Method and waveguides for changing the direction of longitudinal vibrations
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A waveguide for redirecting substantially longitudinal ultrasonic vibrations along a first axis to substantially longitudinal motion along a second axis inclined at an angle relative to the first axis, the waveguide comprising;
- first and second half-wave sections, each half-wave section including a straight portion, a balancing region, and a curved portion with an end tip located in series along the length of the half-wave section, the straight portion of the first half-wave section extending along the first axis, and the curved portion of the first half-wave section curving from the first axis to the curved portion of the second half-wave section;
the straight portion of the second half-wave section extending along the second axis, and the curved portion of the second half-wave section curving from the curved portion of the first half-section to the second axis;
the half-wave sections being joined at the tips of their curved portions, and wherein the ultrasonic vibrations at the tip of the curved portion of the first half-wave section are substantially identical in magnitude and direction to the vibrations at the tip of the curved portion of the second half-wave section.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A curved ultrasonic waveguide, as used in an ultrasonic surgical instrument, includes two curved half-wave sections, having similar vibratory motion at their respective distal tips, which are integrally or compressively joined at the distal tips to create a single waveguide with a sharper bend radius than is conventionally possible. The resulting waveguide does not produce parasitic motion or generate excessive heat at the input or output portions of the waveguide.
406 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A waveguide for redirecting substantially longitudinal ultrasonic vibrations along a first axis to substantially longitudinal motion along a second axis inclined at an angle relative to the first axis, the waveguide comprising;
-
first and second half-wave sections, each half-wave section including a straight portion, a balancing region, and a curved portion with an end tip located in series along the length of the half-wave section, the straight portion of the first half-wave section extending along the first axis, and the curved portion of the first half-wave section curving from the first axis to the curved portion of the second half-wave section;
the straight portion of the second half-wave section extending along the second axis, and the curved portion of the second half-wave section curving from the curved portion of the first half-section to the second axis;
the half-wave sections being joined at the tips of their curved portions, and wherein the ultrasonic vibrations at the tip of the curved portion of the first half-wave section are substantially identical in magnitude and direction to the vibrations at the tip of the curved portion of the second half-wave section. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method for redirecting substantially longitudinal ultrasonic vibrations along a first axis to substantially longitudinal motion along a second axis inclined at an angle relative to the first axis, the method comprising
providing first and second half-wave sections, each half-wave section including a straight portion, a balancing region, and a curved portion with an end tip located in series along the length of the half-wave section, the straight portion of the first half-wave section extending along the first axis, and the curved portion of the first half-wave section curving from the first axis to the curved portion of the second half-wave section; -
the straight portion of the second half-wave section extending along the second axis, and the curved portion of the second half-wave section curving from the curved portion of the first half-section to the second axis;
joining together the half-wave sections at the tips of their curved portions, and providing ultrasonic vibrations at the tip of the curved portion of the first half-wave section which are substantially identical in magnitude and direction to the vibrations at the tip of the curved portion of the second half-wave section. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification