A New Dual Port Cutter System for Vitrectomy Surgery

Purpose: To evaluate and compare the performance of several designs of 20-gauge dual port (DP) vitreous cutter tips with a standard 20-gauge single port tip.

Methods: Custom 20-gauge pneumatic vitreous DP cutter tips with different sizes and port positions were evaluated through porcine vitreous and water flow rates. Five designed and fabricated DP cutter tips were compared with a normal single port control tip and evaluated by the measurement of water and porcine vitreous flow rates, and surgical examination in enucleated porcine eyes.

Results: Some DP tips approached a maximum vitreous and water flow rates, removing water and vitreous faster than the normal control tip. With reference to surgical evaluation, some DP tips performed better than the single port tip for bulk vitrectomy, but none shaved the vitreous base more effectively.

Conclusion: The DP cutter system has the potential to increase the flow rates depending on the size and position of the extra port. In the future, the DP cutter may allow the surgeon to perform bulk vitrectomy more efficiently.