Stroke dynamics and frequency of 3 phacoemulsification machines.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the working frequency and the stroke dynamics of the phaco tip of 3 phacoemulsification machines.


METHODS
University Eye Clinic of Trieste, Italy.


METHODS
Experimental study.


METHODS
A video wet fixture was assembled to measure the working frequency using a micro camera and a micropulsed strobe-light system. A different video wet fixture was created to measure tip displacement as vectorial movement at different phaco powers using a microscopic video apparatus.


RESULTS
The working frequency of the Infiniti Ozil machine was 43.0 kHz in longitudinal mode and 31.6 kHz in torsional mode. The frequency of the Whitestar Signature machine was 29.0 kHz in longitudinal mode and 38.0 kHz with the Ellips FX handpiece. The Stellaris machine had a frequency of 28.8 kHz. The longitudinal stroke of the 3 machines at different phaco powers was statistically significantly different. The Stellaris machine had the highest stroke extent (139 μm). The lateral movement of the Infiniti Ozil and Whitestar Signature machines differed significantly. No movement on the y-axis was observed for the Infiniti Ozil machine in torsional mode. The elliptical path of the Ellips FX handpiece had different x and y components at different phaco powers.


CONCLUSIONS
The 3 phaco machines performed differently in terms of working frequency and stroke dynamics. The knowledge of the peculiar lateral and elliptical path strokes of Infiniti and Whitestar Signature machines may allow the surgeon to fully use these features for lens removal.
University Eye Clinic of Trieste, Trieste, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Chieti, Pescara, Italy. tognetto@units.it
Daniele
D
Tognetto
Paolo
P
Cecchini
Pia
P
Leon
Marta
M
Di Nicola
Giuseppe
G
Ravalico
D000085:Acetates; D004338:Drug Combinations; D008903:Minerals; D009038:Motion; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D014741:Video Recording
D000085:Acetates; C030660:BSS solution; D004338:Drug Combinations; D008903:Minerals; D012965:Sodium Chloride