Systems and methods for transverse phacoemulsification

1. A handpiece for phacoemulsification, comprising:

a needle, wherein the needle has a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end of the needle vibrates in at least a transverse direction and a longitudinal direction when power is applied to the handpiece; and

a horn, wherein the horn has a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end of the horn engages the proximal end of the needle and one or more piezoelectric rings are coupled with the proximal end of the horn, wherein the proximal end of the horn has one or more notches distributed around an outer surface of the horn that move a center of mass of the horn offset from a central longitudinal axis of the horn;

wherein the power applied has a single effective operating frequency to vibrate the needle in the transverse and longitudinal directions;

wherein the one or more notches are configured to create a transverse node on a frequency spectrum and enable the distal end of the needle to vibrate in the transverse and longitudinal directions when the power is applied.

2. The handpiece of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more notches is substantially asymmetric.

3. The handpiece of claim 2 , wherein there is a single notch on a single side of the horn.

4. The handpiece of claim 1 , wherein a distance between the distal end of the horn and the one or more notches is approximately 1.635 inches.

5. The handpiece of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more notches has a length of about 0.1875 inches.

6. The handpiece of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more notches has a core diameter of about 0.155 inches.

7. The handpiece of claim 1 , wherein the horn and the one or more piezoelectric rings define a lumen, wherein the lumen is off-set from the central longitudinal axis of the horn.

8. The handpiece of claim 7 , wherein the one or more piezoelectric rings are in a stacked formation along the central longitudinal axis, wherein the one or more piezoelectric rings in the stacked formation are staggered perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis.

9. The handpiece of claim 1 , wherein the handpiece operates at a frequency between 20 kHz and 40 kHz.

10. The handpiece of claim 9 , wherein the frequency is between 20 kHz and 30 kHz.

11. The handpiece of claim 9 , wherein the frequency is between 30 kHz and 40 kHz.

12. The handpiece of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more notches is dimensioned to create transversal vibration at the distal end of the needle at a frequency between 26 kHz and 38 kHz.

13. The handpiece of claim 12 , wherein the transversal node is created at about 28 kHz.

14. A handpiece for phacoemulsification, comprising:

a needle, wherein the needle has a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end of the needle vibrates in at least a transverse direction and a longitudinal direction when power is applied to the handpiece; and

a horn that includes:

a distal end that engages the proximal end of the needle, and

one or more notches distributed around an outer surface of the horn, wherein the one or more notches are located on a proximal end of the horn and are configured to move a center of mass of the horn offset from a central longitudinal axis of the horn, and create a transverse node on a frequency spectrum and enable the distal end of the needle to vibrate in the transverse and longitudinal directions when power is applied; and

two or more piezoelectric rings that are coupled with the proximal end of the horn, wherein the two or more piezoelectric rings are arranged in a stacked formation along the central longitudinal axis and are staggered along an axis that is perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis.