US007651490B2

(12) Ulllted States Patent (10) Patent N0.: US 7,651,490 B2

Boukhny et al. (45) Date of Patent: Jan. 26, 2010

(54) ULTRASONIC HANDPIECE 4,024,866 A 5/1977 Wallach

4,114,623 A 9/1978 Meinke et al.
(75) Inventors: Mikhail Boukhny, Laguna Niguel, CA 4,126,137 A 11/ 1978 Archibald
(US); James Y. Chon, Irvine, CA (US) 4,156,187 A 5/1979 Murry et a1~
4,168,707 A 9/1979 Douvas et al.
(73) Assignee: Alcon, Inc., Hunenberg (CH) 4,184,510 A V1980 Murry et 81
4,223,676 A 9/1980 Wuchinich
(*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this 4,246,902 A V1981 MartineZ
patent is extended or adjusted under 35 4,248,232 A 2/1981 Engelbrecht et a1~
U_S_C_ 154(1)) by 704 days_ 4,406,284 A 9/1983 Banko

(21) Appl. No.: 10/916,675 (Continued)

(22) Filed: Aug. 12, 2004 FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
(65) Prior Publication Data EP 359217 3/1990
US 2006/0036180 A1 Feb. 16, 2006 .
(Cont1nued)
(51) Int- 0- OTHER PUBLICATIONS
A61B 17/00 (2006.01)
A61B 17/32 (200601) Shuyu, Lin. “Sandwiched Piezoelectric Ultrasonic Transducers of
(52) U_s_ CL 606/1. 606/166. 606/169 Longitudinal-Torsional CompoundVibrationalModes.”IEEE Trans
58 F, M f ~~~~ h ’ ’606/128 actions of Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control, Nov.
( ) 1e 0 assl ca 1011 earc ............... .. , 1997,1313‘ 11894197‘
606/159, 169, 170, 171, 180; 600/437, 439,
600/471; 604/22 (Continued)
S l' t' ?l f l t h h' t .
ee app lea Ion e or Comp e e Seam 15 Dry Primary Examineri?ackie) Tan-Uyen T Ho
(56) References Cited Assistant ExamineriDianne Dornbusch
(74) Attorney, Agent, or FirmiKenneth D. Bassinger
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
3,526,219 A 9/1970 Balamuth (57) ABSTRACT
3,589,363 A 6/1971 Banko
3,601,126 A 8/1971 Estes et a1. A handpiece having a single set of piezoelectric elements
3,693,613 A 9/1972 Kelman polarized to produce longitudinal motion When excited at the
3,812,855 A 5/1974 Banko relevant resonant frequency. The piezoelectric crystals are
3,812,858 A 5/1974 Oringer connected to an ultrasonic horn to Which a cutting tip is
3,857,387 A 12/1974 Shock attached. The horn and/ or the cutting tip contains a plurality
3,902,495 A 9/1975 Weiss et a1.
of diagonal slits or grooves. The slits or grooves produce
3,930,505 A 1/1976 Wallach
3,942,519 A 3/1976 Shock
optimized torsional movement in the cutting tip When the
3,952,732 A 4/1976 Shock piezoelectric crystals are excited at a second resonant fre
3,956,826 A 5/1976 Perdreaux, Jr. quency. Preferably, the tWo drive frequencies are not coinci
3,964,487 A 6/1976 Judson dent, but provided in non-overlapping pulses.
3,990,452 A 11/1976 Murryet a1.
4,024,467 A 5/1977 Andrews et a1. 20 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets
 US 7,651,490 B2
Page 2

US. PATENT DOCUMENTS 5,676,649 A 10/1997 Boukhny et a1.

