Ultrasonic surgical instruments

1. A surgical instrument for the treatment of tissue, comprising:

a transducer configured to produce vibrations at a predetermined frequency;

an ultrasonic blade extending along a longitudinal axis coupled to the transducer, wherein the ultrasonic blade comprises:

a substantially solid, substantially cylindrical blade body without a channel and having a first length, wherein the substantially solid, substantially cylindrical blade body comprises a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is movable relative to the longitudinal axis by the vibrations produced by the transducer;

a treatment region extending from the proximal end to the distal end; and

a tapered inner concave surface forming a conical shape formed at the distal end extending inwardly into the substantially solid, substantially cylindrical blade body substantially along the longitudinal axis, wherein the conical shape comprises an apex within the substantially solid, substantially cylindrical blade body, wherein the tapered inner concave surface terminates at or before the apex of the conical shape, wherein the tapered inner concave surface comprises a second length between the distal end and the apex, wherein the first length is at least three times the second length such that vibrations produced along the substantially solid, substantially cylindrical blade body are substantially uniform to provide substantially even distribution of energy to the tissue, and wherein the tapered inner concave surface is configured to cause fluid droplets to converge along the longitudinal axis when the fluid droplets collide with the tapered inner concave surface to enhance visibility of a surgical site by reducing a mist plume produced by fluids contacting a surface of the energized ultrasonic blade during ultrasonic surgical procedures.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic blade further comprises:

a first edge; and

a substantially circular cross-section.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein the first edge forms a base of the tapered inner concave surface.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 2 , wherein the treatment region comprises at least one coagulating edge.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the tapered inner concave surface is asymmetric.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the tapered inner concave surface is substantially concave and comprises a convex portion.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the tapered inner concave surface terminates at the apex within the substantially solid, substantially cylindrical blade body.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the tapered inner concave surface terminates prior to reaching the apex within the substantially solid, substantially cylindrical blade body.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the treatment region comprises at least one cutting edge.

10. An ultrasonic surgical blade for the treatment of tissue, comprising:

a substantially solid, substantially cylindrical blade body defining a longitudinal axis, the substantially solid, substantially cylindrical blade body without a channel and having a first length, wherein the substantially solid, substantially cylindrical blade body comprises a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end is movable relative to the longitudinal axis by the vibrations produced by a transducer;

a treatment region extending from the proximal end to the distal end; and

a tapered inner concave surface forming a conical shape formed at the distal end extending inwardly into the substantially solid, substantially cylindrical blade body substantially along the longitudinal axis, wherein the conical shape comprises an apex within the substantially solid, substantially cylindrical blade body, wherein the tapered inner concave surface terminates at or before the apex of the conical shape, wherein the tapered inner concave surface comprises a second length between the distal end and the apex, wherein the first length is at least three times the second length such that vibrations produced along the substantially solid, substantially cylindrical blade body are substantially uniform to provide substantially even distribution of energy to the tissue, and wherein the tapered inner concave surface is configured to cause fluid droplets to converge along the longitudinal axis when the fluid droplets collide with the tapered inner concave surface to enhance visibility of a surgical site by reducing a mist plume produced by fluids contacting a surface of the energized ultrasonic blade during ultrasonic surgical procedures.

11. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 10 , wherein the ultrasonic blade further comprises:

a first edge; and

a substantially circular cross-section.

12. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 11 , wherein the first edge forms a base of the tapered inner concave surface.

13. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 11 , wherein the treatment region comprises at least one coagulating edge.

14. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 10 , wherein the tapered inner concave surface is asymmetric.

15. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 10 , wherein the tapered inner concave surface is substantially concave and comprises a convex portion.

16. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 10 , wherein the tapered inner concave surface terminates at the apex within the substantially solid, substantially cylindrical blade body.

17. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 10 , wherein the tapered inner concave surface terminates prior to reaching the apex within the substantially solid, substantially cylindrical blade body.

18. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 17 , wherein the tapered inner concave surface terminates at a plane substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

19. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 10 , wherein the treatment region comprises at least one cutting edge.

20. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 10 , wherein the tapered inner concave surface terminates at a partial ellipsoid surface.

21. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 10 , wherein the treatment region comprises a curved blade.

22. An ultrasonic surgical blade for the treatment of tissue, comprising:

an elongated, substantially solid blade body having a first length and comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the elongated, substantially solid blade body is configured to acoustically couple to an acoustic assembly configured to produce vibratory motion in the elongated, substantially solid blade body;

a treatment region; and

a first edge at the distal end of the elongated, substantially solid blade body;

a tapered inner concave surface defining a cavity that extends along an axis into the elongated, substantially solid blade body from the first edge, wherein the cavity terminates at a proximal end of the tapered inner concave surface and has a second length between the first edge and the proximal end, wherein the first length is at least three times the second length such that vibrations produced along the elongated, substantially solid blade body are substantially uniform to provide substantially even distribution of energy to the tissue, and wherein the tapered inner concave surface is configured to cause fluid droplets to converge along the axis when the fluid droplets collide with the tapered inner concave surface when the elongated, substantially solid blade body is in vibratory motion to enhance visibility of a surgical site.

23. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 22 , wherein the cavity is substantially concave and comprises a convex portion, and wherein the convex portion comprises a partial ellipsoid surface.

24. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 22 , wherein the tapered inner concave surface is configured to cause fluid droplets to converge along the axis at a point beyond the distal end of the elongated, substantially solid blade body.

25. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 22 , wherein the cavity terminates at a plane substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

26. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 22 , wherein the treatment region comprises a curved blade.

27. An ultrasonic surgical blade for the treatment of tissue, comprising:

an elongated, substantially solid blade body having a first length and comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end is configured to acoustically couple to an acoustic assembly configured to produce vibratory motion in the elongated, substantially solid blade body;

a treatment region;

a first edge at the distal end of the elongated, substantially solid blade body; and

a cavity comprising a taper, wherein the cavity extends along an axis into the elongated, substantially solid blade body from the first edge, wherein the cavity terminates at a proximal end of the taper and has a second length between the first edge and the proximal end, wherein the first length is at least three times the second length such that vibrations produced along the elongated, substantially solid blade body are substantially uniform to provide even distribution of energy to the tissue, and wherein the cavity is configured to cause fluid droplets to converge along the axis when the fluid droplets collide with the cavity when the elongated, substantially solid blade body is in vibratory motion to enhance visibility of a surgical site.

28. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 27 , wherein the cavity is substantially concave and comprises a convex portion, and wherein the convex portion comprises a partial ellipsoid surface.

29. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 27 , wherein the cavity is configured to cause fluid droplets to converge along the axis at a point beyond the distal end.

30. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 27 , wherein the cavity terminates at a plane substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

31. The ultrasonic surgical blade of claim 27 , wherein the treatment region comprises a curved blade designed to cut and coagulate tissue.