Patent ID: 7494468

Claim:
An ultrasonic device comprising: a flexible probe coupled to a horn, the flexible probe having a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis therebetween, the flexible probe comprising first and second transformer sections configured to amplify an amplitude of longitudinal vibration when longitudinal vibration is applied to the transformer sections by the horn, the first transformer section having a first diameter and the second transformer section having a second diameter, the first diameter differing from the second diameter, wherein a portion of the flexible probe extending distally from the transformer sections has a degree of stiffness which allows the portion of the flexible probe extending distally from the transformer sections to support a transverse ultrasonic vibration when longitudinal vibration is applied by the transformer sections to the portion of the flexible probe extending distally from the transformer sections, and a length and a cross section of the portion of the flexible probe extending distally from the transformer sections are sized to support the transverse ultrasonic vibration with a plurality of transverse nodes and transverse anti-nodes along the length of the portion of the flexible probe extending distally from the transformer sections.