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US006730075B2
(12) United States Patent ao) Patent No.: us 6,730,075 B2
Palanker et al. (45) Date of Patent: May 4,2004
* cited by examiner
Primary Examiner—Lee Cohen
Assistant Examiner—Henry M. Johnson, III
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Lumen Intellectual
Property Services, Inc.
(57) ABSTRACT
The present invention provides a surgical probe having a tip for use in liquid media, wherein the tip has a concave body portion and a distal portion. The concave body portion of the tip is positioned immediately adjacent the distal portion such that the liquid jet resulting from the collapse of the cavitation bubble can be substantially reduced. Also disclosed is a surgical probe having a tip and an obstacle for use in liquid media, wherein the tip has a body portion and a distal portion. The obstacle is mounted on the outside of the probe such that the liquid jet resulting from the collapse of the cavitation bubble can be substantially reduced. The obstacle can also be a pick positioned on one side of the probe and in front of the probe.
28 Claims, 15 Drawing Sheets
