Importance

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Abstract

A phacoemulsification needle is disclosed having a hollow member with an inner surface, an outer surface, and a distal end tip. The distal end tip has an outer edge portion and an inner edge portion both of which are rounded to eliminate any sharp edges. The needle can be used to deliver ultrasonic energy to a surgical site, such as a cataract, to emulsify unwanted tissue and to aspirate the tissue through the lumen of the hollow member without using any sharp surfaces for cutting. The rounded outer and inner edge portions of the distal end tip of the needle increase the safety of the surgical procedure by reducing the risk of damage to the capsule or other intraocular structures or tissues near the surgical site. This improvement in safety has allowed the development of new needle configurations to improve the efficiency of phacoemulsification, several of which are disclosed herein.

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First Claim