Abstract: A phacoemulsification transducer assembly includes a reflector and a driver connected to the reflector. The driver has a known driver vibration frequency range. A horn is connected to the driver opposite the reflector. A needle is connected to the horn opposite the driver. The needle has a known free shaft length. To maximize a desired stroke length of the needle for a minimal amount of power applied to the driver, a material forming the needle is chosen such that a speed of sound through the material results in a quarter-wavelength distance at the driver vibration frequency range substantially equal to the needle free shaft length.

Abstract: A surgical needle assembly for attachment to an ultrasonic handpiece includes an elongated metal cannula having a distal end and a proximal end. A hub is insert molded onto the cannula generally towards the cannula proximal end and formed from a material having an ultimate strength at least twice a peak cyclical stress force at a joint between the elongated metal cannula and the hub when the surgical needle assembly is in use with the ultrasonic handpiece. The hub material has a stiffness sufficient to limit a motion of the elongated metal cannula to less than 1.5 times an expected peak to peak stroke length when the surgical needle assembly is in use with the ultrasonic handpiece. The hub includes structure for mating attachment to the ultrasonic handpiece.

Abstract: A surgical needle assembly for attachment to an ultrasonic handpiece includes an elongated metal cannula having a distal end and a proximal end. A hub is insert molded onto the cannula generally towards the cannula proximal end and formed from a material having an ultimate strength at least twice a peak cyclical stress force at a joint between the elongated metal cannula and the hub when the surgical needle assembly is in use with the ultrasonic handpiece. The hub material has a stiffness sufficient to limit a motion of the elongated metal cannula to less than 1.5 times an expected peak to peak stroke length when the surgical needle assembly is in use with the ultrasonic handpiece. The hub includes structure for mating attachment to the ultrasonic handpiece.

Abstract: A phacoemulsification transducer assembly includes a reflector and a driver connected to the reflector. The driver has a known driver vibration frequency range. A horn is connected to the driver opposite the reflector. A needle is connected to the horn opposite the driver. The needle has a known free shaft length. To maximize a desired stroke length of the needle for a minimal amount of power applied to the driver, a material forming the needle is chosen such that a speed of sound through the material results in a quarter-wavelength distance at the driver vibration frequency range substantially equal to the needle free shaft length.

Abstract: An ophthalmic surgical device includes a housing having a distal end and a proximal end. A cannula is attached to the housing distal end and has a distal tip with at least one port in communication with a lumen extending through the cannula and in communication with an aspiration path in the housing. A vibration source is held within the housing for vibrating the distal tip of the cannula for assisting in vitreous and other tissue removal from a patient's eye. The vibration source creates a peak velocity of the distal tip equal to or less than a potential maximum flow velocity of water through the at least one port for a pressure differential between an intraocular pressure of the eye and a pressure within the cannula lumen that is less than the intraocular pressure.

Abstract: A phacoemulsification needle includes a hub for connection to an ultrasonic handpiece. An elongated shaft is formed with the hub and extends from the hub. A distal end of the shaft breaks-up tissue when the distal end is caused to be vibrated by the handpiece. At least a distal portion of the shaft is formed of a material that has properties providing advantages compared to a metal needle. Example properties include a substantially lower density, a substantially higher electrical resistivity, a substantially lower thermal conductivity, a substantially lower mechanical lateral stiffness, a substantially higher efficiency of converting electrical energy powering the handpiece into motion of the distal end, a substantially lower acoustical impedance, a substantially higher Poisson's ratio, and a substantially higher mechanical gain.

Abstract: A system and method for performing a femto-fragmentation procedure on tissue in the crystalline lens of an eye requires that a laser beam be directed and focused to a focal point in the crystalline lens of the eye. The focal point is then guided, relative to an axis defined by the eye, to create a segment cluster by causing Laser Induced Optical Breakdown (LIOB) of tissue in the crystalline lens. The resultant segment cluster includes a plurality of contiguous, elongated segments in the crystalline lens that are individually tapered from an anterior end-area to a posterior end-area. Specifically, this is done to facilitate the removal of individual segments from the segment cluster in the crystalline lens.

