System and method for pulsed ultrasonic power delivery employing cavitational effects

1. A method for delivering ultrasonic energy during a surgical procedure performed within a surgical environment comprising a fluid, comprising:

applying ultrasonic energy at a first energy level above a de minimis energy level for a time period sufficient to induce transient cavitation within the fluid, wherein the time period is between two and three milliseconds; and

providing ultrasonic energy for a predetermined period after attaining transient cavitation within the fluid according to a successively decreasing stepped-down ultrasonic energy level profile comprising applying energy at a nonzero second lower constant value energy level above the de minimis energy level and lower than the first energy level;

wherein the predetermined period begins immediately after the time period ends, and wherein ultrasonic energy is provided at a zero energy level before the time period and after applying ultrasonic energy according to the successively decreasing stepped down ultrasonic energy level profile.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined period is less than three milliseconds.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined period is less than one millisecond.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing additional ultrasonic energy at a predetermined period after said providing ultrasonic energy at a third energy level.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising applying zero energy subsequent to said providing ultrasonic energy at the third energy level.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising repeating said applying and automatically providing after applying zero energy.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second energy level is greater than half the first energy level.

8. A method of delivering ultrasonic energy during a tissue removal procedure employed in association with a fluid, comprising:

applying ultrasonic energy at a high energy amplitude level above a de minimis energy level capable of inducing transient cavitation within the fluid for a period of time between two and three milliseconds; and

immediately after said period of time, providing ultrasonic energy for a predetermined period according to a successively decreasing stepped-down ultrasonic energy level profile comprising applying energy at a nonzero low constant value energy amplitude level above the de minimis energy level;

wherein ultrasonic energy is provided at a zero energy level before the period of time and after applying ultrasonic energy according to the successively decreasing stepped-down ultrasonic energy level profile.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein automatically providing ultrasonic energy at the nonzero low constant value energy amplitude level comprises automatically providing ultrasonic energy at a value greater than de minimis power level and lower than the high energy amplitude level.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising providing additional ultrasonic energy at a stepped-down second nonzero low energy amplitude level subsequent to said ultrasonic energy providing.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising refraining from power delivery subsequent to said ultrasonic energy providing and repeating said applying and providing after a predetermined time period.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein applying ultrasonic energy occurs for a predetermined period of time calculated to induce said transient cavitation.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein applying ultrasonic energy causes a cavitational energy having a duration of less than eight milliseconds.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein applying ultrasonic energy causes a cavitational energy having a duration of less than four milliseconds.

15. A method for providing modulated ultrasonic energy to an ocular region during a phacoemulsification procedure, the method comprising:

applying ultrasonic energy to the ocular region at a high energy level above a de minimis energy level calculated to induce transient cavitation within fluid in the ocular region, said ultrasonic energy applying occurring for a first predetermined time between two and three milliseconds;

reducing application of ultrasonic energy to the ocular region according to a successively decreasing stepped-down ultrasonic energy level profile comprising applying energy at a constant nonzero level immediately after said first predetermined time for a predetermined period;

further reducing application of ultrasonic energy to the ocular region to a zero energy level after applying ultrasonic energy according to the successively decreasing stepped-down ultrasonic energy level profile;

waiting for a second predetermined period of time; and

repeating said applying, reducing, and further reducing.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the constant nonzero level is greater than half of the high energy level.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein applying ultrasonic energy results in cavitational energy having a duration of less than eight milliseconds.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein applying ultrasonic energy results in cavitational energy having a duration of less than four milliseconds.

19. A surgical method, comprising:

applying transient energy to an opthalmic surgical area comprising a fluid using transient ultrasonic energy applying means, said transient ultrasonic energy applying means configured to apply ultrasonic energy at an amplitude above a de minimis energy level and for a calculated time period sufficient to induce transient cavitation within the fluid, wherein the calculated time period is between two and three milliseconds;

reducing said transient energy according to a successively decreasing stepped-down ultrasonic energy level profile comprising applying energy at a lower constant value nonzero amplitude energy level immediately after said calculated time period and applying the transient energy at the lower constant value nonzero amplitude energy level for a further time period; and

further reducing said transient energy to a zero energy level after applying ultrasonic energy according to the successively decreasing stepped-down ultrasonic energy level profile;

wherein the lower constant value nonzero amplitude energy level is greater than the zero energy level and less than the amplitude.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein reducing said transient energy comprises providing ultrasonic energy at a level greater than half the amplitude.

21. The method of claim 19 , further comprising providing additional ultrasonic energy at a second lower constant value amplitude energy level subsequent to reducing said transient energy to a lower constant value amplitude energy level.

22. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

refraining from ultrasonic power delivery subsequent to said further reducing; and

repeating said applying, reducing, and further reducing.

23. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

repeating said applying, reducing, and further reducing.

24. The method of claim 19 , wherein said applying transient energy causes application of an elevated level of transient cavitational energy for the time period of less than eight milliseconds.

25. The method of claim 19 , wherein said applying transient energy causes application of an elevated level of transient cavitational energy for the time period of less than four milliseconds.

26. The method of claim 19 , wherein said applying comprises ultrasonically vibrating a needle.

27. The method of claim 26 , further comprising engaging at a first desired time when energy application is desired and disengaging at a second desired time when energy application is not desired.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein said engaging and disengaging is performed by a switch.