An ultrasonic catheter includes a body and an ultrasound transmission member disposed in the body. A head is coupled to the ultrasound transmission member, wherein a gap separates the head from a body distal end. A guidewire tube extends through the body and the head. A proximal end connector assembly includes a hub and an absorber member. The hub has a bore coupled to and in fluid communication with the body. The absorber member is disposed within the bore around the ultrasound transmission member. A sonic connector is disposed between the ultrasound transmission member and a separate generator.

An ultrasound transducer includes: a drive unit including a piezoelectric device; a proximal end block; and a distal end block. The distal end block includes a first portion, a supported portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The distal end block is configured such that a position of a boundary between the second portion and the third portion corresponds to or substantially corresponds to an antinode of the ultrasonic vibration while the piezoelectric device generates the ultrasonic vibration, and the ultrasonic vibration is being propagated to the proximal end block, the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion. A resonance frequency of the ultrasonic vibration differs according to a position of the boundary between the second portion and the third portion under a condition that a distance from the supported portion to a distal end of the third portion along the longitudinal axis is constant.

A system including a console and a catheter assembly. The console may include an ultrasound-producing mechanism configured to convert an electric current into a vibrational energy. The console also may include a driving-parameter modifier configured to modify driving parameters to selectively provide one or more output modes for the vibrational energy. The catheter assembly may include a sheath including a sheath lumen and a core wire at least partially disposed within the sheath lumen. The core wire may include a proximal portion and a distal portion of the core wire, wherein the proximal portion of the core wire is coupled to the ultrasound-producing mechanism. A working length of the distal portion of the core wire beyond the sheath may be configured for longitudinal, transverse, or longitudinal and transverse displacement in accordance with the one or more output modes for the vibrational energy to effect different intravascular lesion-modification procedures.

An apparatus comprises a body assembly, a shaft, an acoustic waveguide, an articulation section, an end effector, and an articulation drive assembly. The shaft extends distally from the body assembly and defines a longitudinal axis. The acoustic waveguide comprises a flexible portion. The articulation section is coupled with the shaft. A portion of the articulation section encompasses the flexible portion of the waveguide. The articulation section comprises a plurality of body portions aligned along the longitudinal axis and a flexible locking member. The flexible locking member is operable to secure the body portions in relation to each other and in relation to the shaft. The end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade in acoustic communication with the waveguide. The articulation drive assembly is operable to drive articulation of the articulation section to thereby deflect the end effector from the longitudinal axis.

Various medical devices are described herein. More particularly, various probes used for performing lithotripsy and methods of performing lithotripsy are described. In an example, a probe comprises an elongate member comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a proximal portion, an intermediate portion, and a distal portion. The proximal portion has an outer diameter that is greater than the outer diameter of the distal portion.

Various embodiments are directed to articulatable surgical instruments. Some embodiments comprise an end effector to treat tissue, where the end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade. A hollow shaft may extend proximally from the end effector along a longitudinal axis. A waveguide may extend through the shaft and may be acoustically coupled to the ultrasonic blade. The waveguide may comprise a distally positioned flange positioned within the hollow shaft proximally from the blade and may be held stationary at a first pivot point positioned within the hollow shaft proximally from the flange. A reciprocating wedge may be positioned within the hollow shaft such that distal motion of the wedge pushes the wedge between the flange and the hollow shaft, causing the ultrasonic blade to pivot about the first pivot point in a first direction.

Various embodiments are directed to articulatable surgical instruments and surgical systems comprising articulatable surgical instruments. Some embodiments comprise an end effector to treat tissue, where the end effector comprises an ultrasonic blade. A hollow shaft may extend proximally from the end effector along a longitudinal axis. A waveguide may extend through the hollow shaft and may be acoustically coupled to the ultrasonic blade. The waveguide may comprise a distally positioned flange positioned within the hollow shaft proximally from the ultrasonic blade and may be held stationary at a first pivot point positioned within the hollow shaft proximally from the flange. A reciprocatable wedge may be configured to interact with the flange to cause the ultrasonic blade to pivot about the first pivot point in a first direction.

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.

Various medical devices are described herein. More particularly, various probes used for performing lithotripsy and methods of performing lithotripsy are described. In an example, a probe comprises an elongate member comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a proximal portion, an intermediate portion, and a distal portion. The proximal portion has an outer diameter that is greater than the outer diameter of the distal portion.

A device for transmitting mechanical waves, including a mechanical waveguide having an elongated shape and extending between a proximal end and a distal end for propagating the mechanical waves coupled at the proximal end up to the distal end, and a radiopaque marker secured to the mechanical waveguide adjacent to the distal end thereof.