5,700,240 A 12/1997 BarWick, Jr. et a1.
4417578 A 11/1983 Banko 5,722,945 A 3/1998 Anisetal.
4,493,694 A 1/1985 Wuchinich 5,733,256 A 3/199g Costin
4,496,342 A V1985 Banko 5,766,146 A 6/1998 BarWick, Jr.
4,504,264 A 3/1985 Kelman 5,808,396 A 9/1998 Boukhny
4,508,532 A 4/1985 DreWsetal. 5,865,790 A 2/1999 Bair
4,515,583 A 5/1985 Sorich 6,027,515 A 2/2000 Cimino
4,589,415 A 5/1986 H9989 6,028,387 A 2/2000 Boukhny
4,590,935 A 5/1986 R?nalli 6,077,285 A * 6/2000 Boukhny .................. .. 606/169
4,609,368 A 9/1986 Dotson/J1 6,083,193 A 7/2000 Kadziauskasetal.
4,651,280 A 3/1987 (3112938991- 6,175,180 B1 1/2001 Angelini et a1.
4,658,819 A 4/1987 Hams er a1~ 6,179,808 B1 1/2001 Boukhnyetal.
4,705,500 A 11/1987 Reimels et a1. 6,193,683 B1 2/2001 Ludin et all‘
4,712,544 A 12/1987 Ensslin 6,261,283 B1 7/2001 Morgan et a1.
4739759 A 4/1988 ReXroth eta1~ 6,261,297 B1 7/2001 Kadziauskasetal.
4,750,488 A 6/1988 Wuchinich et al. 6,283,974 B1 9/2001 Alexander
4770654 A 9/1988 Rogers 9H11~ 6,315,755 B1 11/2001 Sussman
4,793,346 A 12/1988 Mindich 6,402,769 B1 6/2002 Boukhny
4,827,911 A 5/1989 BroadWin et a1. 6,629,948 B2 l0/2003 Rockley
4,869,715 A 9/1989 Sherburne 6,699,212 B1 3/2004 Kadziauskas
4,922,902 A 5/1990 Wuchinich eta1~ 6,780,165 B2 8/2004 Kadziauskasetal.
4,961,424 A 10/1990 Kubota et al. 7,374,552 B2 5/2008 Wuchinich
4,969,885 A 11/1990 Farin 2001/0001123 A1 5/2001 Madan et al.
4989583 A 2/1991 Hood 2001/0011176 A1* 8/2001 Boukhny .................. .. 606/169
4989588 A 2/1991 Kubota eta1~ 2003/0045887 A1* 3/2003 Sakurai et a1. ............ .. 606/128
5,026,387 A 6/1991 Thomas 2004/0092800 A1 5/2004 MacKool
5,116,343 A 5/1992 Ams et a1. ................ .. 606/128 2004/0092922 A1 5/2004 Kadziauskas et 31‘
5,139,509 A 8/1992 Fischeretal 2006/0041200 A1 2/2006 Dotteretal.
5,151,085 A 9/1992 Sakurai et a1.
5,154,694 A 10/ 1992 Kelman FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
5,154,696 A 10/1992 Shearing
5,160,317 A 11/1992 Costin JP 09009656 10/1997
5,180,363 A 1/1993 Idemoto etal. JP 2003033364 ‘"2003
5,188,102 A 2/1993 Idemoto etal. W0 8705793 10/1987
5,205,817 A 4/1993 Idemoto etal. W0 WO 92/07622 5/1992
5,222,959 A 6/1993 Ams W0 WO 99/45868 9/1999
5,242,385 A 9/1993 Strukel W0 Wool/41672 6/2001
5,279,547 A M994 Costin W0 W0 2004/080505 9/2004
5,304,115 A 4/1994 P?ueger etal.
5,342,293 A 8/1994 Zanger OTHER PUBLICATIONS
5,359,996 A 11/1994 Hood Jiromaru Tsujino, “Ultrasonic Motor Using A One-Dimensional
5,431,664 A 7/1995 Ureche et a1~ Longitudinal-Torsional Vibration Converter With Diagonal Slits”,
5,520,633 A 5/1996 C9stin Smart Mater. Struct.7(1998) 345-351.
5,569,188 A 10/1996 Mackool
5,591,127 A 1/1997 BarWick, Jr. et a1. * cited by examiner
US. Patent Jan. 26, 2010 Sheet 1 012 US 7,651,490 B2
US. Patent Jan. 26, 2010 Sheet 2 of2 US 7,651,490 B2

