A phacoemulsification needle includes a body having an aspiration lumen therethrough along with a hub disposed at a proximal end of the needle body for engaging an ultrasonic handpiece in order to couple ultrasonic energy into a needle body. A tip is provided at a distal end of the needle body for penetrating tissue to be emulsified and a conical ultrasonic surface disposed at the tip is provided for focusing ultrasound in tissue beyond an end of the tip in order to promote cavitation in tissue beyond the tip end. The conical ultrasonic radiation surface extends from the lumen to the end of the tip.