Handpiece for the phacoemulsification of an eye lens
The invention relates to a handpiece for the phacoemulsification of an eye lens, having a needle with an aspiration line arranged therein for transporting an aspiration fluid and at least one drive element for generating a longitudinal wave, wherein the drive element is arranged in such a way that the longitudinal wave can be coupled directly into the aspiration fluid.
1. A handpiece for effecting a phacoemulsification of an eye lens, the handpiece comprising:
a needle;
an aspiration line configured to transfer an aspiration fluid;
said aspiration line being arranged within said needle;
at least one drive element configured to vibrate and generate kinetic energy as a longitudinal wave; and,
said at least one drive element being arranged so as to cause said longitudinal wave to be coupled directly into said aspiration fluid to impart a fluid pressure thereto to effect the phacoemulsification of the eye lens via said fluid pressure.
2. The handpiece of claim 1 , wherein said at least one drive element is arranged within said aspiration line and in direct contact with the aspiration fluid.
3. The handpiece of claim 1 , wherein said at least one drive element includes piezoelectric elements.
4. The handpiece of claim 1 , wherein said at least one drive element has an annular shape.
5. The handpiece of claim 1 , wherein:
said needle has a distal end; and,
said needle has a funnel-shaped region with a tapering end oriented toward said distal end.
6. The handpiece of claim 5 , wherein:
said aspiration line defines a center axis;
said funnel-shaped region in cross section defines an inner wall contour; and,
said inner wall contour is curved with respect to said center axis with a center of curvature in such a manner that said center of curvature is oriented toward said tapering end of said funnel-shaped region.
7. The handpiece of claim 1 , wherein:
said needle has a distal end; and,
said distal end has an inner diameter lying in a range of 0.4 mm to 1.1 mm.
8. The handpiece of claim 1 , wherein said needle has a distal end made of polymer plastic.
9. A handpiece for effecting a phacoemulsification of an eye lens, the handpiece defining a longitudinal axis and comprising:
a needle;
an aspiration line configured to transfer an aspiration fluid;
said aspiration line being arranged within said needle;
a drive element configured to generate movement energy in the direction of said longitudinal axis; and,
said drive element being arranged so as to cause said movement energy to generate a longitudinal wave directly coupled only into said aspiration fluid to impart a fluid pressure thereto to effect the phacoemulsification of the eye lens via said fluid pressure while avoiding a transfer of kinetic energy to said needle which remains stationary during the phacoemulsification of the eye lens.