83 0 2
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 US 7,651,490 B2
1 2
ULTRASONIC HANDPIECE and 6,402,769 (Boukhny), one of the inventors of the current
invention, describes a handpiece having tWo pairs of piezo
This invention relates to ultrasonic devices and more par electric crystals are used. One pair is polarized to product
ticularly to devices for tuning and controlling an ophthalmic longitudinal motion. The other pair is polarized to produce
phacoemulsi?cation handpiece. torsional motion. TWo separate drive signals are used to drive
the tWo pairs of crystals. In actual practice, making a hand
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION piece using tWo pairs of crystals resonate in both longitudinal
and torsional directions is di?icult to achieve. One possible
Atypical ultrasonic surgical device suitable for ophthalmic solution, also described by one of the current inventors, is
procedures consists of an ultrasonically driven handpiece, an described in US. Patent Publication No. US 2001/0011176
attached holloW cutting tip, an irrigating sleeve and an elec A1 (Boukhny). This reference discloses a handpiece have a
tronic control console. The handpiece assembly is attached to single set of piezoelectric crystals that produces longitudinal
the control console by an electric cable and ?exible tubings. motion, and a series of diagonal slits on the handpiece horn or
Through the electric cable, the console varies the poWer level tip that produce torsional motion When the horn or tip is
transmitted by the handpiece to the attached cutting tip and driven at the resonate frequency of the piezoelectric crystals.
the ?exible tubings supply irrigation ?uid to and draW aspi Again, in practice, the resonate frequency of the piezoelectric
ration ?uid from the eye through the handpiece assembly. crystals and the tip or horn did not coincide, so simultaneous
The operative part of the handpiece is a centrally located, longitudinal and torsional motion Was di?icult to achieve.
holloW resonating bar or horn directly attached to a set of Accordingly, a need continues to exist for a reliable ultra
piezoelectric crystals. The crystals supply the required ultra 20 sonic handpiece that Will vibrate both longitudinally and tor
sonic vibration needed to drive both the horn and the attached sionally, either simultaneously or separately.
cutting tip during phacoemulsi?cation and are controlled by
the console. The crystal/horn assembly is suspended Within BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
the holloW body or shell of the handpiece at its nodal points by
relatively in?exible mountings. The handpiece body termi 25 The present invention improves upon prior art ultrasonic
nates in a reduced diameter portion or nosecone at the body’ s handpieces by providing a handpiece having a single set of
distal end. The nosecone is externally threaded to accept the piezoelectric elements polarized to produce longitudinal
irrigation sleeve. Likewise, the horn bore is internally motion When excited at the relevant resonant frequency. The
threaded at its distal end to receive the external threads of the piezoelectric crystals are connected to an ultrasonic horn to
cutting tip. The irrigation sleeve also has an internally 30 Which a cutting tip is attached. The horn and/ or the cutting tip
threaded bore that is screWed onto the external threads of the contains a plurality of diagonal slits or grooves. The slits or
nosecone. The cutting tip is adjusted so that the tip projects grooves produce optimized torsional movement in the cutting
only a predetermined amount past the open end of the irrigat tip When the piezoelectric crystals are excited at a second
ing sleeve. Ultrasonic handpieces and cutting tips are more resonant frequency. Preferably, the tWo drive frequencies are
fully described inU.S. Pat. Nos. 3,589,363; 4,223,676; 4,246, 35 not coincident, but provided in non-overlapping pulses.
902; 4,493,694; 4,515,583; 4,589,415; 4,609,368; 4,869,715; It is accordingly an object of the present invention to pro
and 4,922,902, the entire contents of Which are incorporated vide an ultrasound handpiece having both longitudinal and
herein by reference. torsional motion.
