Article
A new way of controlling Venturi pump flow volume in cataract surgery (K)
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Published: | May 5, 2014 |
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Purpose: In cataract surgery with Venturi pumps, pressure and flow volume cannot be set separately. We studied a way to control flow volume more effectively.
Methods: To decrease the flow volume of a venturi pump without reducing the aspiration pressure, it is necessary to adjust the tube diameter using a separate device which increases the resistance of the aspiration line.
The solution was a separation pipe dubbed “Pinocchio”.
Results: The tube narrows behind the separation Pipe. This allows flow volume to be controlled as low as 40 milliliters per minute even at 300 milliliters of mercury aspiration pressure.
Conclusions: An auxiliary device that can separate vitreous fragments and prevent obstruction, will allow venturi pumps to be used in a wider range of surgical operations, where they might not have been appropriate previously.