A power control arrangement for an ultrasonic surgical device such as a scalpel which provides power on demand in response to the continuous or periodic sensing of the loading condition (tissue contact or withdrawal) of the blade such that the device goes from a low power, idle state to a selectable high power, cutting state automatically depending on whether the scalpel is or is not in contact with tissue. A third, high power coagulation mode is manually selectable with automatic return to an idle power level when the blade is not in contact with tissue.

Method and apparatus for ultrasonic surgical cutting and hemostatis

One device in accordance with the present invention includes a surgical device for creating channels in tissue of a patient. The device includes a catheter (70) defining a lumen and a transducer assembly (82) carrierd by the catheter (70) along a lengthwise dimension of the catheter (70). An end effector (88) is operatively coupled to the transducer assembly (82) and extends distally relative to the transducer assembly (82). The end effector (88) has a vibrating channel-forming tip wherein the channel-forming tip is adapted to create channels in the heart of a patient. A method in accordance with the present invention includes the steps of inserting an end effector (88) having a tip into a patient, placing the tip of the end effector (88) in direct contact with a surface of the heart, energizing the end effector (88) to cause the tip to vibrate, piercing through the surface of the heart with the tip to create a channel, and removing the end effector (88).

Methods and devices for improving blood flow to a heart of a patient

A surgical device (50) in accordance with the present invention includes a plurality of transducer assemblies (80a, 80b) carried by the housing (52) and a plurality of end effectors (88a, 88b). Each end effector is operatively coupled to one of the transducer assemblies. One method in accordance with the present invention includes the steps of providing a plurality of end effectors (88a, 88b), each end effector being driven by a transducer assembly (80a, 80b). The method further includes the steps of placing the end effectors (88a, 88b) in close proximity to the tissue of a patient, energizing the plurality of end effectors to vibrate at a predetermined frequency, and contacting the tissue with the end effectors.

Methods and devices for increasing ultrasonic effects

An ultrasonic surgical device (150) in accordance with the present invention includes a transmission component (86) adapted to receive ultrasonic vibration from a transducer assembly (82) and to transmit the ultrasonic vibration from a first end to a second end. An inner damping member (160) surrounds at least a portion of the transmission component (86). The damping member (160) is adapted to contact the transmission component (86) to dampen undesired vibration during ultrasonic transmission.

Damping ultrasonic transmission components

A coupling structure releasably attaches a plurality of transmission members to each other. Non-vibratory structures hold a second end of the first transmission member (84, 204, 256, 272) in contact with a first end of the second member (86, 224, 258, 272). A method including the steps of providing a first non-vibratory structure (52, 202, 252) carrying the first transmission member (84, 204, 256), and providing a second non-vibratory structure (122, 222, 253) carrying the second transmission member (86, 224, 258). The method also includes the steps of attaching the first non-vibratory structure (52, 202, 252) to the second non-vibratory structure (122, 222, 253) to hold a coupling end of the first transmission member (84, 204, 256) in contact with a coupling end of the second transmission member (86, 224, 258) without the use of a threaded connection between the first and second components.

Methods and devices for joining transmission components

This ultrasonic generator comprises a transducer supplied by an oscillator via a transformer. The oscillator is supplied in parallel by a constant current generator and a voltage generator. Means are also provided to block the voltage generator as long as the impedance of the load remains lower than an adjustable threshold, so that the supply functions as constant current generator and, on the contrary, to block the current generator as soon as the impedance of the load exceeds the adjustable threshold, so that the supply then functions as voltage generator and limits the output power.

Pierre Mabille

Papers

Alternate constant current or voltage generator for an ultrasonic generator