Abstract: An ultrasonic cone and method of construction for the emulsification of cataract lenses employed in a hand-held surgical aspirator having an angle of incidence .theta. equal to or less than thirty degrees, the angle of incidence being located at the point of tangency of a transition radius construction line at the intersection with a horizontal line passing through a hub portion of the cone, the angle construction for eliminating the erosion of the cone along the transition radius and for minimizing the size and improving the dispersement of bubbles created by cavitation of the cone in a saline solution and migrating toward the cataract lens operative site when ultrasonic frequencies of vibration of greater than forty kilohertz and cone shaft horizontal stroke lengths exceeding four- to-five thousandths of an inch are employed. Alternative embodiments disclose an adapter apparatus for employing disposable cone shafts and an array of shaft distal ends for improving the efficiency of the ultrasonic cone.