Surgical hand-piece with a bottom fluid tube convertible from irrigation to aspiration

A work tip for a surgical hand piece comprising:

• a solid knife with a sharp distal end and opposing lateral surfaces over at least a part of the extent thereof;
• a first fluid tube located on one of the lateral surfaces of the knife, said first fluid tube being located adjacent one lateral surface of the knife and having open ends to receive or discharge fluid;
• and
• a second fluid tube located on the other of the lateral surfaces of the knife, said second fluid tube being slidably connected with the knife and having open ends to receive or discharge fluid, said second fluid tube having an opening at a distal end thereof on its surface that faces the knife, and having a side hole on a side of the tube at the distal end, wherein the side hole is smaller than the opening;
• wherein during phacoemulsification the work tip can be placed in a phacoemulsification mode in which (a) the knife is adapted to be vibrated independent of the first and second tubes, (b) the second fluid tube is adapted to have irrigation fluid passed from its proximal end through the opening and side hole, (c) the second tube and knife are positioned so that the exit of irrigation fluid from the second fluid tube through the opening is not blocked and (d) the first fluid tube is positioned so as to receive fluid from the second tube that has passed about the knife, and
• wherein during irrigation/aspiration (I/A) cleanup the work tip can be placed in an I/A clean up mode in which (a) the vibration of the knife is adapted to be slowed or stopped, (b) the second fluid tube is adapted to have aspiration fluid passed from its distal end through the side hole only, (c) the knife is positioned so as to block the aspiration fluid from entering the second fluid tube through the opening, and (d) the first fluid tube is adapted to provide irrigation fluid to its distal end, whereby I/A clean up is only through the small hole.