Variable frequency phacoemulsification handpiece

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

a phacoemulsification handpiece having a horn coupled to a transducer that is configured to convert alternating current into mechanical oscillation of the horn, a phacoemulsification needle with an aspiration passage that is attached to the horn, whereby the phacoemulsification needle is made to vibrate by oscillation of the horn, to provide for mechanical cutting of tissue and inducing cavitation proximate a tip of the phacoemulsification needle, to thereby cause fragmentation of tissue at the surgical site; and

a control system includes associated drive circuitry in connection with the transducer of the phacoemulsification handpiece device, the control system being configured to selectively adjust a non-resonant operating frequency of the transducer and vary the operating frequency of the phacoemulsification needle, to thereby increase or decrease a mechanical cutting performance and a cavitational-induced performance of the phacoemulsification needle wherein the phacoemulsification needle generates a level of mechanical disruption and a level of cavitation-induced emulsification that are both a function of the operating frequency, and the control system is configured to selectively adjust the operating frequency of the transducer to establish a desired ratio of the mechanical disruption level relative to the cavitation-induced emulsification level.

2. The phacoemulsification system of claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to selectively adjust the operating frequency of the transducer within a range of between about 15 kHz up to about 60 kHz.

3. The phacoemulsification system of claim 1 wherein the control system is configured to change the operating frequency of the transducer after oscillation at the same operating frequency for more than a maximum duration of time.

4. The phacoemulsification system of claim 3 wherein the control system is configured to adjust the operating frequency of the transducer to an optimal resonant frequency.

5. The phacoemulsification system of claim 1 , wherein the transducer is a magnetostrictive transducer configured to be excited by the alternating electrical current applied to the magnetostrictive transducer.

6. The phacoemulsification system of claim 1 , wherein the transducer is a piezoelectric crystal configured to be excited by the alternating electrical current applied to the piezoelectric crystal.

7. The phacoemulsification system of claim 1 wherein the level of mechanical disruption is proportional to the operating frequency, and the level of cavitation-induced emulsification is inversely proportional to the operating frequency.

8. The phacoemulsification system of claim 1 wherein the control system is configured to change the operating frequency of the transducer to prevent build up of heat that is generated by operation at non-resonant frequencies.

9. The phacoemulsification system of claim 8 wherein the control system randomly changes the operating frequency of the transducer.