Tunable mechanical resonator for high-precision cutting of biological tissue

1 . An apparatus for cutting tissue, comprising:

(a) an oscillator assembly defining a resonance frequency, wherein the oscillator assembly includes:

(i) a frame having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the lower portion is configured to oscillate relative to the upper portion,

(ii) an excitation element coupled with the lower portion of the frame, wherein the excitation element is selectively operable to provide an excitation signal to the oscillator assembly sufficient to cause the oscillator assembly to oscillate at the resonance frequency, and

(iii) a blade coupled with the lower portion of the frame, wherein the blade is sized for sectioning tissue; and

(b) a clamp configured to couple with the frame at one of a plurality of positions on the frame between the upper portion and the lower portion, the clamp including opposed slots respectively receiving a pair of legs of the frame and opposed pinching surfaces actuated along a common plane perpendicular to the legs to affix the clamp at identical positions on each leg; wherein vertical movement of the clamp between the upper portion and the lower portion changes an effective oscillation arm length of the frame and thereby alters the resonance frequency of the oscillator assembly.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the excitation element includes a magnet, wherein the magnet is selectively operable to provide the excitation signal to the oscillator assembly.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising:

(a) a conductive coil positioned adjacent to the magnet; and

(b) a power source configured to provide an alternating electric power signal through the conductive coil, wherein the magnet is selectively operable to provide the excitation signal when the power source provides the alternating electric power signal through the conductive coil.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the frame of the oscillator assembly includes:

(a) top and bottom surfaces; and

(b) the pair of legs each coupled with the top and bottom surfaces, wherein the top and bottom surfaces and the pair of legs define a rectangular shape having an open center.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the frame is formed as a unibody machined structure having a rectangular shape with an open center.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a blade holder coupled with the lower portion of the frame, wherein the blade holder is configured to receive the blade.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the blade holder defines an upper surface configured to couple with the lower portion of the frame and a lower surface configured to couple with the blade, wherein the upper surface of the blade holder defines one or more slots, the apparatus further comprising:

a plurality of fasteners each configured to couple the lower portion of the frame with the upper surface of the blade holder, wherein each of the plurality of fasteners is shaped to insert into at least one of the one or more slots.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of fasteners is selectively operable to translate along at least one of the one or more slots to adjust an orientation of the blade holder relative to the frame.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

(a) a camera positioned adjacent the blade and configured to capture a static orientation of the blade and an oscillation pattern of the blade; and

(b) a processor communicatively coupled with the camera, wherein the processor is configured to compare the static orientation of the blade with the oscillation pattern of the blade and generate a display image indicative of the comparison.

10 . An apparatus for cutting tissue, comprising:

(a) an oscillator assembly defining a resonance frequency, wherein the oscillator assembly includes:

(i) a frame having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the lower portion is configured to oscillate relative to the upper portion, wherein the frame includes:

(A) a top and bottom surface, and

(B) a pair of legs each coupled with the top and bottom surfaces, wherein the top and bottom surfaces and the pair of legs define a rectangular shape having an open center;

(ii) an excitation element coupled with the lower portion of the frame, wherein the excitation element is selectively operable to provide an excitation signal to the oscillator assembly sufficient to cause the oscillator assembly to oscillate at the resonance frequency; and

(b) a clamp configured to couple with each of the pair of legs of the frame, the clamp including opposed slots respectively receiving the pair of legs of the frame, the clamp defining opposed pinching surfaces actuated along a common plane perpendicular to the pair of legs to selectively affix the clamp to the pair of legs at identical positions on each leg; wherein the clamp includes threaded pins configured to translate moveable members that define the opposed pinching surfaces, and wherein the clamp is selectively moveable between the upper portion and the lower portion to change an effective oscillation arm length of the frame and thereby alter the resonance frequency of the oscillator assembly.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the clamp is removable to permit the full length of the oscillator frame to oscillate at its lowest possible resonant frequency.

12 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the excitation element includes a magnet, wherein the magnet is selectively operable to provide the excitation signal to the oscillator assembly.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising:

(a) a conductive coil positioned adjacent to the magnet; and

(b) a power source configured to provide an alternating electric power signal through the conductive coil, wherein the magnet is selectively operable to provide the excitation signal when the power source provides the alternating electric power signal through the conductive coil.

14 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a blade holder coupled with the lower portion of the frame, wherein the blade holder is configured to receive the blade.

15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the blade holder defines an upper surface configured to couple with the lower portion of the frame and a lower surface configured to couple with the blade, wherein the upper surface of the blade holder defines one or more slots, the apparatus further comprising:

a plurality of fasteners each configured to couple the lower portion of the frame with the upper surface of the blade holder, wherein each of the plurality of fasteners is shaped to insert into at least one of the one or more slots.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of fasteners is selectively operable to translate along at least one of the one or more slots to adjust an orientation of the blade holder relative to the frame.