A phacoemulsification needle is provided for emulsifying body tissue. The needle is adapted to be attached to a phacoemulsification handpiece that imparts a vibration to the needle. The needle has a hollow body with an operative distal end, a proximal end for being attached to a handpiece, and an internal surface defining an aspiration passage extending between the proximal and distal ends. The needle body includes a tip at the distal end and the needle body has a blockage reduction means located within the aspiration passage at a location proximal of the tip, wherein the blockage reduction means is one of: (i) a protrusion extending radially inward from the internal surface; (ii) a groove extending into the internal surface; (iii) at least one insert located within the aspiration passage; (iv) at least one blade located within the aspiration passage; or (v) a deformed portion of the needle body.

A surgical device is disclosed including a surgical instrument and an outer sheath surrounding the surgical instrument. The surgical instruments includes an end effector including a first jaw member and a second jaw member. At least one of the first jaw member or the second jaw member is pivotable toward the other to grasp tissue. The outer sheath is slidable relative to the surgical instrument along a longitudinal axis between a first position, wherein the first jaw member and the second jaw member are positioned within the outer sheath proximal to a distal portion of the outer sheath, and a second positon, wherein the first iaw member and the second iaw member are positioned outside the outer sheath distal to the distal portion of the outer sheath. The distal portion of the outer sheath is configured to clamp tissue.

A flue for use with an ultrasonic surgical tip, comprising protrusions or bumps on its inner surface with improved protrusion pattern, density and location. The flue has enhanced cooling effect for the ultrasonic surgical tip.

A device for removing tissue or bone includes a housing having an outer tube defining an inner lip. A middle tube is supported within the outer tube and includes an opening having teeth at a distal end thereof and a shoulder defined around an outer surface thereof proximate the opening. An inner tube is disposed within the middle tube and includes an opening having teeth at a distal end thereof in registration with the opening in the middle tube. The inner tube couples to a power source and rotates relative to the middle tube such that the teeth cooperate to cut tissue or bone disposed in a cutting window between the openings. A bushing is disposed atop the middle tube against the shoulder, such that, upon assembly, the bushing seats between the shoulder of the middle tube and the inner lip of the outer tube to provide stability therebetween.

A device for removing tissue includes a housing having an outer tube extending therefrom including an axis defined therealong. A middle tube is supported within the outer tube having an opening at a distal end with an edge. The middle tube includes a swage proximate the area of engagement between the middle and outer tubes. An inner tube is disposed within the middle tube and includes an opening having teeth at a distal end in registration with the opening in the middle tube, the inner tube rotates relative to the middle tube and the teeth, and the edge cooperate to cut tissue. A lumen is defined through the inner tube and extends from the opening to a suction source. The swage of the middle tube and the increased inner diameter associated therewith allows the inner tube to maintain a constant inner diameter along a length thereof, reducing choke points along the lumen.

A lithotripter is provided for fragmenting a stone inside a patient's body. In one form, the lithotripter includes a motor having at least two modes of operation and is configured to produce first and second waveforms. A wave guide shaft is configured to transmit the first and second waveforms to the stone. In one form, at least one of the first and second waveforms is provided to the stone at a frequency that is about equal to a natural frequency of the stone. In a variation, the lithotripter may include an ultrasonic driver configured to produce an ultrasonic frequency waveform and a sonic driver configured to produce a sonic frequency waveform. The sonic driver is mechanically coupled to the ultrasonic driver. The ultrasonic driver and the sonic driver may be disposed within a driver housing. In another variation, the lithotripter may include a brushless DC motor.

An instrument includes an ultrasonic blade, a first fluid port, an irrigation member, a second fluid port, and a fluid communication assembly. The ultrasonic blade defines a distal opening. The ultrasonic blade is operable in a first mode to emulsify tissue that is distally positioned relative to the ultrasonic blade. The ultrasonic blade is further operable in a second mode to transect and seal tissue that is transversely positioned relative to the ultrasonic blade. The first fluid port is in communication with the distal opening of the ultrasonic blade. The irrigation member is positioned adjacent to the distal end of the ultrasonic blade. The second fluid port is in communication with the irrigation member. The fluid communication assembly is configured to couple the first fluid port with a fluid source, couple the first fluid port with a suction source, and couple the second fluid port with the fluid source.

An ultrasonic cutting tip has a hollow shaft with a proximal and distal end. The proximal end is configured to be attached to an ultrasonic hand piece, and the distal end has a smooth continuous surface. An opening is located near the distal end of the hollow shaft. The opening is configured to cut vitreous when the cutting tip is vibrated ultrasonically in a torsional manner.

A device for intrabody surgery comprises a cutting arrangement rotatable by a hollow driveshaft, which is formed by a hollow front cutting region and a rear region. The front region includes multiple longitudinal drilling sections interconnected by transversely oriented cutting blade sections. The drilling sections are positioned at an angle to each other defining in combination with the cutting blades a conically shaped grid formation having a hollow internal cavity. The grid formation defines a plurality of ports between the drilling sections and the blades. A low-pressure zone is formed within the hollow internal cavity, wherein cut occlusion materials are aspired by the low-pressure zone through the plurality of ports into the hollow internal cavity for further evacuation from the cutting arrangement.

A cutting assembly for a surgical instrument. A tube assembly includes an outer tube having an outer cutting window, and an inner tube coaxially disposed within and rotatable relative to the outer tube. The inner tube includes an inner cutting window such that the inner and outer cutting windows define a cutting window of the tube assembly. A portion of the inner tube distal a proximal boundary of the cutting window may define a distal region of the inner tube. A projection is within a lumen of the inner tube with at least a portion of the projection disposed within the distal region. The projection may be an insert. The projection occupies a volume of the distal region and/or reduces a cross-sectional area of the lumen distal to the proximal boundary. The projection reduces the size of material removed through the cutting window to reduce clogging of the tube assembly.