Patent ID: 8267891

Claim:
A phacoemulsification system for use in ophthalmic surgery comprising: a phacoemulsification needle comprising: a hollow shaft; a hub formed at a proximal end of the hollow shaft; and a lumen extending through the hollow shaft and a flared portion, the lumen defining a opening at a distal end of the hollow shaft; and a phacoemulsification irrigation sleeve comprising: an elongated, resilient, tubular body section configured to surround the hollow shaft of the phacoemulsification needle, said tubular body section having a distal end and a proximal end, and an inner surface and an outer surface; an enlarged section formed on the proximal end of the tubular body section and configured to surround the hub of said phacoemulsification needle and for connection to a phacoemulsification handpiece; at least one slitted irrigation port formed adjacent to the distal end of the body section and configured to splay in response to a drop in pressure between the inner surface and the outer surface; and an opening formed at the distal end of the tubular body section, the opening remote from the at least one slitted irrigation port, the opening adapted to accommodate a portion of the hollow shaft of the phacoemulsification needle extending through the opening, wherein the at least one slitted irrigation port comprises an open portion configured to allow a first flow of irrigation fluid during a phacoemulsification procedure and a slitted portion configured to allow an increased flow of irrigation fluid, relative to the first flow, in response to a drop in pressure between the inner surface and the outer surface of the tubular body section.