Multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle

1. A multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle, comprising:

a needle body disposed about a centerline and having a lumen disposed therein, the lumen having a surface and a first cross-sectional area normal to the centerline;

a proximal end adapted for attachment to a phacoemulsification handpiece; and

a distal tip comprising an arcuate surface and a face with a port therein, the port having a second cross-sectional area in a plane generally parallel to the face and being in fluid communication with an internal cavity, the internal cavity having a third cross-sectional area normal to the centerline and being in fluid communication with the lumen, and the internal cavity having a surface portion disposed about the port, the distal tip comprising a continuous surface free of discontinuities extending from the surface of a distal portion of the lumen to a perimeter of the port to a distal portion of the needle body;

the third cross-sectional area being greater than the first cross-sectional area and greater than the second cross-sectional area.

2. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 1 , wherein the second cross-sectional area is greater than the first cross-sectional area.

3. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 1 , wherein the port has a diameter that is less than about 0.5 mm.

4. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 1 , wherein the port has a diameter that is between about 0.2 mm and about 0.4 mm.

5. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 1 , wherein the cavity is configured to emulsify cortical material when at least a portion of a lens capsule is invaginated within the cavity.

6. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 1 , wherein internal cavity comprises a distal face that is disposed at an angle to the centerline.

7. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 6 , wherein the distal face is flat.

8. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 6 , wherein the distal face is curved in at least one axis.

9. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 6 , wherein the distal face is configured to focus phacoemulsification power toward a volume disposed about the centerline.

10. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 1 , wherein the distal tip further comprises:

a rounded bottom portion having a surface area configured for polishing an eye lens capsule;

a top portion comprising a flat surface disposed from a location at or near the centerline to a location at a distal end of the needle body; and

a port disposed in the flat surface, the port communicating with the needle body lumen.

11. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 1 , wherein the needle further comprises a distal tip comprising:

a flat surface disposed at an acute angle relative to the centerline;

a port disposed within the flat surface and communicating with the needle body lumen;

a continuous surface free of discontinuities comprising the flat surface, a distal portion of the lumen, and a distal portion of the needle body.

12. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 1 , wherein the distal tip has an outer diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of the needle body.

13. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 1 , further comprising a proximal lumen proximal to and coaxial with needle body lumen, the proximal lumen having a cross-sectional area that is greater than the first cross-sectional area of the needle body lumen.

14. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 1 , wherein needle body lumen has a longitudinal length that is greater than an outer diameter of the needle body.

15. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 1 , wherein the face is flat.

16. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 15 , wherein the face is disposed as an angle from the centerline that is between about 25 degrees and 65 degrees.

17. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 1 , wherein the lumen comprises a primary surface having a first diameter, wherein the lumen comprises at least three fins having isolated distal ends protruding inwardly from the primary surface, wherein the fins are configured such that a circle passing through the distal ends of the fins has a second diameter that is less than the first diameter, and wherein the fins each comprise a longitudinal extent along the centerline that is greater than the first diameter.

18. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 17 , wherein each of the fins further comprises a distal face that is disposed at an angle to the centerline.

19. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 18 , wherein each of the distal faces is flat.

20. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 18 , wherein the faces are configured to focus phacoemulsification power toward a volume disposed about the centerline.

21. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 17 , wherein the second diameter is less than half of the first diameter.

22. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 17 , wherein the circle has an area that is less than a cross-sectional area of the port.

23. A method of removing the natural lens of an eye, comprising:

providing a multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle, comprising:

a needle body disposed about a centerline and having a lumen disposed therein, the lumen having a surface and a first cross-sectional area normal to the centerline;

a proximal end adapted for attachment to a phacoemulsification handpiece; and

a distal tip comprising an arcuate surface and a face with a port therein, wherein the distal tip comprises a continuous surface free of discontinuities extending from the surface of a distal portion of the lumen to a perimeter of the port to a distal portion of the needle body, the port having a second cross-sectional area in a plane generally parallel to the face and being in fluid communication with an internal cavity, the internal cavity having a third cross-sectional area normal to the centerline and being in fluid communication with the lumen;

the third cross-sectional area being greater than the first cross-sectional area and greater than the second cross-sectional area;

applying phacoemulsification power to the distal tip and removing at least a portion of the natural lens contained within the lens capsule of an eye;

removing phacoemulsification power and passing the face of the distal tip of the needle over the surface of the lens capsule so as to remove cortical material therefrom;

invaginating a portion of the lens capsule within the internal cavity; and

reapplying phacoemulsification power while lens capsule portion is invaginated.

24. A multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle, comprising:

a straight needle body disposed about a centerline and having a lumen

therethrough, the lumen having a surface;

a proximal end adapted for attachment to a phacoemulsification handpiece; and

a straight distal tip extending from the needle body along and about the centerline, comprising:

a flat surface disposed at an acute angle relative to a portion of the centerline intersected by a line passing through the flat surface;

a port disposed within the flat surface and communicating with the needle body lumen; and

a continuous surface extending from the surface of a distal portion of the lumen to a perimeter of the port to a distal portion of the needle body that is free of discontinuities able to initiate a tear in a lens capsule of an eye when the capsule is invaginated by the phacoemulsification needle under normal ocular aspiration conditions.

25. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 24 , wherein the angle is about 45 degrees.

26. The multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle of claim 24 , wherein the angle is between about 25 degrees and 65 degrees.