Ultrasonic torsional mode and longitudinal-torsional mode transducer
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A piezoelectric transducer system comprising:
- a piezoelectric stack, wherein the piezoelectric stack comprises two or more piezoelectric elements;
an inhomogeneous resonator coupled to the piezoelectric stack, 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;
a horn coupled to the piezoelectric stack opposite the inhomogeneous resonator, such that the piezoelectric stack is sandwiched between the horn and the inhomogeneous resonator, and wherein the horn has a first resonator cross section distal to the piezoelectric stack that is smaller than a second resonator cross section proximal to the first resonator cross section; and
an end effector coupled to the horn, wherein the end effector couples torsional mode vibrations produced by the inhomogeneous resonator or longitudinal mode vibrations to a solid or fluid medium.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
40 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A piezoelectric transducer system comprising:
-
a piezoelectric stack, wherein the piezoelectric stack comprises two or more piezoelectric elements; an inhomogeneous resonator coupled to the piezoelectric stack, 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; a horn coupled to the piezoelectric stack opposite the inhomogeneous resonator, such that the piezoelectric stack is sandwiched between the horn and the inhomogeneous resonator, and wherein the horn has a first resonator cross section distal to the piezoelectric stack that is smaller than a second resonator cross section proximal to the first resonator cross section; and an end effector coupled to the horn, wherein the end effector couples torsional mode vibrations produced by the inhomogeneous resonator or longitudinal mode vibrations to a solid or fluid medium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A piezoelectric transducer system comprising:
a transducer assembly, the transducer assembly comprising a back-mass, a piezoelectric stack, and a horn, the transducer assembly having a length of one-half wavelength of the transducer assembly'"'"'s fundamental vibrational mode, wherein the piezoelectric stack comprises two or more piezoelectric elements; wherein the back-mass includes an inhomogeneous resonator portion coupled to the piezoelectric stack, wherein the inhomogeneous resonator portion 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; wherein the horn is coupled to the piezoelectric stack opposite the back-mass, such that the piezoelectric stack is sandwiched between the horn and the back-mass, and wherein the horn has a first resonator cross section distal to the piezoelectric stack that is smaller than a second resonator cross section proximal to the first resonator cross section; and an end effector coupled to the horn, wherein the end effector couples torsional mode vibrations produced by the inhomogeneous resonator or longitudinal mode vibrations to a solid or fluid medium. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
17. A piezoelectric transducer system comprising:
a transducer assembly, the transducer assembly comprising a back-mass, a piezoelectric stack, and a horn, the transducer assembly having a length of one-half wavelength of the transducer assembly'"'"'s fundamental vibrational mode, wherein the piezoelectric stack comprises two or more piezoelectric elements; wherein the back-mass includes an inhomogeneous resonator portion coupled to the piezoelectric stack, wherein the inhomogeneous resonator portion 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; wherein the horn is coupled to the piezoelectric stack opposite the back-mass, such that the piezoelectric stack is sandwiched between the horn and the back-mass, and wherein the horn has a first resonator cross section distal to the piezoelectric stack that is smaller than a second resonator cross section proximal to the first resonator cross section; and an end effector coupled to the horn, wherein the end effector couples torsional mode vibrations produced by the inhomogeneous resonator or longitudinal mode vibrations to a solid or fluid medium; wherein the transducer assembly and end-effector comprise a central opening substantially along the longitudinal axis of the transducer assembly. - View Dependent Claims (18)
Specification