US5359996A — Ultrasonic cutting tip and assembly

Claim 1

Independent Claim 169 words

For an ultrasonic surgical cutting instrument having an ultrasonic transducer, an ultrasonic cutting tip assembly comprising: a transition horn operatively couplable to the ultrasonic transducer, a vibration-transmitting tube separable from said horn and having a tube proximal end and a tube distal end, a line between the tube distal end and the tube proximal end defining a longitudinal direction; and a retaining nut adapted to engage said transition horn to hold said tube proximal end and said transition horn together so that ultrasonic vibrations can thereby be transmitted to said tube and emitted from said tube distal end to the surgical site, wherein: said retaining nut and said tube are formed as a single piece with said tube extending out from said retaining nut, and said retaining nut has at least one nut wrench notch extending in the longitudinal direction from a forward end of said nut and adapted to be engaged by a wrench for turning said retaining nut to secure said retaining nut to said transition horn.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 169 words

For an ultrasonic surgical cutting instrument having an ultrasonic transducer, an ultrasonic cutting tip assembly comprising: a transition horn operatively couplable to the ultrasonic transducer, a vibration-transmitting tube separable from said horn and having a tube proximal end and a tube distal end, a line between the tube distal end and the tube proximal end defining a longitudinal direction; and a retaining nut adapted to engage said transition horn to hold said tube proximal end and said transition horn together so that ultrasonic vibrations can thereby be transmitted to said tube and emitted from said tube distal end to the surgical site, wherein: said retaining nut and said tube are formed as a single piece with said tube extending out from said retaining nut, and said retaining nut has at least one nut wrench notch extending in the longitudinal direction from a forward end of said nut and adapted to be engaged by a wrench for turning said retaining nut to secure said retaining nut to said transition horn.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 56 words

The assembly of claim 1 wherein said transition horn has a horn distal end and defines a horn end opening at said horn distal end, said transition horn has a threaded portion disposed inside of said horn end opening, and said retaining nut has a threaded portion disposed on an outside surface of said retaining nut.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 18 words

The assembly of claim 2 wherein said tube proximal end is disposed inside of said horn end opening.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 29 words

The assembly of claim 3 wherein said horn end opening has an internal shoulder at a proximal end thereof against which said tube is held by said retaining nut.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 36 words

The assembly of claim 4 wherein said tube has an annular flange at its proximal end which abuts against said internal shoulder when said tube and said transition horn are held together by said retaining nut.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 40 words

The assembly of claim 1 wherein said transition horn includes a threaded portion which comprises external threads thereon and said retaining nut includes a threaded portion which comprises internal threads therein such that said retaining nut threads onto said horn.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 39 words

The assembly of claim 1, wherein all exposed surfaces of said retaining nut have angles no greater than forty five degrees with respect to lines parallel to said line between the tube distal end and the tube proximal end.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 26 words

The assembly of claim 1 wherein said tube has a length of 0.850 inch and at its distal tube end a wall thickness of 0.0025 inch.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 27 words

The assembly of claim 1, wherein said transition horn comprises a threaded portion and said retaining nut comprises a threaded portion each of which have 4-80 threads.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 13 words

The assembly of claim 1 wherein said retaining nut is formed of titanium.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 13 words

The assembly of claim 10 wherein said titanium is 3 Al-2.5 V titanium.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 21 words

The assembly of claim 1 wherein said retaining nut and said tube define a cylindrical passageway of uniform diameter extending therethrough.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 24 words

The assembly of claim 1 wherein said retaining nut has a nut outer surface and a threaded portion disposed on said nut outer surface.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 29 words

The assembly of claim 1 wherein the ultrasonic surgical cutting instrument includes a sleeve surrounding said retaining nut and extending forwardly past said retaining nut and around said tube.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 40 words

The assembly of claim 1 wherein said retaining nut has a forward surface at an angle not greater than forty-five degrees with respect to a line parallel to said line between the tube distal end and the tube proximal end.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 11 words

The assembly of claim 15 wherein said angle is thirty degrees.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 55 words

The assembly of claim 15 wherein said retaining nut includes a nut threaded portion which defines external threads and said retaining nut has a rearward surface at an angle generally between forty-five degrees and ninety digress with respect to a line parallel to said line between the tube distal end and the tube proximal end.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 15 words

The assembly of claim 17 wherein the angle of said rearward surface is forty-five degrees.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 33 words

The assembly of claim 17 wherein said retaining nut has a generally cylindrical portion between and adjacent the forward and rearward surfaces thereof and said nut threaded portion is on said cylindrical portion.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 41 words

The assembly of claim 15 wherein said transition horn has a forward cylindrical portion and an enlarged portion at the distal tip of said cylindrical portion and said transition horn has a threaded portion disposed of inside of said enlarged portion.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 43 words

The assembly of claim 20 wherein said enlarged portion has a rearward surface at an angle not greater than twenty-two and a half digress with respect to a line parallel to said line between the tube distal end and the tube proximal end.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 44 words

