Ultrasonic instrumentation for the removal of unwanted tissue material from an animal, such as a human, and more particularly, adapted for the removal of cataracts, in surgical operations. The ultrasonic instrumentation includes a hand-held instrument adapted to have a vibrating tool to reduce the volume of the cataract and thereafter, through the simultaneous introduction of a fluid and creating a flow, the cataract mass exits through the incision around the vibrating tool until all of the unwanted tissue forming the cataract is removed. The cataract may be removed substantially intact or by forming a plurality of masses.
An apparatus and method useful for the removal of a mass of tissue from an animal which includes an elongated instrument, such as a needle, with a sheath device having a sleeve for treatment fluid delivery at the area of operation. The needle can be vibrated at ultrasonic frequency, preferably in the lateral direction, and treatment fluid, along with reduced pieces of tissue mass, can be removed from the area of treatment by means of aspiration through a conduit in the needle.
A microstructure suitable for use as a surgical instrument. The microstructure includes a silicon substrate having body and horn portions. The horn portion may include a blade with a forward edge. A piezoelectric actuator may be mechanically coupled to the body portion.
A method of operating an ultrasonic handpiece by pulsing the power supplied to the handpiece and varying the amplitude of the power during the power pulse.
