An ultrasonic vibration transmittable probe includes a probe body configured to transmit ultrasonic vibration generated by an ultrasonic transducer. A treatment section is provided on a distal end side of the probe body along its longitudinal axis and is configured to cut a treatment object with the ultrasonic vibration. The treatment section includes first to third cutting surfaces disposed at progressively proximal positions. A portion of the first cutting surface has a dimension along a first orthogonal direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis that is smaller than a dimension of the second cutting surface along the first orthogonal direction.

In a surgical method, an elongate probe is inserted into a spinal disc exemplarily into a nucleus pulposus thereof in a direction generally parallel to vertebral end faces adjacent to the spinal disc. During the inserting of the elongate probe, the probe is ultrasonically vibrated. Thereafter, while ultrasonically vibrating the elongate probe, one moves the elongate probe to sever a prismatic portion of the spinal disc including a prismatic section of the nucleus pulposus. The prismatic portion of the spinal disc is removed from a remaining portion of the spinal disc.

A generator, ultrasonic device, and method for controlling a temperature of an ultrasonic blade are disclosed. A control circuit coupled to a memory determines an actual resonant frequency of an ultrasonic electromechanical system comprising an ultrasonic transducer coupled to an ultrasonic blade by an ultrasonic waveguide. The actual resonant frequency is correlated to an actual temperature of the ultrasonic blade. The control circuit retrieves from the memory a reference resonant frequency of the ultrasonic electromechanical system. The reference resonant frequency is correlated to a reference temperature of the ultrasonic blade. The control circuit then infers the temperature of the ultrasonic blade based on the difference between the actual resonant frequency and the reference resonant frequency. The control circuit controls the temperature of the ultrasonic blade based on the inferred temperature

In an arthroendoscopical surgical method, a resection target area, and a freshening treatment area which becomes repair surfaces with bleeding, are identified, and a resection line and a freshening line are drawn on a tear site in a meniscus, which is emphasized by fluorescence with use of a fluorescent medicine under excitation light. Using an ultrasonic treatment tool and an arthroscope, the resection target area is resected by a probe which generates ultrasonic vibrations, based on the resection line and freshening line under visible-light illumination. Thus, an inclined resection surface is formed, and planar repair surfaces with bleeding are joined and repaird.

An arthroscopic surgery method for ankle ligament reconstruction of this embodiment is removed using an ultrasonic treatment tool, blowing away a synovial membrane, and secures the view for a remnant ligament. Then, bone holes are produced to a fibula, a talus and a calcaneus using the ultrasonic treatment tool.

An ultrasonic surgical system includes an ultrasonic transducer, a probe, and at least one circuit. The ultrasonic transducer is designed to ultrasonically vibrate. The probe is coupled to the ultrasonic transducer and is designed to treat a living tissue by the ultrasonic vibration. The circuit performs functions including detecting a pressing force of the probe against the living tissue, calculating a value of a product of the pressing force, an amplitude of the ultrasonic vibration, and a resonance frequency of the probe, comparing the calculated value with a predetermined product value, and generating a predetermined signal based on a result of the comparison.

An ultrasonic treatment instrument includes a vibration transmitting member transmitting ultrasonic vibration toward a first gripper and formed as one piece, and a second gripper movable between a spaced position where the second gripper is spaced apart from the first gripper and a closed position where the second gripper is put in close to the first gripper. The ultrasonic treatment instrument includes an interlocking actuator increasing, by moving the first gripper in interlock with a movement of the second gripper to the spaced position, a spacing distance between the first gripper and the second gripper in accordance with a movement of the first gripper.

Ultrasound catheter devices and methods provide enhanced disruption of blood vessel obstructions. Generally, an ultrasound catheter includes an elongate flexible catheter body with one or more lumens. An ultrasound transmission member or wire extends longitudinally through the catheter body lumen and, in many embodiments, a guide wire tube also extends through the same lumen. A distal head is fixed to or otherwise mechanically coupled with the distal end of the ultrasound transmission member or wire and is positioned adjacent the distal end of the catheter body. Although the distal end of the catheter body overlaps the distal head, the distal head is not directly affixed to the distal end of the catheter body. Thus, the distal tip may move freely, relative to the distal end of the catheter body when ultrasonic energy is applied through the ultrasound transmission member. Such a freely floating distal head enhances the efficiency of an ultrasound catheter, enabling the catheter to ablate calcific occlusions and increasing the useful life of the ultrasound transmission member and catheter.

An ultrasonic surgical instrument for boring a hole in a femur, including: an ultrasonic vibrator capable of generating ultrasonic vibration; a probe including a proximal end portion connected with the ultrasonic vibrator and a distal end treatment portion capable of boring a bone hole in the femur, and transmitting the ultrasonic vibration; and a cylindrical member covering the proximal end portion of the probe and not covering an exposed portion including the distal end treatment portion. The distal end treatment portion includes a columnar portion having a cross-sectional area that is larger than that of a remainder of the exposed portion of the probe.

Apparatuses and methods for the treatment of glaucoma are provided. The instrument uses either cauterization, a laser to ablate, sonic or ultrasonic energy to emulsify, or mechanical cutting of a portion of the trabecular meshwork. The instrument may also be provided with irrigation, aspiration, and a footplate. The footplate is used to enter Schlemm's canal, serves as a guide, and also protects Schlemm's canal.