A cutting assembly configured to be removably coupled to a drive assembly of a surgical instrument. An inner tube is coaxially and rotatably disposed within an outer tube and defines a lumen in communication with a cutting window. A drive hub is coupled to a proximal end of the inner tube to define a suction path through the hub member and the inner tube. A hub member of the drive hub defines a first aperture, and further defines a reduced aperture. A diameter of the lumen of the inner tube is less than the inner diameter of the reduced aperture of the drive hub such that resected tissue moves from smaller to larger cross sectional portions of the suction path at an interface between the drive hub and the inner tube. The drive hub may include a lip disposed within the suction path with the inner tube abutting the lip.

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.

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 cutting assembly configured to be removably coupled to a drive assembly of a surgical instrument. An inner tube is coaxially and rotatably disposed within an outer tube and defines a lumen in communication with a cutting window. A projection is disposed within the lumen of the inner tube. The projection may include a distal first portion displaced radially inward relative to an interior surface of the inner tube, and a proximal second portion angled relative to the distal first portion. A distance between a proximal boundary of the cutting window and a nearest point on the projection may be less than a diameter of the lumen. An inner surface of the projection permits cutting action to continue until the material is sufficiently reduced to pass between a proximal boundary of the cutting window and the insert. The projection may be formed by an insert secured within the inner tube.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

A cutting assembly configured to be removably coupled to a drive assembly of a surgical instrument. An inner tube is coaxially and rotatably disposed within an outer tube and defines a lumen in communication with a cutting window. A drive hub is coupled to a proximal end of the inner tube to define a suction path through the hub member and the inner tube. A hub member of the drive hub defines a first aperture, and further defines a reduced aperture. A diameter of the lumen of the inner tube is less than the inner diameter of the reduced aperture of the drive hub such that resected tissue moves from smaller to larger cross sectional portions of the suction path at an interface between the drive hub and the inner tube. The drive hub may include a lip disposed within the suction path with the inner tube abutting the lip.