Abstract: A surgical needle assembly for attachment to an ultrasonic handpiece includes an elongated metal cannula having a distal end and a proximal end. A hub is insert molded onto the cannula generally towards the cannula proximal end and formed from a material having an ultimate strength at least twice a peak cyclical stress force at a joint between the elongated metal cannula and the hub when the surgical needle assembly is in use with the ultrasonic handpiece. The hub material has a stiffness sufficient to limit a motion of the elongated metal cannula to less than 1.5 times an expected peak to peak stroke length when the surgical needle assembly is in use with the ultrasonic handpiece. The hub includes structure for mating attachment to the ultrasonic handpiece.

Abstract: A system and method for performing a femto-fragmentation procedure on tissue in the crystalline lens of an eye requires that a laser beam be directed and focused to a focal point in the crystalline lens of the eye. The focal point is then guided, relative to an axis defined by the eye, to create a segment cluster by causing Laser Induced Optical Breakdown (LIOB) of tissue in the crystalline lens. The resultant segment cluster includes a plurality of contiguous, elongated segments in the crystalline lens that are individually tapered from an anterior end-area to a posterior end-area, Specifically, this is done to facilitate the removal of individual segments from the segment cluster in the crystalline lens.

Abstract: A system and method for performing a femto-fragmentation procedure on tissue in the crystalline lens of an eye requires that a laser beam be directed and focused to a focal point in the crystalline lens of the eye. The focal point is then guided, relative to an axis defined by the eye, to create a segment cluster by causing Laser Induced Optical Breakdown (LIOB) of tissue in the crystalline lens. The resultant segment cluster includes a plurality of contiguous, elongated segments in the crystalline lens that are individually tapered from an anterior end-area to a posterior end-area. Specifically, this is done to facilitate the removal of individual segments from the segment cluster in the crystalline lens.

Abstract: An ophthalmic surgical device includes a housing having a distal end and a proximal end. A cannula is attached to the housing distal end and has a distal tip with at least one port in communication with a lumen extending through the cannula and in communication with an aspiration path in the housing. A vibration source is held within the housing for vibrating the distal tip of the cannula for assisting in vitreous and other tissue removal from a patient's eye. The vibration source creates a peak velocity of the distal tip equal to or less than a potential maximum flow velocity of water through the at least one port for a pressure differential between an intraocular pressure of the eye and a pressure within the cannula lumen that is less than the intraocular pressure.

Abstract: An ophthalmic surgical device (10) includes a housing (12) having a distal end (14) and a proximal end (16). A cannula (18) is attached to the housing distal end (14) and has a distal tip (20) with at least one port (22) in communication with a lumen (19) extending through the cannula (18) and in communication with an aspiration path (24) in the housing (12). A vibration source (26) is held within the housing (12) for vibrating the distal tip (20) for assisting in vitreous and other tissue removal. An aspiration source (152) connected to the aspiration path (24) for applying a negative pressure to the lumen (19) and the at least one port (22) for removing fluids and the vitreous and other tissue from the eye. The vibration source (26) and the aspiration source (152) together create a periodic bi-directional flow of tissue through the port (22) without creating cavitation externally of the distal tip (20).

Abstract: A phacoemulsification needle includes a hub for connection to an ultrasonic handpiece. An elongated shaft is formed with the hub and extends from the hub. A distal end of the shaft breaks-up tissue when the distal end is caused to be vibrated by the handpiece. At least a distal portion of the shaft is formed of a material that has properties providing advantages compared to a metal needle. Example properties include a substantially lower density, a substantially higher electrical resistivity, a substantially lower thermal conductivity, a substantially lower mechanical lateral stiffness, a substantially higher efficiency of converting electrical energy powering the handpiece into motion of the distal end, a substantially lower acoustical impedance, a substantially higher Poisson's ratio, and a substantially higher mechanical gain.

