Calorimetric Assessment And Fluid Dynamics Of Phaco Tips

To evaluate the dispersion of heat and fluid dynamics of different phaco tip designs and surgical platforms

Experimental in vitreo setting

Phaco tips of 2 leading surgical platfoms were immersed in 1.5 cc of BSS witin an insulated calorimetric cell and heat dispersion within the BSS volume measured with a thermocouple at varying ultrasound settings and modalities; longitudinal, torsional, combined. The fluid velocity around phaco tips was also measured with particle image velocimetry techniques after injectinf neutral beads in a test chamber. Straight, flared and bent tips were analyzed.

Straight tips in longitudianal mode determined the lowest velocities followed by flared tips and bent tips. Calorimetric measures showed a higher production of heat per unit time by longitudinal stroke with bent tips, followed by combined longitudinal and torsional strokes and torsional strokes alone. 

The shape of phaco tip and stroke modality largely influences fluid velocity and heat dispersion during in vitreo assessment.