Ultrasonic soft tissue cutting and coagulation systems having multiple superposed vibrational modes

An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:

• a. an ultrasonic transducer for generating ultrasonic vibrations;
• b. an ultrasonic coupler extending along a longitudinal axis, said coupler having a proximal end connected to said transducer to receive ultrasonic vibrations therefrom, said coupler being adapted to transmit the ultrasonic vibrations from said proximal end to a distal end of said coupler;
• and
• c. a vibration element connected to said distal end of said coupler for receiving ultrasonic vibrations therefrom so as to undergo vibrational motion;
• wherein said vibrational motion of said vibration element comprises a superposition of a plurality of vibratory modes;
• and
• wherein said plurality of vibratory modes comprises at least one transverse mode that is generated by a motion perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

An ultrasonic surgical instrument, comprising:

• a. an ultrasonic transducer for generating ultrasonic vibrations;
• b. an ultrasonic coupler extending along a longitudinal axis, said coupler having a proximal end connected to said transducer to receive ultrasonic vibrations therefrom, said coupler being adapted to transmit the ultrasonic vibrations from said proximal end to a distal end of said coupler;
• and
• c. a vibration element connected to said distal end of said coupler for receiving ultrasonic vibrations therefrom so as to undergo vibrational motion;
• wherein said vibrational motion of said vibration element comprises a superposition of a plurality of vibratory modes;
• and
• wherein said plurality of vibratory modes comprises at least one rotational mode that is generated by a rotational motion about said longitudinal axis.