Ultrasonic instrument using langevin type transducers to create transverse motion

Abstract

A Langevin transducer horn uses split electroding or selective electroding of transducer elements and phase relationships of the voltages applied thereto to determine the relative longitudinal and flexural/transverse motion induced in the tip of the horn.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method for creating longitudinal movement and transverse movement in an ultrasonic handpiece, the method comprising:
 selecting a handpiece having a horn with a piezoelectric transducer element disposed thereabout; and   applying a voltage waveform to a first section of the transducer element without applying the same voltage waveform to a second section of the transducer element so as to cause uneven expansion between the sections of the transducer element to thereby create flexural movement in the horn.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the transducer element comprises a first portion and a second portion which are electrically insulated from one another, and wherein the method comprises applying voltage waveforms having different phases to the first and second portions to create uneven expansion and/or contraction within the transducer element. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the first portion comprises a first half of the transducer element and the second portion comprises a second half of the transducer element. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the transducer element comprises a first portion having electrodes thereon for applying a voltage to the first portion and a second portion without electrodes thereon. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the method comprises applying a first voltage waveform to the first section and a second voltage waveform to the second section and varying the phase angle between the first and second voltage waveforms. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the method comprises applying a first voltage waveform having a first magnitude to the first portion and applying a second voltage waveform having a second magnitude different from the first magnitude to the second portion.