title: Three-Dimensional Printing of a Transconjunctival Vitrectomy Trocar-Cannula System.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this paper was to study the feasibility of manufacturing a customizable trocar-cannula system for vitreoretinal surgery utilizing commercially available three-dimensional (3D) printing technology.
  
  
  METHODS
  A digital model of a trocar-cannula system for vitreoretinal surgery was created using computer-aided design (CAD) software and printed utilizing a laser-sintering 3D printer in modified ABS thermoplastic material. The trocar-cannula prototypes were tested in pig eyes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A customizable digital model was created using commercially available CAD software. Three trocar-cannulas were printed. The smallest cannulas that could be printed had dimensions between 21 and 22G. The trocar-cannulas were inserted in pig eyes after performing sclerotomies with a commercially available 20G MVR blade. One cannula broke during insertion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates the feasibility of printing a transconjunctival vitrectomy trocar-cannula system with commercially available 3D print technology. The 3D printer and build material used resulted in trocar-cannulas with functional limitations including a minimum size achievable and mechanical resistance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
authors.forename: Eduardo V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Navajas
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ten Hove
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000072601:Cannula; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004867:Equipment Design; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D013552:Swine; D014821:Vitrectomy / Q000295:instrumentation*