×

Methods and apparatus for controlling the aerosol envelope generated by ultrasonic devices

  • US 5,378,150 A
  • Filed: 06/18/1992
  • Issued: 01/03/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
Patent Images

1. An aerosol recovery assembly for use with an ultrasonic device of the type having an elongate handpiece, a tip, and an orifice through which water spray is jetted toward the tip and generates an aerosol, the combination of said aerosol recovery assembly and a portion of said ultrasonic device comprising:

  • a source of suction;

    an insert of said ultrasonic device;

    a rigid cylinder body insertable on at least a portion of the handpiece, said cylinder body having opposing first and second open ends, said first end being radially spaced from the insert to define an annulus, one end of which is open, said second end fitting securely to the handpiece for supporting and sealing the cylinder body to the ultrasonic device;

    a suction tube attached to a sidewall of the cylinder body and sealed around an opening in the sidewall so that when the source of suction is connected to the suction tube, at least a portion of the aerosol is drawn in via the annulus between the ultrasonic insert and the cylinder body and extracted via the suction tube; and

    the annulus and a suction path between the open end of the annulus and the suction source being of sufficient area to transfer a volume of air to the suction source such that an envelope of the aerosol surrounding the tip of the ultrasonic device can be controlled and reduced down to a diameter of at least about 2.54 cm, as a function of the amount of suction applied to the suction tube.

View all claims
  • 0 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×