Publications by authors named "Carlo Malvasi"

Purpose: To establish a correlation between phacoemulsification tip normalized driving voltage (NDV) and crystalline lens hardness and use it as an objective measure of lens hardness. The study used a phaco tip equipped with previously validated elongation control adjusting the driving voltage (DV) to produce invariant elongation regardless of resistance.

Methods: The laboratory study measured the mean and maximum DV of the phaco tip immersed in glycerol-balanced salt solution and correlated the DV with the kinematic viscosity at 25, 50, and 75 µm tip elongation.

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Purpose: To measure the hydraulic resistance (HR) of vitreous cutters equipped with a Regular guillotine Blade (RB) or double edge blade (DEB) at cut rates comprised between 0 and 12,000 cuts per minute (CPM) and compare it with vitreous fragment size. This was an in vitro experimental study; in vivo HR measure and vitreous sampling.

Methods: HR, defined as aspiration pressure/flow rate, was measured in balanced salt solution (BSS; Alcon, Fort Worth, TX) (in vitro) and during pars plana vitrectomy of 20 consecutive patients aged 18 to 65, undergoing macular surgery.

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Purpose: To characterize the fluidics of axial rotating vitreous cutter probe (RT) compared with the standard guillotine (regular blade), when tested in Balanced Salt Solution (Alcon Laboratories, Forth Worth, TX).

Methods: RT and regular blade (RB) cutter probes connected to the same vitrectomy console used a peristaltic pump. The authors measured instantaneous flow through aspiration tubing proximal to the handpiece, fluid velocity, and acceleration at the port by means of particle image velocimetry.

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Purpose: Unexplained visual field loss after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) has been reported in up to 14% of all uncomplicated cases with signs varying from visual field defect and disc pallor, to optic atrophy, loss of vision, and phthisis bulbi. Among the postulated pathogenic mechanism is ocular hypoperfusion due to insufficient blood pressure (NBP) and/or elevated IOP, or to their mismatch. The purpose of this study is to assess if, to what extent, and for how long the intraoperative simultaneous variation of IOP and NBP causes mean ocular perfusion pressure (MOPP) to drop below values considered safe, during PPV.

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Purpose: We report on instantaneous volumetric flow rate of vitreous cutters measured by means of particle image velocimetry (PIV).

Methods: In an in vitro experimental study, vitreous cutters mounting a regular blade (RB) or modified Twedge blade (TB) engineered for higher flow were connected to a console machine equipped with a double peristaltic and Venturi pump, and immersed in balanced salt solution (BSS). Instantaneous flow was measured on aspiration tubing sections proximal to the cutter hand piece.

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Purpose: To assess the efficacy of novel vitreous cutter blades compared with the regular guillotine by means of particle image velocimetry. Tested blades included a regular blade (RB) and newer designs where a circular (hole blade [HB]) or a slit aperture (slit blade [SB]) had been opened proximal to the cutting edge.

Methods: Twenty-three-gauge probes were immersed in BSS or egg albumen, and high-speed video (1,000 frames per second) was recorded.

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Purpose: To characterize the fluidics of vitreous cutter port in response to aspiration and blade motion using particle image velocimetry techniques. Diverse surgical scenarios and fluid characteristics were replicated.

Methods: The 23-gauge vitreous cutters were immersed in seeded Balanced Salt Solution (BSS) (Alcon, Forth Worth, TX) or egg albumen, and high-speed video was recorded.

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