Modulated pulsed ultrasonic power delivery system and method

An apparatus comprising:

• a handpiece having a needle, said handpiece ultrasonically vibrating said needle;
• a power source for providing pulsed electrical power to the handpiece;
• an input device enabling an operator to select an amplitude of electrical pulses;
• a fluid system configured to provide fluid from the handpiece;
• and
• a controller controlling power supplied to the handpiece during a surgical procedure conducted in a surgical environment, said controller controlling power supplied by applying power during at least one modulated pulsed energy period, said modulated pulsed energy period comprising a relatively high energy pulse sufficient to induce transient cavitation within the surgical environment, followed by a relatively low energy nonzero amplitude pulse, said relatively low energy nonzero amplitude pulse having magnitude less than the relatively high energy pulse.

An apparatus comprising:

• a handpiece having a needle, said handpiece ultrasonically vibrating said needle;
• a power source providing pulsed electrical power to the handpiece;
• an input device enabling an operator to select an amplitude of electrical pulses;
• a fluid system configured to provide fluid from the handpiece;
• and
• a controller controlling power supplied to the handpiece, said controller controlling power supplied by applying power for a higher energy period of relatively higher energy ultrasonic power application followed by applying power during a nonzero lower energy period of nonzero ultrasonic energy having magnitude lower than the relatively higher energy ultrasonic power.

A method for providing modulated ultrasonic energy to an ocular region during a phacoemulsification procedure, the method comprising:

• applying ultrasonic energy to the ocular region using at least one modulated energy period, wherein each modulated energy period comprises:
• applying first ultrasonic energy to the ocular region using a relatively low energy pulse for a first period of time;
• and
• subsequently applying second ultrasonic energy to the ocular region after applying first ultrasonic energy, said second ultrasonic energy applied using a relatively high nonzero energy pulse having magnitude higher than said relatively low energy pulse for a second period of time.

A method for providing modulated ultrasonic energy to an ocular region during a phacoemulsification procedure, the method comprising:

• applying ultrasonic energy to the ocular region using at least one modulated energy period, wherein each modulated energy period comprises:
• applying first ultrasonic energy using a relatively low energy pulse for a first period of time;
• and
• subsequently applying second ultrasonic energy to the ocular region using a relatively high energy pulse after applying first ultrasonic energy;
• wherein applying first ultrasonic energy and subsequently applying second ultrasonic energy induces transient cavitation in fluid within the ocular region.