No abstract

No abstract

A new easy-to-use instrument for irrigation and aspiration of cataractous lenses is described, combining advantages of a number of akeady existing instruments.The increasing demand for safe methods of extracapsular cataract extraction has led us to the construction of an instrument for irrigation and aspiration of cataractous lenses ( fig. 1) that combines the best features present in existing instruments, like those of Fuchs (1952), Kelman (1970) and Setiawan-Ong and co-authors (1972).The advantages are: 1) bimanual as well as monomanual manipulation of the instrument in the anterior chamber enables the surgeon to fragmentize the nucleus of the lens and at the same time, to deal with aspirated parts of the lens capsule; 2) pedal-controlled switch to change from one hand to the other, in order to assure continuous stability of the handpieces; 3) a safety valve to prevent too strong suction; 4) easy sterilisation; 5) relatively low cost. DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION OF THE INSTRUMENTThe irrigation flow is regulated by the height of the bottle containing the irrigation fluid. Aspiration is realised by a peristaltic rotation pump ( fig. 2).Before using the instrument, the sihcone tubes have to be filled with irrigation fluid. This is done by pressing the ,,filling speed" switch on the front plate of the apparatus (fig. 2). This switch operates the peristaltic rotation pump at high speed and connects the aspiration and irrigation lumina of the cannula by applying an occluding cap at the top.Two foot switches, that are connected to two pairs of coupled valves ( fig. 2; arrows), enable the surgeon to change from right hand irrigation-left hand aspiration to right hand aspiration-left hand h'rigation. When the switches are in neutral position, both irrigation and aspiration stop. 279

No abstract