Gilled phacoemulsification irrigation sleeve

1. A phacoemulsification system for use in ophthalmic surgery comprising:

a phacoemulsification needle comprising:

a hollow shaft;

a hub formed at a proximal end of the hollow shaft; and

a lumen extending through the hollow shaft and a flared portion, the lumen defining a opening at a distal end of the hollow shaft; and

a phacoemulsification irrigation sleeve comprising:

an elongated, resilient, tubular body section configured to surround the hollow shaft of the phacoemulsification needle, said tubular body section having a distal end and a proximal end, and an inner surface and an outer surface;

an enlarged section formed on the proximal end of the tubular body section and configured to surround the hub of said phacoemulsification needle and for connection to a phacoemulsification handpiece;

at least one slitted irrigation port formed adjacent to the distal end of the body section and configured to splay in response to a drop in pressure between the inner surface and the outer surface; and

an opening formed at the distal end of the tubular body section, the opening remote from the at least one slitted irrigation port, the opening adapted to accommodate a portion of the hollow shaft of the phacoemulsification needle extending through the opening,

wherein the at least one slitted irrigation port comprises an open portion configured to allow a first flow of irrigation fluid during a phacoemulsification procedure and a slitted portion configured to allow an increased flow of irrigation fluid, relative to the first flow, in response to a drop in pressure between the inner surface and the outer surface of the tubular body section.

2. The phacoemulsification system of claim 1 , further comprising a second slitted irrigation port, the second slitted irrigation port comprising:

a linear slit oriented longitudinally on the tubular body section;

a linear slit oriented at approximately forty-five degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body section;

an arc-shaped slit; or

a chevron-shaped slit.

3. The phacoemulsification system of claim 1 , further comprising a second slitted irrigation port, the second slitted irrigation port comprising: a flap overlapping a portion of the outside surface of the tubular body section, said flap configured to open in response to a drop in pressure between the inner surface and the outer surface.

4. The phacoemulsification system of claim 1 , wherein the tubular body section further comprises a wall, wherein a region of the wall includes a reduced wall thickness adjacent to the at least one slitted irrigation port.

5. A phacoemulsification irrigation sleeve comprising:

an elongated, resilient, tubular body section configured to surround a portion of a shaft of a phacoemulsification needle, said tubular body section having a distal end and a proximal end, and an inner surface and an outer surface;

an enlarged section formed on the proximal end of the tubular body section and configured to surround a hub of said phacoemulsification needle and for connection to a phacoemulsification handpiece;

at least one slitted irrigation port formed adjacent to the distal end of the body section and configured to splay in response to a drop in pressure between the inner surface and the outer surface, the at least one slitted irrigation port comprising:

an open portion configured to allow a first flow of irrigation fluid during a phacoemulsification procedure; and

a slitted portion configured to allow an increased flow of irrigation fluid, relative to the first flow, in response to a drop in pressure between the inner surface and the outer surface of the tubular body section.

6. A phacoemulsification system for use in ophthalmic surgery comprising:

a phacoemulsification needle comprising:

a hollow shaft;

a hub formed at a proximal end of the hollow shaft; and

a lumen extending through the hollow shaft and a flared portion, the lumen defining a opening at a distal end of the hollow shaft; and

a phacoemulsification irrigation sleeve comprising:

an elongated, resilient, tubular body portion configured to surround a portion of the hollow shaft of the phacoemulsification needle, said tubular body portion comprising:

a distal end;

a proximal end;

an inner surface; and

an outer surface;

an enlarged portion formed on the proximal end of the tubular body portion and configured to surround the hub of said phacoemulsification needle and for connection to a phacoemulsification handpiece;

at least one slitted irrigation port formed adjacent to the distal end of the tubular body portion and configured to splay in response to a drop in pressure between the inner surface and the outer surface,

an opening formed at a distal tip at the distal end of the tubular body portion, the opening adapted to accommodate a portion of the shaft of the phacoemulsification needle extending through the opening,

wherein the at least one slitted irrigation port comprises an open portion configured to allow a first flow of irrigation fluid during a phacoemulsification procedure and a slitted portion configured to allow an increased flow of irrigation fluid, relative to the first flow, in response to a drop in pressure between the inner surface and the outer surface of the tubular body portion.

7. The phacoemulsification system of claim 6 , further comprising a second slitted irrigation port, the second slitted irrigation port comprising:

a linear slit oriented longitudinally on the tubular body portion;

a linear slit oriented at approximately forty-five degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body portion;

an arc-shaped slit; or

a chevron-shaped slit.

8. The phacoemulsification system of claim 6 , further comprising a second slitted irrigation port, the second slitted irrigation port comprising: a flap overlapping a portion of the outside surface of the tubular body portion, said flap configured to open in response to a drop in pressure between the inner surface and the outer surface.

9. The phacoemulsification sytem of claim 6 , wherein the tubular body portion further comprises at least one thinned region adjacent to the at least one slitted irrigation port.

10. A phacoemulsification irrigation sleeve comprising:

an elongated, resilient, tubular body section configured to surround a portion of a shaft of a phacoemulsification needle, said tubular body section having a distal end and a proximal end, and an inner surface and an outer surface;

an enlarged section formed on the proximal end of the tubular body section and configured to surround a hub of said phacoemulsification needle and for connection to a phacoemulsification handpiece; and

at least one slitted irrigation port formed adjacent to the distal end of the body section and configured to splay in response to a drop in pressure between the inner surface and the outer surface; and

an opening formed at the distal end of the tubular body section, the opening remote from the at least one slitted irrigation port, the opening adapted to accommodate a portion of the shaft of the phacoemulsification needle extending through the opening,

wherein the at least one slitted irrigation port comprises an open portion configured to allow a first flow of irrigation fluid during a phacoemulsification procedure and a slitted portion configured to allow an increased flow of irrigation fluid, relative to the first flow, in response to a drop in pressure between the inner surface and the outer surface of the tubular body section.