Abstract: A needle for use with an ultrasonic handpiece for dissecting and aspirating vitreous tissue includes a cannula having a lumen extending from a port adjacent a cannula distal tip to a cannula proximal end. The cannula port has a cross-sectional area less than a cross-sectional area of the cannula lumen. A hub attached to the cannula proximal end attaches to the ultrasonic handpiece. A needle lumen is formed from the cannula port to a proximal end of the hub. A length of the needle lumen is approximately an odd quarter of a drive frequency wavelength of the ultrasonic handpiece and a cannula length measured from the cannula distal tip to a distal end of the hub is long enough to extend from an incision site across a posterior segment of an eye.

Abstract: A system and method for performing a femto-fragmentation procedure on tissue in the crystalline lens of an eye requires that a laser beam be directed and focused to a focal point in the crystalline lens of the eye. The focal point is then guided, relative to an axis defined by the eye, to create a segment cluster by causing Laser Induced Optical Breakdown (LIOB) of tissue in the crystalline lens. The resultant segment cluster includes a plurality of contiguous, elongated segments in the crystalline lens that are individually tapered from an anterior end-area to a posterior end-area. Specifically, this is done to facilitate the removal of individual segments from the segment cluster in the crystalline lens.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for fragmenting a crystalline lens inside an operational volume in the lens. A reference axis that is based on the crystalline lens is established, and various pluralities of parallel planes are defined relative to the reference axis. A pulsed laser beam is then used to cut tissue in selected planes, to thereby fragment the lens by performing Laser Induced Optical Breakdown (LIOB) on the tissue. In accordance with the present invention each plurality of parallel planes is characterized by a particular inclination angle “?” relative to the reference axis, a particular azimuthal angle “?” relative to the reference axis, and an intersection angle “?” relative to each other.

Abstract: An ophthalmic surgical device 10 includes a housing 12 having a distal end 14 and a proximal end 16. A cannula 18 is attached to the housing distal end 14 and has a distal tip 20 with at least one port 22 in communication with a lumen 19 extending through the cannula 18 and in communication with an aspiration path 24 in the housing 12. A vibration source 26 is held within the housing 12 for vibrating the distal tip 20 for assisting in vitreous and other tissue removal. An aspiration source 152 connected to the aspiration path 24 for applying a negative pressure to the lumen 19 and the at least one port 22 for removing fluids and the vitreous and other tissue from the eye. The vibration source 26 and the aspiration source 152 together create a periodic bi-directional flow of tissue through the port 22 without creating cavitation externally of the distal tip 20.

Abstract: A pneumatically driven vitrectomy probe system includes a movable member disposed within a cylinder to define an enclosed pressure chamber, which has an inlet and an outlet. A pressure transducer senses the pressure level within the enclosed pressure chamber, and a valve communicates pressurized air to the inlet of the enclosed pressure chamber based on the pressure level. A displacement device coupled to the movable member extends and retracts the movable member within the enclosed pressure chamber, to respectively increase and decrease the pressure level of pressurized air communicated via the chamber outlet. The pressurized air is communicated to enclosed volume within a pneumatically activated vitrectomy probe, which includes a hollow inner cutting member disposed within the hollow outer member.

Abstract: An ophthalmic surgical apparatus for use with an eye including a tube adapted to be in fluid communication with the eye, a pressure sensor adapted to measure an intraocular pressure value of the eye, a fluid reservoir comprising a moveable wall, the fluid reservoir adapted to be in fluid communication with the eye through the tube, and at least one processor coupled to the pressure sensor to receive the measured intraocular pressure value, the at least one processor operable to position the moveable wall in response to a difference between the measured intraocular pressure value and a target intraocular pressure value.

Abstract: A pneumatically driven vitrectomy probe system includes a movable member disposed within a cylinder to define an enclosed pressure chamber, which has an inlet and an outlet. A pressure transducer senses the pressure level within the enclosed pressure chamber, and a valve communicates pressurized air to the inlet of the enclosed pressure chamber based on the pressure level. A displacement device coupled to the movable member extends and retracts the movable member within the enclosed pressure chamber, to respectively increase and decrease the pressure level of pressurized air communicated via the chamber outlet. The pressurized air is communicated to enclosed volume within a pneumatically activated vitrectomy probe, which includes a hollow inner cutting member disposed within the hollow outer member.