When used to perform phacoemulsi?cation, the ends of the It is a further object of the present invention to provide an
cutting tip and irrigating sleeve are inserted into a small 40 ultrasound handpiece With a horn having a series of diagonal
incision of predetermined Width in the cornea, sclera, or other slits to produce torsional motion.
location in the eye tissue in order to gain access to the anterior Other objects, features and advantages of the present
chamber of the eye. The cutting tip is ultrasonically vibrated invention Will become apparent With reference to the draW
along its longitudinal axis Within the irrigating sleeve by the ings, and the folloWing description of the draWings and
crystal-driven ultrasonic horn, thereby emulsifying upon con 45 claims.
tact the selected tissue in situ. The holloW bore of the cutting
tip communicates With the bore in the horn that in turn com BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
municates With the aspiration line from the handpiece to the
console. A reduced pressure or vacuum source in the console FIG. 1 is a perspective vieW of the handpiece of the present
draWs or aspirates the emulsi?ed tissue from the eye through 50 invention With the outer case removed.
the open end of the cutting tip, the bore of the cutting tip, the FIG. 2 is a perspective vieW of the ultrasonic horn that may
horn bore, and the aspiration line and into a collection device. be used With the handpiece of the present invention.
The aspiration of emulsi?ed tissue is aided by a saline ?ush FIG. 3 a block diagram of a driving circuit that may be used
ing solution or irrigant that is injected into the surgical site With the present invention.
through the small annular gap betWeen the inside surface of 55
the irrigating sleeve and the outside surface of the cutting tip. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
There have been prior attempts to combine ultrasonic lon
gitudinal motion of the cutting tip With rotational motion of As best seen in FIG. 1 handpiece 10 of the present inven
the tip, see US. Pat. Nos. 5,222,959 (Anis), 5,722,945 (Anis, tion generally comprises ultrasonic horn 12, typically made
et al.) and 4,504,264 (Kelman), the entire contents of Which 60 from a titanium alloy. Horn 12 has a plurality of helical slits,
are incorporated herein by reference. These prior attempts Which Will be discussed beloW. A plurality (typically 1 or 2
have used electric motors to provide the rotation of the tip pairs) of ring-shaped piezoelectric elements 14 are held by
Which require O-ring or other seals that can fail in addition to compression nut 15 against horn 12. Aspiration shaft 16
the added complexity and possible failure of the motors. extends doWn the length of handpiece 10 through horn 12,
There have also been prior attempts to generate both lon 65 piezoelectric elements 14, nut 15 and through plug 18 at the
gitudinal and torsional motion Without the use of electric distal end of handpiece 10. Aspiration tube 16 alloWs material
motors. For example, in US. Pat. Nos. 6,028,387, 6,077,285 to be aspirated through holloW tip 20, Which is attached to
 US 7,651,490 B2
3 4
horn 12, and through and out handpiece 10. Plug 18 seals We claim:
outer shell 11 of handpiece 10 ?uid tight, allowing handpiece 1. An ultrasonic handpiece, comprising:
10 to be autoclaved Without adversely affecting piezoelectric a) a handpiece shell;
elements 14. Addition grooves 22 for sealing O-ring gaskets b) an ultrasonic horn held Within the shell, the horn con
(not shown) are provided on horn 12. taining a plurality of circumferential, diagonal slits siZed
and spaced so as to produce torsional movement in the
As best seen in FIG. 2, horn 12 contains a plurality of spiral
horn in response to a drive signal having a ?rst frequency
slits 24. Preferably, the Width of slits 24 is betWeen 2% and
and longitudinal movement in the horn in response to a
65% of the outside diameter of horn 12. This, of course, Will drive signal having a second frequency; and
affect hoW many slits 24 can be made on horn 12 (e.g., if slits
c) a plurality of pieZoelectric elements;
24 are 65% of the diameter of horn 12, then only one slit 24 Wherein the pieZoelectric elements and the horn are held
