Patent ID: 8487487
Filing Date: 2013-07-16
Classification: A61B,B06B,H01L

Abstract:
1. Apparatus comprising: a magnetostrictive actuator of a medical ultrasound transducer assembly that has an end effector and a central longitudinal axis through the end effector, the magnetostrictive actuator having a first end and a second end, and further comprising an end mass, that has magnetostrictive properties or is a soft magnetic collector, acoustically connected to at least one of the first and second ends of the magnetostrictive actuator; wherein the magnetostrictive actuator comprises: an elongated magnetostrictive alloy substantially coaxially alignable with the longitudinal axis of the medical ultrasound transducer assembly, wherein the magnetostrictive alloy is coupleable to the end effector to provide the end effector with a longitudinal, standing wave vibration amplitude at its distal antinode tip equal to substantially the vibrational amplitude of the magnetostrictive actuator.