Patent ID: 8585404

Claim:
A method for adjusting power delivered to use different types of tips in ultrasonic dental inserts in a handpiece having an induction coil disposed about a well and operably connected to an adjustable power supply having an adjustable power output setting ranging from a minimum to a maximum, wherein the different tips comprise at least one power-sensitive tip having a power range, the method comprising: establishing an inventory of insert assemblies each comprising a tip, a velocity transducer and a magnetostrictive element, wherein the inventory comprises a first insert assembly with a high-efficiency magnetostrictive element and a tip that is not power sensitive and a second insert assembly with an efficiency-modulated magnetostrictive element matched with a power-sensitive type tip to maintain the matched power-sensitive type tip within the power range of the matched power-sensitive type tip at the maximum power output setting; wherein the high-efficiency magnetostrictive element is capable of converting 50% or more of an electrical power input to mechanical oscillatory power at a peak resonant frequency, and wherein the efficiency-modulated magnetostrictive element has a power conversion at the peak resonant frequency of less than 50% conversion of the electrical power input to mechanical oscillatory power; selecting one of the first or second insert assemblies from the inventory; inserting the selected assembly in the well; supplying power to the induction coil; and adjusting the power output up to the maximum power output setting.