may be cut into horn 12). The Width of slits 24 selected Will Within the shell so that a torsional nodal point and a
depend upon the desired amount of torsional movement. The proximal longitudinal nodal point are coincident at a
depth of slits 24 in horn 12 preferably is betWeen 4% and 45% plug that seals the shell on an end of the handpiece
of the outside diameter of horn 12. Slits 24 may have a ?at or 15 opposite a cutting tip.
square cut bottom, but preferably have a rounded or radiused 2. The apparatus of claim 1 Wherein the ?rst drive signal
bottom, Which are easier to manufacture. The length of slits and the second drive signal are alternated and do not overlap.
24 preferably is betWeen 8% and 75% of the length of the 3. An ultrasonic handpiece comprising:
larger diameter of horn 12. The pitch of slits 24 preferably is a handpiece shell;
betWeen 125% and 500% of the larger diameter of horn 12. 20 an ultrasonic horn at least partially located in the shell, the
By Way of example, the inventors have found that one suitable horn having a plurality of slits siZed and spaced so as to
con?guration of slits 24 on horn 12 With an outside diameter produce torsional movement in the horn in response to a
of 0.475 inches is a total of eight slits 24, having a Width of drive signal having a ?rst frequency and longitudinal
0.04 inches, a depth of 0.140 (With a full radius bottom), a movement in the horn in response to a drive signal hav
length of 0.7 inches and a pitch of 1.35 inches gives suitable 25 ing a second frequency;
torsional movement of horn 12 Without compromising the a pieZoelectric element connected to the horn; and
longitudinal movement of horn 12. a plug that seals the shell on an end of the handpiece
opposite a cutting tip;
As best seen in FIG. 1, the location of longitudinal and Wherein a torsional nodal point and a longitudinal nodal
torsional nodal points (the points With Zero velocity of the 30 point are coincident at the plug.
respective mode) is important for proper functioning of hand 4. The handpiece of claim 3 Wherein the plurality of slits
piece 10. The torsional node 26 preferably is located at the are spiral.
proximal longitudinal node 28, so that the torsional node 26 5. The handpiece of claim 3 Wherein the plurality of slits
and the longitudinal node 28 are coincident, e.g., both of are helical.
Which are located on plug 18. Handpiece 10 also contains a 35 6. The handpiece of claim 3 further comprising:
distal longitudinal node 30 located at reduced diameter por an aspiration shaft extending through the horn.
tion 32 of horn 12. 7. The handpiece of claim 6 further comprising:
As best seen in FIG. 3, drive circuit 34 that may be used the cutting tip coupled o the aspiration shaft.
With handpiece 10 of the present invention preferably is simi 8. The handpiece of claim 3 Wherein the horn has an outside
lar to that described in Us. Pat. No. 5,431,664, the entire 40 diameter, and the Width of the plurality of slits is betWeen
contents of Which being incorporated herein by reference, in about 2% and 65% of the outside diameter of the horn.
that drive circuit 34 tracks admittance of handpiece 10 and 9. The handpiece of claim 8 Wherein the depth of the
controls the frequency of handpiece 10 to maintain a constant plurality of slits is betWeen about 4% and 45% of the outside
admittance. HoWever, drive circuit 34 monitors both the tor diameter of the horn.
sional mode and the longitudinal mode and controls these 45 10. The handpiece of claim 3 Wherein the horn has a larger
modes in handpiece 10 using tWo different drive frequencies. diameter, and the plurality of slits are betWeen about 8% and
Preferably, the torsional drive signal is approximately 32 kHZ 75% of the length of the larger diameter of the horn.
and the longitudinal drive signal is 44 kHZ, but these frequen 11. The handpiece of claim 10 Wherein the pitch of the
cies Will change depending upon the pieZoelectric elements plurality of slits is betWeen about 125% and 500% of the
14 used and the siZe and shape of horn 12 an slits 24.Although 50 larger diameter of the horn.
both the longitudinal or the torsional drive signal may be 12. The handpiece of claim 3 further comprising:
