Systems and methods for transverse phacoemulsification
The invention is generally directed to phacoemulsification systems and methods, and more particularly to systems and methods for providing transverse phacoemulsification. In accordance with one embodiment, a phacoemulsification system is provided having a handpiece with a needle, wherein the phacoemulsification system is configured to vibrate the distal end of the needle in both an effective transverse direction and an effective longitudinal direction when power, having a single effective operating frequency is applied to the handpiece.
1. A phacoemulsification system, comprising:
a phacoemulsification handpiece having a needle and a horn, the needle having a distal end and at least one notch carved out of a side of an outer surface of the horn, wherein the at least one notch moves a center of mass of the horn offset from a central longitudinal axis of the horn and the outer surface of the horn does not intersect with the longitudinal axis of the horn,
wherein the phacoemulsification handpiece is configured to vibrate the distal end of the needle in both an effective transverse direction and an effective longitudinal direction when power, having a single effective operating frequency, is applied to the phacoemulsification handpiece; and
a control unit operatively coupled to the phacoemulsification handpiece and configured to provide power to the phacoemulsification handpiece.
2. The phacoemulsification system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to provide power to the phacoemulsification handpiece so that the distal end of the needle vibrates substantially simultaneously both in the effective longitudinal direction and the effective transverse direction.
3. The phacoemulsification system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to provide a single pulse of power to the phacoemulsification handpiece.
4. The phacoemulsification system of claim 1 , wherein the handpiece further comprises one or more piezoelectric crystals.
5. The phacoemulsification system of claim 4 , wherein the one or more piezoelectric crystals are stacked along the longitudinal axis of the horn and define a lumen formed offset from the longitudinal axis of the horn.
6. The phacoemulsification system of claim 1 , wherein the needle further comprises an asymmetrically formed base formed with a portion of mass etched out so that the center of mass of the needle is offset from a longitudinal axis of the needle.
7. The phacoemulsification system of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the horn extends radially away from the longitudinal axis of the horn.
8. The phacoemulsification system of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the horn extends radially away from a lumen defined within the horn.
9. The phacoemulsification system of claim 1 , wherein the notch is created by carving out three sides of the horn.
10. The phacoemulsification system of claim 1 , wherein the notch extends from the outside surface of the horn towards the longitudinal axis of the horn.
11. The phacoemulsification system of claim 10 , wherein the notch does not breach the longitudinal axis of the horn.
12. A phacoemulsification system, comprising:
a phacoemulsification handpiece having a needle and a horn assembly, wherein the horn assembly comprises a horn and one or more piezoelectric crystals and the horn assembly having at least one notch carved out of a side of an outer surface of the horn wherein the at least one notch moves a center of mass of the horn offset from a central longitudinal axis of the horn and the outer surface of the horn does not intersect with the longitudinal axis of the horn,
wherein the phacoemulsification handpiece is configured to vibrate a distal end of the needle in both an effective transverse direction and an effective longitudinal direction when power, having a single effective operating frequency, is applied to the phacoemulsification handpiece; and
a control unit operatively coupled to the phacoemulsification handpiece and configured to provide power to the phacoemulsification handpiece.
13. The phacoemulsification system of claim 12 ,
wherein at least one of the piezoelectric crystals has a mass offset from the longitudinal axis of the horn.
14. The phacoemulsification system of claim 13 , wherein a body of the at least one of the piezoelectric crystals defines a lumen that is off from the longitudinal axis of the horn.
15. The phacoemulsification system of claim 12 , wherein the control unit is configured to provide power to the phacoemulsification handpiece so that the distal end of the needle vibrates substantially simultaneously in both the effective longitudinal direction and the effective transverse direction.
16. The phacoemulsification system of claim 12 , wherein the control unit is configured to provide a single pulse of power to the phacoemulsification handpiece.
