Patent ID: 6241520
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: A61C

Abstract:
An automatic drive circuit for driving any one of a plurality of ultrasonic probes, wherein each of the probes comprises a magnetostrictive unit and a vibratory element to be set into vibration by the magnetostrictive unit upon energization of the magnetostrictive unit with an alternating magnetic field, the drive circuit comprising:an energizing coil enclosed within a handle, the handle having a compartment for receiving one of said probes, the coil being located with the handle adjacent to the compartment for applying the alternating magnetic field to the magnetostrictive unit upon insertion of the probe into the handle and upon an energizing of the coil by the drive circuit;an oscillator coupled to the coil for applying an oscillatory current to the coil, said coil being connected as a part of an oscillatory circuit of said oscillator enabling inductance of said coil to establish an oscillation frequency of said oscillator, and said compartment serving to position said magnetostrictive unit relative to said coil to establish a value of inductance of said coil; andwherein the magnetostrictive elements of respective probes are operative to establish a plurality of values of inductance for the energizing coil corresponding to separate values of desired vibration frequencies for respective ones of said plurality of probes, thereby to adjust the frequency of oscillation of the oscillator for each of the respective probes.