Patent ID: 6161545
Filing Date: 2000-12-19
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A method of performing surgical operations in which a surgical instrument destroys the localized integrity of that to which the surgical instrument is in contact comprising:generating series of ultrasonic pulses by an ultrasonic pulse generator, each series of ultrasonic pulses being generated for a predetermined period of time with a predetermined interval occurring between successive series of ultrasonic pulses, the ratio between the predetermined period for each series of pulses and the predetermined interval between successive series of pulses being at least 1:1;supplying the ultrasonic pulses to a medical instrument operable by a surgeon performing an operation on a patient, the surgeon positioning a movable portion of the instrument adjacent an area of the patient's body on which the operation is performed;destroying the localized integrity of that to which the surgical instrument is in contact by means of the surgical instrument; and,supplying each series of ultrasonic pulses to a transducer portion of the medical instrument which converts the energy contained in the pulses and supplies the energy to the movable portion of the instrument to move the movable portion of the instrument and perform the operation on the patient, movement of the movable portion of the instrument for the predetermined period of time with the predetermined interval between movements allowing the surgeon to evaluate the status of the operation as it progresses.