Efficiency-modulated ultrasonic instrument inserts

1. A method for adjusting power delivered to use different types of tips in ultrasonic dental inserts in a handpiece having an induction coil disposed about a well and operably connected to an adjustable power supply having an adjustable power output setting ranging from a minimum to a maximum, wherein the different tips comprise at least one power-sensitive tip having a power range, the method comprising:

establishing an inventory of insert assemblies each comprising a tip, a velocity transducer and a magnetostrictive element, wherein the inventory comprises a first insert assembly with a high-efficiency magnetostrictive element and a tip that is not power sensitive and a second insert assembly with an efficiency-modulated magnetostrictive element matched with a power-sensitive type tip to maintain the matched power-sensitive type tip within the power range of the matched power-sensitive type tip at the maximum power output setting;

wherein the high-efficiency magnetostrictive element is capable of converting 50% or more of an electrical power input to mechanical oscillatory power at a peak resonant frequency, and wherein the efficiency-modulated magnetostrictive element has a power conversion at the peak resonant frequency of less than 50% conversion of the electrical power input to mechanical oscillatory power;

selecting one of the first or second insert assemblies from the inventory;

inserting the selected assembly in the well;

supplying power to the induction coil; and

adjusting the power output up to the maximum power output setting.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the efficiency-modulated magnetostrictive element comprises nickel.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the efficiency-modulated magnetostrictive element comprises a plurality of coextensive longitudinally oriented nickel or nickel alloy wires having circular cross sections.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the wires are welded at a distal end thereof inside a ring secured to the proximal end of the velocity transducer.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the wires have uniform cross sections.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the wires have non-uniform cross sections.

7. The method of claim 3 , wherein the efficiency-modulated magnetostrictive element further includes one or more non-magnetostrictive wires.

8. The method of claim 3 , wherein the efficiency-modulated magnetostrictive element further includes one or more magnetostrictive-dampening wires.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the efficiency-modulated magnetostrictive element includes void space.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the efficiency-modulated magnetostrictive element comprises a nickel rod.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the efficiency-modulated magnetostrictive element includes a volume of non-magnetostrictive material.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the selection further comprises coupling said matched power-sensitive type tip to a velocity transducer operatively associated with said efficiency-modulated magnetostrictive element to maintain said matched power-sensitive type tip within said power range of the matched power-sensitive type tip at the maximum power output setting.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising a second selection comprising repeating the selection, insertion, power supplying and adjustment a second time wherein the second selection comprises coupling said tip that is not power-sensitive to a velocity transducer operatively associated with said high-efficiency magnetostrictive element.

14. A method for adjusting power delivered to use different types of tips in ultrasonic dental inserts in a handpiece having an induction coil disposed about a well and operably connected to an adjustable power supply having an adjustable power output setting ranging from a minimum to a maximum, wherein the different tips comprise at least one power-sensitive tip having a power range, the method comprising:

establishing an inventory of insert assemblies each comprising a tip, a velocity transducer and a magnetostrictive element, wherein the inventory comprises a first insert assembly with a high-efficiency magnetostrictive element and a tip that is not power sensitive and a second insert assembly with an efficiency-modulated magnetostrictive element matched with a power-sensitive type tip to maintain the matched power-sensitive type tip within the power range of the matched power-sensitive type tip at the maximum power output setting;

wherein the high-efficiency magnetostrictive element is capable of converting 50% or more of an electrical power input to mechanical oscillatory power at a peak resonant frequency, and wherein the efficiency-modulated magnetostrictive element has a power conversion at the peak resonant frequency of less than 50% conversion of the electrical power input to mechanical oscillatory power;

selecting one of the first or second insert assemblies from the inventory;

inserting the selected assembly in the well;

supplying power to the induction coil;

adjusting the power output up to the maximum power output setting; the method further comprising:

matching one of the at least one power-sensitive type tips for coupling to the velocity transducer and the efficiency-modulated magnetostrictive element to form the second insert assembly for use in the handpiece of a specified model of the adjustable power supply, wherein the magnetostrictive element is efficiency modulated so that overpowering the matched power-sensitive type tip is avoided at the maximum power output;

labeling the matched power-sensitive type tip for use at full power range with the efficiency-modulated magnetostrictive element and the specified model of the adjustable power supply; and

distributing the second insert assembly with the efficiency-modulated magnetostrictive element to a dental practitioner.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising labeling the matched power-sensitive type tip for use at a reduced power range setting with a high efficiency magnetostrictive element and the specified model of the adjustable power supply.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising assembling the insert assembly with the efficiency-modulated magnetostrictive element and providing the insert assembly to the dental practitioner as a unit.