System and method for pulsed ultrasonic power delivery employing cavitational effects
First Claim
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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.
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Abstract
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.
115 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for delivering ultrasonic energy during a surgical procedure performed within a surgical environment comprising a fluid, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of delivering ultrasonic energy during a tissue removal procedure employed in association with a fluid, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for providing modulated ultrasonic energy to an ocular region during a phacoemulsification procedure, the method comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A surgical method, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification