Patent ID: 8048020

Claim:
A method of controlling a surgical system, the surgical system having an ultrasound handpiece, the ultrasound handpiece having a cutting tip, the method comprising the steps of: establishing a threshold temperature; monitoring an irrigation pressure in a line running to the ultrasound handpiece; calculating a rate of flow of the irrigation fluid; determining a heat absorption capacity for the calculated rate of flow of irrigation fluid; determining a temperature of an eye based on the determined heat absorption capacity and an amount of power being supplied to the ultrasound handpiece; comparing the determined temperature of the eye to the threshold temperature; and determining a rate of change of the irrigation pressure; determining a stage of occlusion based on the rate of change of the irrigation fluid; and if necessary, adjusting an amount of power delivered to the cutting tip of the ultrasound handpiece based on the determined stage of occlusion and based on the comparison of the determined and threshold temperatures by enabling torsional vibration of the cutting tip.