Ultrasonic surgical instruments

An ultrasonic surgical elevator blade, comprising:

• a body defining a longitudinal axis, the body having a proximal end and a distal end, the body defining a length along the longitudinal axis, wherein the distal end is movable relative to the longitudinal axis by vibrations produced by a transducer;
• a treatment region having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the treatment region extends to the distal end of the body,
• a substantially flat top surface comprising a broad top portion defining a width transverse to the length, wherein the broad top portion is substantially flat along the width, wherein the broad top portion is arcuate about a first axis along the length, defining a first longitudinal radius of curvature, and wherein the substantially flat top surface comprises a top distal end;
• a bottom surface comprising a bottom surface portion, wherein the bottom surface portion is substantially arcuate about a second axis along the length, defining a second longitudinal radius of curvature, wherein the bottom surface portion is substantially arcuate about a third axis transverse to the length, defining a transverse radius of curvature, and wherein the bottom surface comprises a bottom distal end;
• a substantially flat tip, wherein the substantially flat tip is positioned at the distal end of the body coinciding with an anti-node to provide maximum vibrational displacement of the substantially flat tip, wherein the substantially flat tip comprises a cutting edge defining a cutting surface, wherein the substantially flat tip extends distally from the top distal end of the substantially flat top surface to the bottom distal end of the bottom surface;
• and
• a neck portion protruding from the proximal end adapted to couple to an ultrasonic transmission waveguide to transmit vibrations at a predetermined frequency from the transducer to the distal end of the treatment region;
• wherein the width of the substantially flat top surface is substantially greater than a thickness of the body between the substantially flat top surface and the bottom surface.

An ultrasonic surgical elevator blade, comprising:

• a body defining a longitudinal axis, the body having a proximal end and a distal end, the body defining a length along the longitudinal axis, wherein the distal end is movable relative to the longitudinal axis by vibrations produced by a transducer;
• a substantially flat top surface comprising a broad top portion defining a width transverse to the length, wherein the broad top portion is substantially flat along the width, wherein the broad top portion is arcuate about a first axis along the length, defining a first longitudinal radius of curvature;
• a bottom surface comprising a bottom surface portion, wherein the bottom surface portion is substantially arcuate about a second axis along the length, defining a second longitudinal radius of curvature, wherein the bottom surface portion is substantially arcuate about a third axis transverse to the length, defining a transverse radius of curvature;
• a substantially flat tip, wherein the substantially flat tip is positioned at the distal end of the body, wherein the substantially flat tip comprises a cutting edge defining a cutting surface;
• and
• a neck portion protruding from the proximal end adapted to couple to an ultrasonic transmission waveguide to transmit vibrations at a predetermined frequency and wavelength from the transducer to the distal end of the distal end of the body;
• wherein the ultrasonic surgical elevator blade comprises an anti-node positioned at the substantially flat tip, and wherein the anti-node provides maximum vibrational displacement of the surgical elevator blade at the substantially flat tip.