# US 12,178,750 B2 · Removal of cataract debris > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,178,750 B2 - Document ID: US12178750B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/101,992 - Filed: 2020-11-23 - Published: 2022-05-26 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2020-11-23 - Assignees: Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc. - Applicants: Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc. - Inventors: Vadim Gliner; Assaf Govari - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178750B2 ## CPC - A61F 9/00745: {using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic} - A61B 17/320068: {using mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic (A61B17/22012 takes precedence; dental tooth drilling devices operated by vibration A61C3/03; removing intra-ocular material using mechanical vibrations A61F9/00745)} - A61B 2217/005: with suction drainage system - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract In one embodiment, a phacoemulsification apparatus includes actuators configured to vibrate responsively to respective driving signals, a needle including an aspiration channel, and configured to be vibrated by the actuators so as to emulsify a lens of an eye, a generator configured to generate at least one of the driving signals responsively to a vibration pattern selected for the needle, the needle being configured to vibrate in accordance with the selected vibration pattern, and a sensor configured to sense a level of vacuum in the aspiration channel, wherein the generator is configured to alter at least one of the driving signals to transition vibration of the needle from a first vibration pattern selected from the group consisting of a longitudinal vibration pattern and a first helical vibration pattern, to a second vibration pattern of a second helical vibration pattern, responsively to a decrease in the sensed level of vacuum. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A phacoemulsification apparatus, comprising: a plurality of actuators configured to vibrate responsively to respective driving signals; a needle including an aspiration channel, and configured to be vibrated by the actuators, so as to emulsify a lens of an eye; a generator configured to generate at least one of the driving signals responsively to a vibration pattern selected for the needle, the needle being configured to vibrate in accordance with the selected vibration pattern; and a sensor configured to sense a level of vacuum in the aspiration channel, wherein the generator is configured to alter at least one of the driving signals to transition vibration of the needle from a first helical vibration pattern, to a second helical vibration pattern different from the first helical vibration pattern, responsively to a decrease in the sensed level of vacuum. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first helical vibration pattern includes a first pitch and the second helical vibration pattern includes a second pitch, the first pitch being greater than the second pitch. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first helical vibration pattern has a first maximum width and the second helical vibration pattern has a second maximum width, the second maximum width being greater than the first maximum width. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first helical vibration pattern includes a first pitch and the second helical vibration pattern includes a second pitch, the first pitch being greater than the second pitch. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first helical vibration pattern and the second helical vibration pattern are circular helical vibration patterns, the first helical vibration pattern having a diameter equal to the first maximum width, the second helical vibration pattern having a diameter equal to the second maximum width. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first helical vibration pattern has a long axis equal to the first maximum width, the second helical vibration pattern has a long axis equal to the second maximum width. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the generator is configured to alter at least one of the driving signals to further transition vibration of the needle from the second helical vibration pattern to a two-dimensional elliptical pattern. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the generator is configured to alter at least one of the driving signals to further transition vibration of the needle from the second helical vibration pattern back to the first helical vibration pattern responsively to expiration of a time delay. ### Claim 9 A phacoemulsification apparatus, comprising: a plurality of actuators configured to vibrate responsively to respective driving signals; a needle including an aspiration channel, and configured to be vibrated by the actuators, so as to emulsify a lens of an eye; a generator configured to generate at least one of the driving signals responsively to a vibration pattern selected for the needle, the needle being configured to vibrate in accordance with the selected vibration pattern; and a sensor configured to sense a level of vacuum in the aspiration channel, wherein the generator is configured to alter at least one of the driving signals to transition vibration of the needle from a longitudinal vibration pattern to a helical vibration pattern, responsively to a decrease in the sensed level of vacuum, wherein the longitudinal vibration pattern has a first longitudinal stroke length, and the second helical vibration pattern has a second longitudinal stroke length, which is less than the first longitudinal stroke length. ### Claim 10 A phacoemulsification method, comprising: generating driving signals responsively to a vibration pattern selected for vibrating a needle; vibrating actuators responsively to the driving signals; vibrating the needle in accordance with the selected vibration pattern responsively to vibrating of the actuators so as to emulsify a lens of an eye; sensing a level of vacuum in an aspiration channel of the needle; and altering at least one of the driving signals to transition vibration of the needle from a first helical vibration pattern, to a second helical vibration pattern different from the first helical vibration pattern, responsively to a decrease in the sensed level of vacuum. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the first helical vibration pattern includes a first pitch and the second helical vibration pattern includes a second pitch, the first pitch being greater than the second pitch. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the first helical vibration pattern has a first maximum width and the second helical vibration pattern has a second maximum width, the second maximum width being greater than the first maximum width. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the first helical vibration pattern includes a first pitch and the second helical vibration pattern includes a second pitch, the first pitch being greater than the second pitch. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the first helical pattern and the second helical vibration pattern are circular helical vibration patterns, the first helical vibration pattern having a diameter equal to the first maximum width, and the second helical pattern having a diameter equal to the second maximum width. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the first helical vibration pattern and the second helical vibration pattern are elliptical helical vibration patterns, the first helical vibration pattern having a long axis equal to the first maximum width, the second helical vibration pattern having a long axis equal to the second maximum width. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, further comprising altering at least one of the driving signals to further transition vibration of the needle from the second helical vibration pattern to a two-dimensional elliptical pattern responsively to a further decrease in the sensed level of vacuum. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, further comprising altering at least one of the driving signals to further transition vibration of the needle from the second helical vibration pattern back to the first helical vibration pattern responsively to expiration of a time delay.