Medical ultrasound system and handpiece and methods for making and tuning

• US 20070232928A1
• Filed: 04/09/2007
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Cilag Gmbh International (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Tebbe, Mark, Mihal, Mark, Wiener, Eitan
• Application Number:
  US11/784,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20070232928A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/459
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320068 using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic A61B17/22012 takes precedence; dental tooth drilling devices operated by vibration A61C3/03; removing intra-ocular material using mechanical vibrations A61F9/00745
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22018 segmented along its length
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320071 with articulating means for working tip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320088 with acoustic insulation, e.g. elements for damping vibrations between horn and surrounding sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320089 node location
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4455 Features of the external shape of the probe, e.g. ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/0618 of piezo- and non-piezoelectric elements, e.g. 'Tonpilz'

Abstract

Several embodiments of medical ultrasound handpieces are described each including a medical ultrasound transducer assembly. An embodiment of a medical ultrasound system is described, wherein the medical ultrasound system includes a medical ultrasound handpiece having a medical ultrasound transducer assembly and includes an ultrasonically-vibratable medical-treatment instrument which is attachable to a distal end of the transducer assembly. An embodiment of a medical ultrasound system is described, wherein the medical ultrasound system has a handpiece including a medical ultrasound transducer assembly and including a housing or housing component surrounding the transducer assembly. A method for tuning a medical ultrasound handpiece includes machining at least a distal non-threaded portion of an instrument-attachment stud of the transducer assembly to match a measured fundamental frequency to a desired fundamental frequency to within a predetermined limit. A method for making a medical ultrasound transducer assembly determines acceptable gains for gain stages of the transducer assembly.

Claims

1-50. -50. (canceled)

51. A medical ultrasound handpiece comprising:

a) a medical ultrasound transducer assembly which is electrically connectable to an ultrasound electric generator, which has a longitudinal axis, and which is attachable to an ultrasonically-vibratable medical-treatment instrument having a switch which has an open position and a closed position;

b) an inner conductive ring substantially coaxially aligned with the longitudinal axis, surrounding the transducer assembly, and having a distally-facing first annular surface; and

c) an outer conductive ring substantially coaxially aligned with the longitudinal axis, surrounding the transducer assembly, and having a distally-facing second annular surface, wherein the outer conductive ring is electrically isolated from the inner conductive ring, wherein the first and second annular surfaces are in electric contact with the switch of the attached instrument when the switch is in the closed position, wherein the inner and outer conductive rings are electrically connectable to the generator, and wherein the switch of the attached instrument controls the connected generator.

52. The medical ultrasound handpiece of claim 51, wherein the transducer assembly is attached to the instrument.

53. The medical ultrasound handpiece of claim 51, also including an annular dielectric member, wherein the inner and outer conductive rings are separated by the dielectric member.

54. The medical ultrasound handpiece of claim 53, wherein the first and second rings are electrically connected to the generator.

55. The medical ultrasound handpiece of claim 54, wherein the transducer assembly is attached to the instrument.

66. The medical ultrasound handpiece of claim 51, wherein the transducer assembly distally terminates in a stud which is attachable to the instrument.

67. The medical ultrasound handpiece of claim 66, wherein the stud is threadably attachable to the instrument.

68. The medical ultrasound handpiece of claim 67, wherein the instrument has an ultrasonically vibratable portion which is attachable to the stud and has a surrounding non-vibratable portion.

69. The medical ultrasound handpiece of claim 68, wherein the non-vibratable portion includes the switch.

70. The medical ultrasound handpiece of claim 51, also including an annular dielectric member, wherein the inner and outer conductive rings are separated by the dielectric member.

71. The medical ultrasound handpiece of claim 70, also including a housing and a nose cone assembly, wherein the nose cone assembly is attached to the housing and includes the inner conductive ring, the outer conductive ring, and the dielectric member.

72. The medical ultrasound handpiece of claim 71, also including mounts which are disposed at nodes of the transducer assembly and which secure the transducer assembly within and to the housing.

73. The medical ultrasound handpiece of claim 72, also including an electric cable and wiring, wherein the electric cable extends from the handpiece to a proximal plug which is attachable to the generator, and wherein the wiring extends from the cable to the inner conductive ring.

74. The medical ultrasound handpiece of claim 73, wherein the mounts have openings to pass the wiring from the cable to the inner conductive ring.

56-65. -65. (canceled)