An ultrasonic system for atherectomy procedures, the system comprising: an ultrasound signal generator configured to generate an ultrasound electrical signal; an ultrasonic treatment device electrically coupled the ultrasound signal generator, the ultrasonic treatment device having an ultrasonic transducer drivably coupled to an ultrasonic vibration transmission member of an ultrasonic catheter, the ultrasonic transducer receiving the ultrasound electrical signal to generate an ultrasonic vibratory motion of the ultrasonic vibration transmission member; circuitry (16, 18) configured to monitor an electrical characteristic associated with the ultrasonic transducer, the electrical characteristic being one of a total voltage across the ultrasonic transducer, a total current to the ultrasonic transducer, an induced current of the ultrasonic transducer, or a Power Factor between the total voltage and the total current, the circuitry (16, 18) including a processor circuit configured to process the monitored electrical characteristic to determine at least one of a type of material encountered by a distal end of the ultrasonic vibration transmission member and a type of vascular pathway that the ultrasonic catheter is traversing, the circuitry (16, 18) configured to generate a control signal that is supplied to the ultrasound signal generator to automatically control at least one of a modulation frequency and a waveform of the ultrasound electrical signal based on the determined at least one of the type material encountered by the distal end of the ultrasonic vibration transmission member and the type of vascular pathway that the ultrasonic catheter is traversing. an ultrasound signal generator configured to generate an ultrasound electrical signal; an ultrasonic treatment device electrically coupled the ultrasound signal generator, the ultrasonic treatment device having an ultrasonic transducer drivably coupled to an ultrasonic vibration transmission member of an ultrasonic catheter, the ultrasonic transducer receiving the ultrasound electrical signal to generate an ultrasonic vibratory motion of the ultrasonic vibration transmission member; circuitry (16, 18) configured to monitor an electrical characteristic associated with the ultrasonic transducer, the electrical characteristic being one of a total voltage across the ultrasonic transducer, a total current to the ultrasonic transducer, an induced current of the ultrasonic transducer, or a Power Factor between the total voltage and the total current, the circuitry (16, 18) including a processor circuit configured to process the monitored electrical characteristic to determine at least one of a type of material encountered by a distal end of the ultrasonic vibration transmission member and a type of vascular pathway that the ultrasonic catheter is traversing, the circuitry (16, 18) configured to generate a control signal that is supplied to the ultrasound signal generator to automatically control at least one of a modulation frequency and a waveform of the ultrasound electrical signal based on the determined at least one of the type material encountered by the distal end of the ultrasonic vibration transmission member and the type of vascular pathway that the ultrasonic catheter is traversing.