Internal ultrasonic tip amplifier

Claim 1

An ultrasonic energy propagation assembly comprising: waveguide means for guiding and transmitting ultrasonic energy having velocity; ultrasonic energy means coupled to the waveguide means for producing ultrasonic energy and propagating said ultrasonic energy along the waveguide means; and amplification means coupled to the waveguide means for receiving ultrasonic energy from said waveguide means and amplifying the velocity of said ultrasonic energy, said amplification means having a length and including a proximal portion and a hollow distal portion which terminates in an inwardly-tapering distal end, wherein a first cross section of the amplification means taken through the hollow distal portion orthogonal to the length defines a cross-sectional area which is less than a cross-sectional area defined by a second orthogonal cross section taken through the proximal portion of said amplification means, wherein the hollow distal portion defines an enclosure having a distal end, and wherein the amplification means further comprises a distal end wall which defines said distal end of the enclosure and which is substantially uniform in thickness.