An ultrasonic catheter drug delivery device comprises an ultrasound transducer to produce ultrasonic waves, which transducer is mechanically attached to a catheter body or chamber. The ultrasonic transducer has a distal tip with a distal radiation surface, and when a therapeutic agent from a fluid source is directed to the catheter body or chamber, the radiation surface creates ultrasonic pressure and delivers liquid and simultaneously ultrasonic energy to a patient's vascularity or a selected body lumen. The method applies therapeutic agent and ultrasonic waves to the vascular area, lung or any body lumen without requiring direct contact between ultrasound transducer and body, dissolves blood clots, and stimulates tissue cells.

A liposuction apparatus and method optionally having a sonic or ultrasonic source with an axial lumen passage in which the shaft can be made to reciprocate (oscillate) in a non-rectilinear fashion. The apparatus may also contain the concomitant use of rectilinear reciprocation motion in addition to ultrasonic motion or energy along the shaft of the apparatus. The advantages of the liposuction apparatus are as follows: 1) non-rectilinear single shaft reciprocating cannula, 2) sonic or ultrasonic energy delivered to the distal tip, 3) rectilinear reciprocating cannula with ultrasonic energy along the shaft from the handle, and 4) any of the above reciprocating components powered by excess unused vacuum capacity in the liposuction aspirator (suction engine) apparatus. There are three (3) primary sources of energy applied to the cannula shaft: the first is the oscillating surgeon's arm motion (approximately 1-2 hertz); the reciprocating motion (of about 100 Hz); and the optional concomitant motion as delivered by the ultrasonic energy (e.g. 25 KHz).

To reduce damage to surrounding tissue while fragmenting some tissue such as for example not damaging the capsular wall while removing the lens during cataract removal surgery or not damaging artery or vein walls during bypass surgery while freeing the artery or vein to be transplanted, an incision is made for the insertion of surface--a handpiece tip. The tip is rotated and reciprocated ultrasonically at the same time so that tissue is fragmented by the combined motion of a fragmenting surface perpendicular to the surface and at an angle to the surface many times during a single revolution or part of a revolution.

A method and apparatus for transurethral resection of the prostate, which includes inserting a transurethral incisional device through the patient's urethra, incising off at least one piece of targeted prostatic tissue using the incisional device, inserting a morcellation probe through the patient's urethra, morcellating the excised piece of targeted prostatic tissue with the morcellation probe, and aspirating the morcellated prostatic tissue through the morcellation probe and out of the patient. The morcellation probe of the present invention includes an elongated inner probe tube that defines an aspiration channel therein and an aperture with opposing cutting edges formed adjacent to its distal end. The inner probe tube is slidably disposed inside an outer probe tube, and moves relative thereto in a longitudinal reciprocating manner. The outer probe tube has an open distal end and another aperture with opposing cutting edges. During each reciprocating movement cycle, the apertures pass each other twice, and the inner probe tube aperture passes beyond the outer probe tube's open distal end once, where two cutting actions occur between the apertures' cutting edges when they pass each other, and a third cutting action occurs when a cutting edge of the inner probe tube aperture passes the outer probe tube's distal end. Target tissue that is cut by the cutting actions is then aspirated out of the patient's body through the aspiration channel.

A system for removing the lens from an eye of a mammal, including a lens-removal device having a probe for penetrating the lens capsule. The probe includes a sheath that shields a rotating impeller at all times, with the impeller being pneumatically actuated to advance to a lens removal position within the sheath. The impeller is pneumatically rotated using a turbine mechanism within a handle for the probe. Irrigation and aspiration are provided to facilitate removal of the lens tissue. The turbine is driven with pulsed air to prevent stiction. A purge/protection cap helps remove air bubbles from the system prior to use and protects the delicate impeller during transport. An operating system is also provided with a foot pedal actuator.