Bubble control device for an ultrasonic surgical probe

A bubble control device for an ultrasonic surgical probe having a needle connected to a transducer for causing the needle to ultrasonically vibrate and a sleeve having an enlarged end portion placed about and spaced from the connection of the needle and the transducer with the sleeve spaced from the needle for at least a portion of the length of the sleeve and between which is an annular passage to which fluid is supplied, said device comprising a cylindrical hollow body having a bore defined therein and adapted to be positioned in the annular passage between the needle and the sleeve with the needle being received in said bore, said bore defined by said body having a first portion of greater diameter at one end and extending axially for more than half the length of the body and forming a cavity about the needle which is adapted to receive fluid supplied to the passage, said device further adapted to be freely retained within the enlarged end portion of the sleeve and at least partially surrounding the connection of the needle and the transducer with the connection being received in said cavity, said bore defined by said body tapering to a second portion of lesser diameter, which lesser diameter is greater than the outside diameter of the needle, said second portion extending to the opposite end of the body, and said body having a plurality of grooves formed on the peripheral surface thereof extending from one end of the body to the other, whereby fluid supplied to the annular passage between the needle and the sleeve is restricted in its passage by being forced through said plurality of grooves formed on the peripheral surface of the body and through the space between said second portion of the body and the needle, thereby reducing the passage of bubbles formed in the fluid.

An ultrasonic surgical probe handpiece comprising:

• a. a handpiece body;
• b. a hollow elongated operating needle extending from a first end thereof to an operating end;
• c. an ultrasonic motor capable of generating ultrasonic vibrations contained therein;
• d. means for connecting the handpiece and needle to a source of suction,
• e. means on the first end of said body for coupling the needle to the ultrasonic motor for receiving and transmitting ultrasonic vibrations from the motor along the length of the needle to the operating end;
• f. a sleeve having an enlarged end portion placed about and spaced from the means coupling the needle to the ultrasonic motor with the sleeve spaced from the needle for at least a portion of the length of the sleeve and between which is an annular passage to which fluid is supplied;
• g. means on the first end of said body for securing the sleeve to the body;
• and
• h. a cylindrical hollow body having a bore defined therein, said bore defined by said body having a first portion of greater diameter at one end and extending axially for more than half the length of the body and forming a cavity about the needle which is adapted to receive fluid supplied to the passage, said bore defined by said body tapering to a second portion of lesser diameter, which lesser diameter is greater than the outside diameter of the needle, said second portion extending to the opposite end of the body, said body being adapted to be freely retained within the enlarged end portion of the sleeve and at least partially surrounding the means coupling the needle to the ultrasonic motor with the means being received in said cavity with the needle being received in said bore, and said body having at least one groove formed on the peripheral surface thereof extending from one end of the body to the other, whereby fluid supplied to the annular passage between the needle and the sleeve is restricted in its passage by being forced through said at least one groove formed on the peripheral surface of the body and through the space between said second portion of the body and the needle, thereby reducing the passage of bubbles formed in the fluid.