Patent · US Active

Ultrasonic device for fingertip control

US9023071B2 · kind B2 · utility

1,654Cited by
38References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 11, 2009
Grant dateMay 5, 2015
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 29, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61C1/07
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An ultrasonic surgical instrument comprises a handpiece and an ultrasonically actuated blade distal to the handpiece. The instrument includes an activation member that is operable to selectively activate the blade and a controller that is operable to select the energy level at which the blade will be activated. The activation member may comprise capacitive switches; resistive sensors; resonant cavity switching technology; infrared sensing technology; technology that uses a resonant, standing wave on a surface that is perturbed by the presence of a finger; and/or any other suitable type of technology. The controller may comprise the same. The controller may permit selection from three or more available ultrasonic energy levels. The activation member and/or controller may be manipulated from various longitudinal positions on the handpiece and/or various rotational positions about the handpiece, such that the handpiece may be gripped in a variety of ways.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.