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Ultrasonic surgical probe

  • US 5,562,609 A
  • Filed: 10/07/1994
  • Issued: 10/08/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A hollow operating needle for an ultrasonic surgical probe handpiece and adapted to extend therefrom, the handpiece having an ultrasonic motor capable of generating ultrasonic vibrations contained therein, having means for connecting the handpiece and needle to a source of suction, having an open-ended sleeve generally concentrically positioned about the needle extending from said handpiece less than the distance that the operating needle extends from the handpiece, the sleeve defining an open-ended annular space with the needle, and having means for connecting the handpiece to a source of fluid such that fluid can flow through the annular space between the needle and the sleeve for exiting from the open end of the annular space defined by the sleeve, the hollow operating needle comprising:

  • a. an elongated, tapered body having one end thereof larger than the other and defining an elongated hollow bore extending from one end of the tapered body to the other, a portion of said body adjacent said larger end defining a larger end portion;

    b. means on the larger end portion of said body for coupling the needle to the ultrasonic motor for receiving and transmitting ultrasonic vibrations from the motor along the length of the needle to the operating tip end;

    c. said tapered, hollow body terminating in said operating tip end at its end opposite the larger end portion and defining an operating tip end portion; and

    d. said operating needle defining a plurality of spaced apart openings in the operating tip end portion thereof extending from said operating tip end portion toward said larger end portion a distance substantially less than the distance from said operating tip end portion to the larger end portion;

    whereby during operation of the probe a substantial portion of fluid passing through the annular space between said operating needle and the sleeve and exiting therefrom reaches the operating tip end of the needle and another substantial portion of the fluid passes through the plurality of openings defined in the operating tip end portion thereof for passage through the bore of the needle without reaching the operating tip end of the needle.

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