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Pressure sensitive device for intracorneal dissection depth assessment in deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty

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First Author: A.Iovieno CANADA

Co Author(s):    C. Salito   D. Bovio   L. Fontana              

Abstract Details

Purpose:

The aim of this study was to develop and test an innovative and inexpensive device for semi-quantitative determination of intracorneal dissection depth during deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK).

Setting:

Department of Ophthalmology, Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia and Biocubica LLC, Milan

Methods:

A prototype device (Eye-CoDe) was designed to determine depth of intrastromal placement of a cannula based on the rebound pressure of an air stream emitted by a software controlled generator. Ex vivo testing of the device was conducted in two experiments. In the first experiment, DALK "Big Bubble" technique was attempted on corneas mounted on an artificial anterior chamber. In the second experiment, the cannula/syringe connected to Eye-CoDe was purposely introduced at different depths (superficial stroma, deep stroma, anterior chamber) under anterior segment OCT guidance. Signal generated by Eye-CoDe was recorded during placement of the cannula

Results:

In the first experiment, "Big bubble" dissection was succesful in 14 out of 25 cases. In all succesful cases, Eye-CoDe was capable of detecting a measurable and repeatable decrease in tissue rebound pressure, which was not recorded in unsuccesful cases. In the second experiment, placement of the cannula at different stromal depths as measured by anterior segment OCT allowed detection of decrease in tissue rebound pressure only when the cannula was positioned within 100 microns circa from the endothelial plane

Conclusions:

The Eye-CoDe was shown ex vivo to produce a signal corresponding to deep placement of a DALK cannula and consequently effective pneumatic dissection via "Big Bubble" technique. The use of such device could greatly aid in obtaining repeatable results in DALK

Financial Disclosure:

... has significant investment interest in a company producing, developing or supplying product or procedure presented