System and method for pulsed ultrasonic power delivery employing cavitational effects

摘要

A method and apparatus for delivering energy during a surgical procedure such as phacoemulsification is provided. The method and apparatus include delivering energy during a surgical procedure, including applying energy at a level and for a time period sufficient to induce transient cavitation, and reducing applied energy after applying energy during a second nonzero lower energy period.

主权项

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.