Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc.

Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc.

Piezo-innovations

Edo Corporation, Western Division

Allergan, Inc.

Piezo-innocations

Abbott Medical Optics Inc.

George Bromfield

Thomas David Ehlert

Patrick Sean McNichols

Andrew Enis Meyer

Timothy R Zuehlke

Mark E Steen

John I Muri

Rob Raney

Norman Rudolf Stegelmann

Pravin V Mehta

Norman R Stegelmann

The invention is generally directed to phacoemulsification systems and methods, and more particularly to systems and methods for providing transverse phacoemulsification. In accordance with one embodiment, a phacoemulsification system is provided having a handpiece with a needle, wherein the phacoemulsification system is configured to vibrate the distal end of the needle in both an effective transverse direction and an effective longitudinal direction when power, having a single effective operating frequency is applied to the handpiece.

Systems and methods for transverse phacoemulsification

A phacoemulsification handpiece for providing transverse phacoemulsification. The phacoemulsification handpiece may have a needle and a horn, wherein the distal end of the needle is configured to vibrate in a transverse direction and a longitudinal direction when power is applied to the handpiece. The horn may have one or more notches distributed around an outer surface of the horn, wherein the one or more notches enable the distal end of the needle to vibrate in the transverse and longitudinal directions when power is applied.

The present invention relates to the design of piezoelectric transducer subassemblies and systems primarily intended for medical and dental applications. The invention also provides transducer subassemblies and systems with improved performance and a capability to operate more efficiently in torsional or a combined longitudinal-torsional mode of vibration. The invention enables the size and weight of torsional mode transducers to be reduced. Additionally, the electrical characteristics of these transducer systems are improved, thus enabling the transducer end effector to deliver more power to the operative site.

Ultrasonic torsional mode and longitudinal-torsional mode transducer

Ultrasonic waveguides having improved velocity gain are disclosed for use in ultrasonic medical devices. Specifically, the ultrasonic waveguides comprises a first material having a higher acoustic impedance and a second material having a lower acoustic impedance.

Amplifying ultrasonic waveguides

Ultrasonic torsional mode and longitudinal-torsional mode transducer system

A fuel injector for delivering fuel to an engine in which a housing of the injector has an internal fuel chamber and at least one exhaust port in fluid communication with the fuel chamber whereby fuel exits the fuel injector at the at least one exhaust port for delivery to the engine. An ultrasonic waveguide is separate from the housing, and is elongate and disposed at least in part within the fuel chamber to ultrasonically energize fuel within the fuel chamber prior to the fuel exiting through the at least one exhaust port. An excitation device is operable to ultrasonically excite the ultrasonic waveguide. A mounting member interconnects the waveguide to the housing, with the mounting member configured to substantially vibrationally isolate the housing from the waveguide.

Ultrasonic fuel injector

A fuel injector for delivering fuel to an engine in which a housing of the injector has an internal fuel chamber and at least one exhaust port in fluid communication with the fuel chamber. A valve member is moveable relative to the housing between a closed position in which fuel within the fuel chamber is inhibited against exhaustion from the housing, and an open position in which fuel is exhaustable from the housing. An ultrasonic waveguide is separate from the housing and valve member. The ultrasonic waveguide is elongate and has longitudinally opposite ends. The waveguide further has a first waveguide segment and a second waveguide segment. The first and second segments are disposed entirely within the fuel chamber of the housing. An excitation device is operable in the open position of the valve member to ultrasonically excite the ultrasonic waveguide.

A fuel injector for delivering fuel to an engine in which a housing of the injector has an internal fuel chamber and at least one exhaust port in fluid communication with the fuel chamber. A valve member is moveable relative to the housing between a closed position in which fuel within the fuel chamber is inhibited against exhaustion from the housing, and an open position in which fuel is exhaustable from the housing. An ultrasonic waveguide separate from the housing and valve member is disposed at least in part within the fuel chamber to ultrasonically excite fuel within the fuel chamber prior to the fuel exiting through the at least one exhaust port in the open position of the valve member. An excitation device is operable in the open position of the valve member to ultrasonically excite the ultrasonic waveguide.

An ultrasonic liquid delivery device in which a housing of the device has an internal chamber and at least one exhaust port in fluid communication with the internal chamber of the housing. A valve member is moveable relative to the housing between a closed position in which liquid is inhibited against exhaustion from the housing via the at least one exhaust port, and an open position in which liquid is exhaustable from the housing via the at least one exhaust port. An ultrasonic waveguide separate from the housing and valve member is disposed at least in part within the internal chamber of the housing to ultrasonically energize liquid within the internal chamber prior to liquid being exhausted from the housing in the open position of the valve member. An excitation device is operable in the open position of the valve member to ultrasonically excite the ultrasonic waveguide.

Ultrasonic liquid delivery device

The present invention provides a method of manufacturing piezoelectric transducers that improves performance by reducing the mechanical losses in the component interfaces. The method involves the epoxy impregnation and encapsulation of the components within the piezoelectric stack assembly. Impregnation is achieved by capillary action that results in a chemical bond. The encapsulation method results in an epoxy conformal coating that provides a high degree of protection from harsh operational environments and reduces the risk of high voltage electric breakdown.

Methods of manufacture of a transducer devices actuators

The present invention relates to methods for velocity control of transducers that can compensate both for age related changes as well as the more immediate changes that occur during operation. In one aspect of the invention, the non-motional reactive current is measured at two predetermined frequencies, one below (I) and one above the resonance frequency (I). A correction factor is calculated from these measured currents is used to maintain a specified value of end effector velocity or displacement. In another aspect of the invention, methods are provided for the detection of secondary resonances that could be indicative of end effector fault conditions. In another aspect of the invention, velocity control is achieved.

Ultrasonic transducer control method and system

A fuel injector for delivering fuel to an engine in which a housing of the injector has an internal fuel chamber and at least one exhaust port in fluid communication with the fuel chamber. A valve member is moveable relative to the housing between a closed position in which fuel within the fuel chamber is inhibited against exhaustion from the housing, and an open position in which fuel is exhaustable from the housing. An ultrasonic waveguide is separate from the housing and valve member, with substantially the entire ultrasonic waveguide disposed within the fuel chamber to ultrasonically excite fuel within the fuel chamber prior to the fuel exiting through the at least one exhaust port in the open position of the valve member. An excitation device is operable in the open position of the valve member to ultrasonically excite the ultrasonic waveguide.

Handpiece apparatus is provided for disruption and removal of tissue, tumors, bone, cartilage, calculi or the like which includes an arrangement of piezoelectric crystals and a heat sink in order to control crystal temperature despite interruption of cooling irrigation flow through the handpiece.

Growing community of inventors

Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America

George Bromfield