Ultrasonic handpiece
AssigneeAlcon Research, Ltd.
InventorsMikhail Boukhny, James Chon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A handpiece having a single set of piezoelectric elements polarized to produce longitudinal motion when excited at the relevant resonant frequency. The piezoelectric crystals are connected to an ultrasonic horn to which a cutting tip is attached. The horn and/or the cutting tip contains a plurality of diagonal slits or grooves. The slits or grooves produce optimized torsional movement in the cutting tip when the piezoelectric crystals are excited at a second resonant frequency. Preferably, the two drive frequencies are not coincident, but provided in non-overlapping pulses.
Claims20
An ultrasonic hand piece, comprising:
- a shell;
- and
- an ultrasonic horn held within the shell, the horn configured to produce torsional movement of a cutting tip in response to a drive signal having a first frequency and longitudinal movement of the cutting tip in response to a drive signal having a second frequency;
- wherein the horn is held within the shell so that a torsional nodal point and a proximal longitudinal nodal point are coincident at a plug that seals the shell on an end of the hand piece opposite the cutting tip.
An ultrasonic hand piece comprising:
- a shell having proximal and distal ends;
- a cutting tip located at a distal end of the shell;
- a plug located at a proximal end of the shell, the plug sealing the shell;
- an ultrasonic horn at least partially located in the shell, the horn producing torsional movement in the cutting tip in response to a drive signal having a first frequency and longitudinal movement in the cutting tip in response to a drive signal having a second frequency;
- and
- a piezoelectric element coupled to the horn;
- wherein a torsional nodal point and a longitudinal nodal point are coincident at the plug.
An ultrasonic hand piece comprising:
- a shell with proximal and distal ends;
- a plug located at the proximal end of the shell;
- a cutting tip located at a distal end of the shell;
- and
- an ultrasonic horn at least partially located in the shell and coupled to the shell at the proximal end, the horn producing torsional movement in the cutting tip in response to a drive signal having a first frequency and longitudinal movement in the cutting tip in response to a drive signal having a second frequency;
- wherein a torsional nodal point and a longitudinal nodal point are coincident at the proximal end of the shell.
A phacoemulsification hand piece comprising:
- a shell;
- a horn with proximal and distal ends, the horn at least partially located in the shell;
- a tip coupled to the distal end of the horn;
- a plug located on a proximal end of the horn, the plug sealing the horn to the shell;
- wherein the horn produces torsional movement in the tip in response to a drive signal having a first frequency and longitudinal movement in the tip in response to a drive signal having a second frequency, and further wherein a torsional nodal point and a longitudinal nodal point are coincident at the proximal end of the horn.
A phacoemulsification hand piece comprising:
- a shell;
- a horn having proximal and distal ends, the horn at least partially located in the shell, the horn producing torsional movement at a distal end of the horn in response to a drive signal having a first frequency and longitudinal movement at a distal end of the horn in response to a drive signal having a second frequency;
- and
- a plug located near the proximal end of the horn, the plug for sealing the shell;
- wherein a torsional nodal point and a longitudinal nodal point are coincident at the proximal end of the horn, the proximal end of the horn opposite a cutting tip.
A phacoemulsification hand piece comprising:
- a shell configured to be held in the hand;
- a horn having proximal and distal ends, the horn at least partially located in the shell, the horn producing torsional movement at a distal end of the horn in response to a drive signal having a first frequency and longitudinal movement at a distal end of the horn in response to a drive signal having a second frequency;
- a cutting tip coupled to the horn, the cutting tip for insertion into an eye, the cutting tip configured to remove a lens from the eye when the cutting tip is vibrated;
- an aspiration shaft extending through the horn;
- a piezoelectric element coupled to the horn;
- and
- a plug located near the proximal end of the horn, the plug for sealing the shell;
- wherein a torsional nodal point and a longitudinal nodal point are coincident at the plug.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.