supplied in a continuous manner, preferably the longitudinal a drive circuit for driving the handpiece.
drive signal and the torsion drive signal are alternated, so that 13. The handpiece of claim 3 Wherein the ?rst frequency is
the drive signal is provided in a desired pulse at one frequency about 32 kHZ.
and then sWitched to the other frequency for a similar pulse, 55 14. The handpiece of claim 3 Wherein the second frequency
With no overlap betWeen the tWo frequencies, but no gap or is about 44 kHZ.
pause in the drive signal. Altemative, the drive signal can be 15. An ultrasonic handpiece comprising:
operated in a similar manner as described, but short pauses or a handpiece shell;
gaps in the drive signal can be introduced. In addition, the be a plug that seals the shell on an end of the handpiece
amplitude of the drive signal can be modulated and set inde 60 opposite a cutting tip;
pendently for each frequency. an ultrasonic horn at least partially located in the shell and
While certain embodiments of the present invention have coupled to the shell at the plug, the horn having a plu
been described above, these descriptions are given for pur rality of slits siZed and spaced so as to produce torsional
poses of illustration and explanation. Variations, changes, movement in the horn in response to a drive signal hav
modi?cations and departures from the systems and methods 65 ing a ?rst frequency and longitudinal movement in the
disclosed above may be adopted Without departure from the horn in response to a drive signal having a second fre
scope or spirit of the present invention. quency; and
 US 7,651,490 B2
5 6
a piezoelectric element connected to the horn; 19. The handpiece of claim 17 further comprising:
Wherein a torsional nodal point and a longitudinal nodal a drive circuit for driving the pieZoelectric element.
point are coincident at the plug. 20. A phacoemulsi?cation handpiece comprising:
16. The handpiece of claim 15 Wherein the horn is sealed to a handpiece shell con?gured to be held in the hand;
the shell at the plug location. a horn at least partially located in the shell, the horn having
17. A phacoemulsi?cation handpiece comprising: a plurality of slits siZed and spaced so as to produce
a handpiece shell; torsional movement in the horn in response to a drive
a horn at least partially located in the shell and sealed to the signal having a ?rst frequency and longitudinal move
shell at a plug, the horn having a plurality of slits siZed ment in the horn in response to a drive signal having a
and spaced so as to produce torsional movement in the second frequency;
horn in response to a drive signal having a ?rst frequency a holloW tip coupled to the horn, the holloW tip suitable for
and longitudinal movement in the horn in response to a insertion into an eye, the holloW tip con?gured to
drive signal having a second frequency; remove a lens from the eye When the holloW tip is
a tip coupled to the horn, the tip suitable for insertion into vibrated;
an eye, the tip con?gured to remove a lens from the eye an aspiration shaft extending through the horn;
When the tip is vibrated; and a pieZoelectric element coupled to the horn;
a pieZoelectric element coupled to the horn; a drive circuit for driving the pieZoelectric element; and
a plug that seals the shell on an end of the handpiece
Wherein a torsional nodal point and a longitudinal nodal
point are coincident at the plug that seals the shell on an
opposite the holloW tip;
20 Wherein a torsional nodal point and a longitudinal nodal
end of the handpiece opposite the tip. point are coincident at the plug.
18. The handpiece of claim 17 further comprising:
an aspiration shaft extending through the horn. * * * * *
 UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION

PATENT NO. : 7,651,490 B2 Page 1 of 1

APPLICATION NO. : 10/916675
DATED : January 26, 2010
INVENTOR(S) : Boukhny et a1.
It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent is hereby corrected as shown below:

On the Title Page:

The ?rst or sole Notice should read -

Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 15 4(b)
by 963 days.

Signed and Sealed this

Twenty-third Day of November, 2010

David J. Kappos
Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Oj?ce