Ultrasonic torsional mode and longitudinal-torsional mode transducer system
First Claim
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1. A piezoelectric transducer system comprising:
- i) a first and a second piezoelectric stack;
wherein each stack independently comprises two or more polarized piezoelectric elements that are electrically driven in a fundamental longitudinal vibration mode of the transducer along a longitudinal axis of the transducer;
ii) an inhomogeneous resonator sandwiched between the first and the second piezoelectric stack, the inhomogeneous resonator configured to convert longitudinal motion from the first and second piezoelectric stack to a combined longitudinal-torsional motion of the transducer, wherein the inhomogeneous resonator comprises a twisted bar configured to convert the longitudinal motion from the first and second piezoelectric stack to the combined longitudinal-torsional motion of the transducer;
iii) a horn coupled to the first piezoelectric stack, wherein the horn has a cross section distal to the piezoelectric stack that is smaller than a cross section proximal to the piezoelectric stack, wherein the cross section distal to the piezoelectric stack vibrates in combined longitudinal-torsional motion; and
iv) an end effector coupled to the horn, wherein the end effector couples the combined longitudinal-torsional motion to a solid or fluid medium.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to the design of piezoelectric transducer subassemblies and systems primarily intended for medical and dental applications. The invention also provides transducer subassemblies and systems with improved performance and a capability to operate more efficiently in torsional or a combined longitudinal-torsional mode of vibration. The invention enables the size and weight of torsional mode transducers to be reduced. Additionally, the electrical characteristics of these transducer systems are improved, thus enabling the transducer end effector to deliver more power to the operative site.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A piezoelectric transducer system comprising:
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i) a first and a second piezoelectric stack;
wherein each stack independently comprises two or more polarized piezoelectric elements that are electrically driven in a fundamental longitudinal vibration mode of the transducer along a longitudinal axis of the transducer;ii) an inhomogeneous resonator sandwiched between the first and the second piezoelectric stack, the inhomogeneous resonator configured to convert longitudinal motion from the first and second piezoelectric stack to a combined longitudinal-torsional motion of the transducer, wherein the inhomogeneous resonator comprises a twisted bar configured to convert the longitudinal motion from the first and second piezoelectric stack to the combined longitudinal-torsional motion of the transducer; iii) a horn coupled to the first piezoelectric stack, wherein the horn has a cross section distal to the piezoelectric stack that is smaller than a cross section proximal to the piezoelectric stack, wherein the cross section distal to the piezoelectric stack vibrates in combined longitudinal-torsional motion; and iv) an end effector coupled to the horn, wherein the end effector couples the combined longitudinal-torsional motion to a solid or fluid medium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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