magnitude and without such flexural waves interfering with desired longitudinal movement of said elongated straight probe means.