Importance

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Abstract

The useful life of the wire probe in an ultrasonic kidney stone disintegration instrument is enhanced and prolonged by attaching the wire (24) of the wire probe to the tip (26) of an ultrasonic transducer (28) by means of a clamping arrangement comprising opposing set screws (60, 65), one (60) of which is adapted to accept the clamping load from the other set screw (65) without deforming the wire by machining a pair of mutually transverse grooves (64) in the inner end face (62) of the screw (60) which is adapted to accept and hold the wire probe along the central longitudinal axis (52) of the transducer tip which is adapted to impart ultrasonic energy to the wire. Additionally, damping material is applied to the wire probe (24) in the form of a damper tube (70) through which the wire probe passes in the region adjacent the transducer tip. The damper tube extends outwardly from the transducer tip (26) a predetermined distance, terminating in a resilient soft rubber joint (72). Also, the damper tube is supported intermediate its length by a support member (82). The damper system thus provided acts to inhibit lateral vibrations of the wire in the region of the transducer tip (26) while providing little or no damping to the linear vibrations imparted to the wire (24) by the transducer (28).

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First Claim