Ultrasonic surgical aspirator with vacuum control

Claim 2

An ultrasonic surgical aspirator comprising a vacuum source and a handpiece, the handpiece comprising: an aspiration tip with an aspiration aperture for communicating with the vacuum source; an ultrasonic transducer for generating ultrasonic vibrations; means for transmitting the ultrasonic vibrations to the aspiration tip; and control means for varying the vacuum pressure at the aspiration aperture.

Claim 3

An aspirator according to claim 1, comprising: an irrigant pump for supplying irrigant fluid to the handpiece; and in which the handpiece comprises an irrigant outlet aperture for communicating with the irrigant pump.

Claim 4

An aspirator according to claim 2, comprising means for supplying a pulsed flow of irrigant fluid to the irrigant outlet aperture.

Claim 5

An aspirator according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the control means comprises means for restricting a path of fluid flow between the aspiration aperture and the vacuum source, so as to vary the vacuum pressure at the aspiration aperture.

Claim 6

An aspirator according to claim 4, in which the handpiece is connected to the vacuum source by a flexible aspiration hose, and in which the control means comprises means for crimping the aspiration hose to restrict a path of fluid flow between the aspiration aperture and the vacuum source.

Claim 7

An aspirator according to claim 5, in which the crimping means comprises a roller movable with respect to the aspiration hose between a crimping position and a non-crimping position.

Claim 8

An aspirator according to claim 6, in which the handpiece comprises means for latching the roller in the crimping position. 17

Claim 9

An aspirator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the control means comprises means for bleeding air to the vacuum source.

Claim 10

An aspirator according to claim 8, in which the handpiece comprises a bleed aperture which, in use, can be partly or fully closed by covering with a finger or can be opened to bleed air to the vacuum source.

Claim 11

An aspirator according to claim 9, in which the handpiece comprises a plurality of spaced bleed apertures.

Claim 12

An aspirator according to claim 9, in which the bleed aperture is elongate in shape.

Claim 13

An aspirator according to claim 8, in which the control means comprises a bleed tube attached to the handpiece, the bleed tube comprising: first aperture for communicating with the vacuum source; second aperture connected to the handpiece for communicating with the aspiration aperture in the handpiece; and a branching tube which, in use, overlies, a gripping portion of the handpiece, the branching tube comprising a bleed aperture which, in use, can be partly or fully closed by covering with a finger or can be opened to bleed air to the vacuum source.

Claim 14

An aspirator according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the transmitting means is housed in an elongate prism-shaped shroud.

Claim 15

An aspirator according to claim 13, in which the handpiece is connectable to an electrocautery signal generator, the aspiration tip forming an electrocautery electrode when the handpiece is connected to the electrocautery signal generator.

Claim 16

A handpiece for use in an ultrasonic surgical aspirator, the handpiece comprising: an aspiration tip having an aspiration aperture for communicating 18 with a vacuum source; an ultrasonic transducer for generating ultrasonic vibrations; means for transmitting the ultrasonic vibrations to the aspiration tip; and control means for varying the vacuum pressure at the aspiration aperture.

Claim 17

A handpiece for use in an ultrasonic surgical aspirator, the handpiece comprising: an aspiration tip having an aspiration aperture for communicating 18 with a vacuum source; an ultrasonic transducer for generating ultrasonic vibrations; means for transmitting the ultrasonic vibrations to the aspiration tip; and control means for varying the vacuum pressure at the aspiration aperture.

Claim 18

A bleed tube for attachment to an ultrasonic surgical aspirator handpiece, the bleed tube comprising: a first aperture for communicating with a vacuum source; a second aperture for connecting to the handpiece for communicating with an aspiration aperture in the handpiece; and a branching tube which, in use, overlies a gripping portion of the handpiece, the branching tube comprising a bleed aperture which, in use, can be partly or fully closed by covering with a finger or can be opened to bleed air to the vacuum source.

Claim 19

A bleed tube for attachment to an ultrasonic surgical aspirator handpiece, the bleed tube comprising: a first aperture for communicating with a vacuum source; a second aperture for connecting to the handpiece for communicating with an aspiration aperture in the handpiece; and a branching tube which, in use, overlies a gripping portion of the handpiece, the branching tube comprising a bleed aperture which, in use, can be partly or fully closed by covering with a finger or can be opened to bleed air to the vacuum source.

Claim 20

An ultrasonic surgical aspirator comprising: a vacuum source; a handpiece comprising an aspiration tip with an aspiration aperture for communicating with the vacuum source; an ultrasonic transducer for generating ultrasonic vibrations; and means for transmitting the ultrasonic vibrations to the aspiration tip; one or more valves for selectively connecting the handpiece to the vacuum source or to an atmospheric air bleed; and a foot-switch for controlling the one or more valves and the ultrasonic transducer, whereby depression of the foot-switch controls the one or more valves to connect the handpiece to the vacuum source to provide a vacuum at the aspiration aperture and controls the ultrasonic transducer to generate ultrasonic vibrations.

Claim 21

An ultrasonic surgical aspirator comprising: a vacuum source; a handpiece comprising an aspiration tip with an aspiration aperture for communicating with the vacuum source; an ultrasonic transducer for generating ultrasonic vibrations; and means for transmitting the ultrasonic vibrations to the aspiration tip; one or more valves for selectively connecting the handpiece to the vacuum source or to an atmospheric air bleed; and a foot-switch for controlling the one or more valves and the ultrasonic transducer, whereby depression of the foot-switch controls the one or more valves to connect the handpiece to the vacuum source to provide a vacuum at the aspiration aperture and controls the ultrasonic transducer to generate ultrasonic vibrations.

Claim 22

A handpiece for use in an ultrasonic surgical aspirator, the handpiece comprising: an aspiration tip having an aspiration aperture for communicating with a vacuum source; an ultrasonic transducer for generating ultrasonic vibrations; and 19 means for transmitting the ultrasonic vibrations to the aspiration tip, the transmitting means being housed in an elongate prism-shaped shroud.

Claim 23

A handpiece for use in an ultrasonic surgical aspirator, the handpiece comprising: an aspiration tip having an aspiration aperture for communicating with a vacuum source; an ultrasonic transducer for generating ultrasonic vibrations; and 19 means for transmitting the ultrasonic vibrations to the aspiration tip, the transmitting means being housed in an elongate prism-shaped shroud.

Claim 24

A handpiece according to claim 18, the handpiece being connectable to an electrocautery signal generator, the aspiration tip forming an electrocautery electrode when the handpiece is connected to the electrocautery signal generator. 10

Claim 25

An ultrasonic surgical aspirator substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Claim 26

An ultrasonic surgical aspirator substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Claim 27

An ultrasonic surgical aspirator handpiece substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 15

Claim 28

An ultrasonic surgical aspirator handpiece substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 15

Claim 29

A bleed tube for attachment to an ultrasonic surgical aspirator handpiece, the bleed tube being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Claim 30

A bleed tube for attachment to an ultrasonic surgical aspirator handpiece, the bleed tube being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.