Surgical tip for phacoemulsification

A surgical tip for the emulsification of tissue, for connection to an energy source generating a wavefront, comprising in combination:

• an elongate hollow member including a wall defining a lumen said elongate hollow member further having a proximal end and an invasive distal end;
• means for connecting said proximal end of said elongate hollow member in fluid communication with an energy source thereby allowing a wavefront to travel through said lumen;
• and
• at least one micro-channel positioned on-said lumen, wherein said micro-channel has a helical pattern.

A surgical tip for the emulsification of tissue, for connection to an energy source generating a wavefront, comprising in combination:

• an elongate hollow member including a wall defining a lumen said elongate hollow member further having a proximal end and an invasive distal end;
• means for connecting said proximal end of said elongate hollow member in fluid communication with an energy source thereby allowing a wavefront to travel through said lumen;
• and
• six micro-channels-positioned on said lumen, each having a helical pattern, such that a first three of the six micro-channels are equally spaced and are in a clockwise rotational direction with respect to the distal end and a second three of the six micro-channels are equally spaced and are in a counter clockwise rotational direction with respect to the distal end, and wherein the starting position of the first three micro-channels with respect to the distal end and the starting position of the second three micro-channels with respect to the distal end are offset from each other such that the first three micro-channels intersect the second three micro-channels at a desired distance from the distal end.

A method for emulsifying tissue, said method comprising the following steps:

• (a) providing a surgical tip for the emulsification of tissue, comprising:
• an elongate hollow member including a wall defining a lumen, said elongate hollow member further having a proximal end and a distal end;
• and
• means for connecting said proximal end of said elongate hollow member in fluid communication with an energy source;
• (b) applying suction to the surgical tip such that tissue proximate the distal end can be suctioned into the surgical tip;
• and
• (c) positioning the distal end near tissue to be emulsified,
• wherein at least one micro-channel is positioned on said wall, wherein said micro-channel has a helical pattern.