A treatment instrument includes a probe including a treatment portion which treats a treatment target part by ultrasonic vibration, and a back portion provided on a side opposite to the treatment portion. The treatment instrument includes a hollow sheath which surrounds the probe, the sheath having a cutout made to expose the treatment portion. The treatment instrument includes protrusion which is provided in the sheath to cover the back portion on a side opposite to the cutout and which has dimensions smaller than the dimensions of the probe in a direction that intersects with a central axis of the probe.

In one embodiment, a surgical instrument comprises an articulable waveguide. The articulable waveguide may be configured to transmit ultrasonic energy therealong. The articulable waveguide comprises a proximal drive section, an end effector and a first flexible. The proximal drive section is configured to couple to an ultrasonic transducer. The end effector is located at a distal portion of the articulable waveguide. The first flexible section comprises a flex bias and be positioned between the proximal drive section and the end effector. The surgical instrument further comprises a first tine extending longitudinally relative to the articulable waveguide.

A method of balancing an ultrasonic instrument having an ultrasonically actuated blade is disclosed. The blade includes a body portion and a step portion extending from the body portion. The body portion comprises a first side, a second side, and a width defined between the first and second sides. The step portion includes a first surface, a second surface, and a cutting edge situated intermediate the first and second surfaces. The second surface extends between a first plane including the cutting edge and a second plane which is parallel to the first plane. The first and second surfaces are not parallel and are oriented such that there is an angle defined therebetween. The method comprises the steps of configuring at least a portion of the blade such that a relationship is substantially equal to zero.

An apparatus comprises an end effector, a body assembly, a power source, and a control module. The end effector is operable for use in a surgical procedure and can deliver energy to a surgical site. The end effector comprises at least one sensor. The sensor is able to measure at least one physical characteristic associated with the surgical site. The body assembly is in communication with the end effector. The power source is in communication with the body assembly and is operable to deliver power to the end effector. The control module is in communication with the sensor and is operable to change delivery of power to the end effector based on data from the sensor indicating a change in tissue density.

A method of maintaining a constant movement of a cutting blade of an ultrasonic waveguide includes providing an ultrasonic transducer operable to convert a received motional current into a movement of a cutting blade of an ultrasonic waveguide, a measurement circuit connected in a parallel configuration with the ultrasonic transducer, and a variable power source operable to supply current through a set of connection points to the parallel configuration and thereby create the motional current in the ultrasonic transducer. Current is supplied through a set of connection points of the parallel configuration with the variable power source to, thereby, create the motional current in the ultrasonic transducer and the motional current is regulated with a current controller by varying an output of the power source, thereby maintaining a substantially constant rate of movement of the cutting blade across a variety of cutting loads.

A system and method for ultrasound treatment of skin laxity are provided. Systems and methods can include ultrasound imaging of the region of interest for localization of the treatment area, delivering ultrasound energy at a depth and pattern to achieve the desired therapeutic effects, and/or monitoring the treatment area to assess the results and/or provide feedback. In an embodiment, a treatment system and method can be configured for producing arrays of sub-millimeter and larger zones of thermal ablation to treat the epidermal, superficial dermal, mid-dermal or deep dermal components of tissue.

A probe unit includes, a probe configured to treat a bone by ultrasonic vibration, a hollow sheath which surrounds the probe and which has a first portion at a small distance from a central axis, and a second portion at a greater distance from the central axis than the first portion, and a knob configured to rotate the sheath relative to the probe between a first position for insertion between the bone and a living tissue facing the bone so that the first portion is located between the bone and the living tissue and a second position for insertion between the bone and the living tissue so that the second portion is located between the bone and the living tissue.

An extending portion of a vibration transmitting unit. is capable of transmitting ultrasonic vibration from a proximal side to a distal side, and in the extending portion, a second component provided on the distal side with respect to a first component. A third component provided between the first component and the second component in the extending portion has a third cross-sectional area that is larger than a first cross-sectional area of the first component and is smaller than a second cross-sectional area of the second component, and one of vibration anti-nodes is positioned at third component by the extending portion vibrating at a frequency in a predetermined frequency range.

A surgical instrument includes a first power source and a second power source. The first power source is configured to deliver power to a surgical instrument at a first rate of discharge. The second power source is configured to deliver power to the first power source at a second rate of discharge. The first power source and the second power source are positioned within the surgical instrument. The first power source and the second power source are further configured to communicate with a control module. The control module may rely on power from the first power source to drive an end effector of the surgical instrument. The end effector may comprise a harmonic/ultrasonic blade, RF electrosurgical electrodes, powered cutting/stapling features, and/or various other types of components.

Various embodiments are direct to a surgical instrument comprising and end effector, an articulating shaft and an ultrasonic transducer assembly. The end effector may comprise an ultrasonic blade. The articulating shaft may extend proximally from the end effector along a longitudinal axis and may comprise a proximal shaft member and a distal shaft member pivotably coupled at an articulation joint. The ultrasonic transducer assembly may comprise an ultrasonic transducer acoustically coupled to the ultrasonic blade. The ultrasonic transducer assembly may be positioned distally from the articulation joint.