title: Comparison of attraction capabilities associated with high-speed, dual-pneumatic vitrectomy probes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure membrane attraction capabilities of enhanced 27-gauge, enhanced 25-gauge, and 23-gauge vitrectomy probes under various parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  A membrane-on-cantilever apparatus was used to measure membrane attraction for enhanced 27-, enhanced 25-, and 23-gauge UltraVit probes (n = 6 for each). The following parameters were evaluated: effects of cut rates and duty cycles on membrane attraction distances, and flow rates and vacuum levels required to attract a membrane at a fixed distance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The enhanced 27-gauge probe had the shortest attraction distance across all cutting speeds and duty cycles. To attract a membrane at a fixed distance, increasing vacuum was necessary with higher cutting rates and smaller probe gauges but flow rate remained relatively constant. The biased open duty cycle was associated with a longer attraction distance than 50/50 or biased closed modes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The shorter membrane attraction distance of the enhanced 27-gauge probe versus 23-gauge and enhanced 25-gauge probes may permit greater membrane dissection precision while providing improved access to small tissue planes. Equivalent fluid flow capabilities of the 27-gauge probe compared with the 23-gauge and 25-gauge probes may provide efficient aspiration. Surgeon selection of duty cycle modes may improve intraoperative fluid control and expand the cutter utility as a multifunctional tool.
authors.affiliation: *Retinal Consultants of AZ, Ltd, Phoenix, Arizona; and †Global Medical Affairs, Alcon Research, Ltd., Irvine, California.
authors.forename: Pravin U
authors.initials: PU
authors.lastname: Dugel
authors.forename: Dina J K
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Abulon
authors.forename: Ramon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dimalanta
mesh_terms: D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000295:instrumentation; D008954:Models, Biological; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology*; D013396:Suction; D014618:Vacuum; D014741:Video Recording; D014821:Vitrectomy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000601:surgery*