a pulsed irrigation handpiece comprises a pulsed irrigation liquid outlet for applying liquid pulses to a surgical site , a pump unit reciprocatingly driveable for pumping pulses of irrigation liquid through the outlet , an electric powered drive unit for reciprocatingly driving the pump unit , and a housing containing the pump and drive units . a irrigation inlet hose leads from the pump unit out of the handpiece housing and is connectable to a remote irrigation liquid source . an irrigation inlet hose adjacent the remote end thereof and electric conductors extending along the irrigation inlet hose transfer electric power from the supply unit to the drive unit in the handpiece . removable tips are alternatively removably attachable to the irrigation liquid outlet adjacent the front end of the handpiece .