17. A phacoemulsification system, comprising:
a phacoemulsification handpiece having a horn with at least one notch carved out of a side of an outer surface of the horn, wherein the at least one notch moves a center of mass of the horn offset from a central longitudinal axis of the horn and the outer surface of the horn does not intersect with the longitudinal axis of the horn;
one or more piezoelectric crystals;
a needle having an adapter configured to couple the needle with the horn, the adapter having a center of mass off from a longitudinal axis of the needle,
wherein the phacoemulsification handpiece is configured to vibrate a distal end of the needle in both an effective transverse direction and an effective longitudinal direction when power, having a single effective operating frequency, is applied to the phacoemulsification handpiece; and
a control unit operatively coupled to the phacoemulsification handpiece and configured to provide power to the phacoemulsification handpiece.
18. The phacoemulsification system of claim 17 , wherein the needle comprises an aspiration line wherein the adapter is formed concentric with but offcenter with the aspiration line.
19. The phacoemulsification system of claim 17 , wherein the control unit is configured to provide power to the phacoemulsification handpiece so that the distal end of the needle vibrates substantially simultaneously in both the effective longitudinal direction and the effective transverse direction.
20. The phacoemulsification system of claim 17 , wherein the control unit is configured to provide a single pulse of power to the phacoemulsification handpiece.
21. A phacoemulsification system, comprising:
a phacoemulsification handpiece having a horn with at least one notch carved out of a side of an outer surface of the horn, wherein the at least one notch moves a center of mass of the horn offset from a central longitudinal axis of the horn and the outer surface of the horn does not intersect with the longitudinal axis of the horn;
one or more piezoelectric crystals;
a needle having an asymmetrical needle base formed with a center of mass off from a longitudinal axis of the needle, wherein the phacoemulsification handpiece is configured to vibrate a distal end of the needle in both an effective transverse direction and an effective longitudinal direction when power, having a single effective operating frequency, is applied to the phacoemulsification handpiece; and
a control unit operatively coupled to the phacoemulsification handpiece and configured to provide power to the phacoemulsification handpiece.
22. The phacoemulsification system of claim 21 , wherein the asymmetric needle base has a portion of mass etched out on a portion of a periphery of the needle base.
23. The phacoemulsification system of claim 21 , wherein the control unit is configured to provide power to the phacoemulsification handpiece so that the distal end of the needle substantially simultaneously vibrates in both the effective longitudinal direction and the effective transverse direction.
24. The phacoemulsification system of claim 21 , wherein the control unit is configured to provide a single pulse of power to the phacoemulsification handpiece.
25. A phacoemulsification system, comprising:
a phacoemulsification handpiece having a needle, a horn with at least one notch carved out of a side of an outer surface of the horn, wherein the at least one notch moves a center of mass of the horn offset from a central longitudinal axis of the horn and the outer surface of the horn does not intersect with the longitudinal axis of the horn, and a piezoelectric crystal stack,
wherein the phacoemulsification handpiece is configured to vibrate a distal end of the needle in both an effective transverse direction and an effective longitudinal direction when power, having a single effective operating frequency, is applied to the phacoemulsification handpiece; and
a control unit operatively coupled to the phacoemulsification handpiece and configured to provide power to the phacoemulsification handpiece,
wherein the control unit is configured to provide a single pulse of power to the phacoemulsification handpiece so that the distal end of the needle substantially simultaneously vibrates in both the effective longitudinal direction and the effective transverse direction.
26. A phacoemulsification system, comprising:
a phacoemulsification handpiece having a needle, a horn with at least one notch carved out of a side of an outer surface of the horn, wherein the at least one notch moves a center of mass of the horn offset from a central longitudinal axis of the horn and the outer surface of the horn does not intersect with the longitudinal axis of the horn, and a piezoelectric crystal stack,
wherein the phacoemulsification handpiece is configured to vibrate a distal end of the needle in both an effective transverse direction and an effective longitudinal direction when power, having a single effective operating frequency, is applied to the phacoemulsification handpiece; and
a control unit operatively coupled to the phacoemulsification handpiece and configured to provide power to the phacoemulsification handpiece,
wherein the control unit is configured to provide power at the single effective operating frequency to the phacoemulsification handpiece so that the distal end of the needle substantially simultaneously vibrates in both the effective longitudinal direction and the effective transverse direction.