Phaco Tip Elongation Consistency Under Load: A Study
Published 2025 - 43rd Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: PO323 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/w2kf-md68
Authors: Panagiotis Garitsis* 1 , Eirini Oustoglou 1 , Ioannis Tsinopoulos 1 , Nikolaos Ziakas 2
12nd Department of Ophthalmology,Papageorgiou General Hospital,Aristotle University of Thessaloniki,Thessaloniki,Greece;School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki,MSc in Ocular Surgery,Thessaloniki,Greece, 22nd Department of Ophthalmology,Papageorgiou General Hospital,Aristotle University of Thessaloniki,Thessaloniki,Greece
Purpose
To measure the efficacy of the new BVI phacoemulsification platform tip elongation control, intended to accomplish consistent tip elongation regardless of encountered resistance. The system “senses” resistance and adjusts phaco tip driving voltage accordingly.
Setting
Optical microscope and high-speed camera setting to measure the phacoemulsification tip elongation immersed in BSS (viscosity 1cPoise = 1 PaS) and 100% glycerol (viscosity 10.000 cPoise = 10.000 PaS).
Methods
The phaco handpiece was immersed in BSS for reference elongation and then in glycerol solutions of increasing viscosity, while keeping constant temperature at 20°C, A high speed camera mounted on optical microscope measured tip elongation with the elongation control system switched on and off.
Results
When the system was on, actual elongation under load conditions remained within 5% of the preset value, regardless of the encountered resistance, while when the system was switched off, the actual elongation reduced by up to 40% under maximum load (100% glycerol solution)
Conclusions
The elongation control system mounted on the new BVI phacoemulsification platform efficiently maintains actual elongation within 5% of the desired value, regardless of resistance. This notion may translate into superior energy delivery, especially when the tip is performing against increased resistance, such as hard cataract nuclei