title: The Ultrachopper tip: a wound temperature study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the thermal characteristics of the Ultrachopper and its thermal properties in varied viscosurgical substances.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Ultrachopper (Alcon, Inc) tip with the Infiniti (Alcon, Inc) handpiece was attached to a thermistor and placed in a test chamber filled with either an ophthalmic viscosurgical device (OVD) or balanced salt solution (BSS). The thermistor allowed for continuous monitoring of temperature from baseline and the change that occurred over 60 seconds of continuous run time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean maximum temperature in each OVD exceeded 50°C over the first 25 seconds of continuous run time. The mean maximum temperature was statistically significantly higher with all OVDs (p < 0.0001) when compared with BSS. A small but statistically significant difference in mean maximum temperature was shown between Healon 5 (AMO, Inc) and Viscoat (Alcon, Inc) (p < 0.05). The linear increase in temperature was statistically significantly different with all OVDs compared with BSS (p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The thermal properties of the Ultrachopper tip demonstrate a heat-generating capacity that achieves published thresholds for risk for wound burn.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah. Electronic address: william.barlow@hsc.utah.edu.
authors: William R
authors: WR
authors: Barlow
authors: Jeff
authors: J
authors: Pettey
authors: Randall J
authors: RJ
authors: Olson
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000378:metabolism; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008903:Minerals / Q000378:metabolism; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000378:metabolism; D013817:Thermography; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D055675:Viscosupplements / Q000378:metabolism*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; C030660:BSS solution; D004338:Drug Combinations; D008903:Minerals; D055675:Viscosupplements; D012965:Sodium Chloride