Claims
- 1. A device for removal of fatty tissue, comprising:
- a handpiece;
- a probe attached to said handpiece, said probe being constructed of ultrasonically conductive material for delivering ultrasonic energy to surrounding tissue along the outer surface of said probe;
- an ultrasonic means acoustically connected to said probe for imparting ultrasonic vibrations to said probe; and
- a damping body externally mounted on a distal portion of said outer surface of said probe, the proximal portion of the probe being exposed for tissue contact, said external damping body being exposed for contact with surrounding tissue in an area of the probe where application of ultrasonic energy to surrounding tissue is not desired, said damping body having an acoustic impedance substantially greater than said probe, to effect the damping of longitudinal vibrations of ultrasonic energy in said portion of said outer surface of said probe.
- 2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
- said probe is constructed from a first material having a first acoustic impedance; and
- said damping body is constructed from a second material having a second acoustic impedance, said second acoustic impedance being greater than said first acoustic impedance.
- 3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein:
- said first material is a metal; and
- said second material is a plastic.
- 4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein:
- said metal is titanium; and
- said plastic is polytetrafluorethylene.
- 5. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said probe is solid.
- 6. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said probe is hollow.
- 7. A device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising an opening in said probe for aspiration of said fatty tissue.
- 8. A device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising an opening in said damping body for aspiration of said fatty tissue.
- 9. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a jacket partially covering said damping body, said jacket being acoustically connected to said ultrasonic means, said jacket having an acoustic impedance approximately matching said acoustic impedance of said probe.
- 10. A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said acoustical connection between said ultrasonic means and said jacket is achieved by means of said probe.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This is a continuation patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/310,846, filed on Sep. 22, 1994, and entitled "Multipiece Ultrasonic Probe for Liposuction" now U.S. Pat. No. 5,514,086.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
310846 |
Sep 1994 |
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