Phacoemulsification probe comprising magnetic sensors and/or multiple independent piezoelectric vibrators

A method for operating a phacoemulsification probe, the method comprising:

• exciting two or more piezoelectric crystals of the phacoemulsification probe, each piezoelectric crystal excited in a single resonant mode using a respective drive signal;
• vibrating a needle of the phacoemulsification probe by the two or more piezoelectric crystals;
• and
• adaptively adjusting a respective frequency of each drive signal so as to excite each of the two or more piezoelectric crystals in the single respective resonant mode only.

A phacoemulsification device, comprising:

• a phacoemulsification probe, comprising:
• two or more piezoelectric crystals, each excited in response to a respective drive signal;
• and
• a needle configured to be inserted into a lens capsule of an eye and to be vibrated by the two or more piezoelectric crystals;
• and
• a processor, which is configured to:
• vibrate the needle in a longitudinal vibration mode;
• and
• in response to sensing an occlusion of the needle, switch to vibrating the needle in a transverse, circular, elliptical, or helical vibration mode.

A method for operating a phacoemulsification probe, the method comprising:

• energizing two or more piezoelectric crystals of the phacoemulsification probe using respective drive signals;
• vibrating a needle of the phacoemulsification probe by the energized piezoelectric crystals in a longitudinal vibration mode;
• and
• in response to sensing an occlusion of the needle, switching to vibrate the needle in a transverse, circular, elliptical, or helical vibration mode.