The assembly of claim 15 wherein said retaining nut includes a nut threaded portion which defines surface at an angle not greater than forty-five digress with respect to a line parallel to said line between the tube distal end and the tube proximal end.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 15 words

The assembly of claim 22 wherein the angle of said rearward surface is thirty degrees.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 15 words

The assembly of claim 23 wherein the angle of said forward surface is thirty degrees.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 28 words

The assembly of claim 22 wherein said transition horn has a forward cylindrical portion and a threaded portion positioned on the distal end of said forward cylindrical portion.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 26 words

The assembly of claim 1 wherein said tube distal end has a wall thickness of about 0.0025 inch and an outer diameter of about 0.042 inch.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 24 words

The assembly of claim 1 wherein said tube defines an aspiration passageway therethrough for aspirating fragmented tissue and fluid away from the surgical site.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 21 words

The assembly of claim 1 wherein said tube distal end defines a tip which is flat and perpendicular to said tube.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 29 words

The assembly of claim 1 wherein said tube and said retaining nut are adapted to accommodate a force greater than 30,000 psi and an acceleration of at least 300,000G.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 29 words

The assembly of claim 1 wherein said tube includes a radial flange at the proximal tube end and a cylinder extending from said flange to the distal tube end.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 172 words

For an ultrasonic surgical cutting instrument having an ultrasonic transducer, an ultrasonic cutting tip assembly comprising: a transition horn operatively couplable to the ultrasonic transducer; a vibration-transmitting tube separable from said horn and having a tube proximal end and a tube distal end, said tube comprising a cylindrical distal portion having a distal portion outer diameter, a cylindrical proximal portion having a proximal portion outer diameter, said proximal portion outer diameter being greater than said distal portion outer diameter, and a conical portion between and connecting said proximal and distal portions, said conical portion having its outer diameter tapering from said proximal portion to said distal portion; and a retaining nut adapted to engage said transition horn to hold said tube proximal end and said transition horn together so that ultrasonic vibrations can thereby be transmitted to said tube and emitted from said tube distal end to the surgical site, wherein said retaining nut and said tube are formed as a single piece with said tube extending out from said retaining nut.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 172 words

For an ultrasonic surgical cutting instrument having an ultrasonic transducer, an ultrasonic cutting tip assembly comprising: a transition horn operatively couplable to the ultrasonic transducer; a vibration-transmitting tube separable from said horn and having a tube proximal end and a tube distal end, said tube comprising a cylindrical distal portion having a distal portion outer diameter, a cylindrical proximal portion having a proximal portion outer diameter, said proximal portion outer diameter being greater than said distal portion outer diameter, and a conical portion between and connecting said proximal and distal portions, said conical portion having its outer diameter tapering from said proximal portion to said distal portion; and a retaining nut adapted to engage said transition horn to hold said tube proximal end and said transition horn together so that ultrasonic vibrations can thereby be transmitted to said tube and emitted from said tube distal end to the surgical site, wherein said retaining nut and said tube are formed as a single piece with said tube extending out from said retaining nut.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 25 words

The assembly of claim 31 wherein said distal portion outer diameter is about 0.030 inch and said proximal portion outer diameter is about 0.042 inch.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 26 words

The assembly of claim 32 wherein said tube has a length of about 1.15 inch and said distal portion has a length of about 0.900 inch.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 124 words

For an ultrasonic surgical cutting instrument having an ultrasonic transducer, an ultrasonic cutting tip assembly comprising: a transition horn operatively couplable to the ultrasonic transducer, a vibration-transmitting tube separable from said horn and having a tube proximal end and a tube distal end; and a retaining nut adapted to engage said transition horn to hold said tube proximal end and said transition horn together so that ultrasonic vibrations can thereby be transmitted to said tube and emitted from said tube distal end to the surgical site, wherein: said retaining nut and said tube are formed as a single piece with said tube extending out from said retaining nut; and said retaining nut has a pair of spaced wrench-engageable notches on the outer surface thereof.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 124 words

For an ultrasonic surgical cutting instrument having an ultrasonic transducer, an ultrasonic cutting tip assembly comprising: a transition horn operatively couplable to the ultrasonic transducer, a vibration-transmitting tube separable from said horn and having a tube proximal end and a tube distal end; and a retaining nut adapted to engage said transition horn to hold said tube proximal end and said transition horn together so that ultrasonic vibrations can thereby be transmitted to said tube and emitted from said tube distal end to the surgical site, wherein: said retaining nut and said tube are formed as a single piece with said tube extending out from said retaining nut; and said retaining nut has a pair of spaced wrench-engageable notches on the outer surface thereof.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1997-10-31	1998-05-02	1998-11-01	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2001-10-31	2002-05-02	2002-11-01	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2005-10-31	2006-05-02	2006-11-01	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Ultrasonic cutting tip and assembly

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