Effects of the pulsed electron avalanche knife on retinal tissue
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Daniel Palanker; Philip Huie; Steven R. Sanislo; Jason Miller; Mark S. Blumenkranz; Alexander Vankov; Michael Marmor; Andre Branco
- Source
- Archives of ophthalmology (Chicago, Ill. : 1960). 120(5)
- Subject
- Pathology
medicine.medical_specialty
Retina
Materials science
medicine.diagnostic_test
Retinal
Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures
Vitreous Body
Ophthalmology
chemistry.chemical_compound
Retinal tissue
Electron avalanche
medicine.anatomical_structure
chemistry
In vivo
Bovine retina
Microscopy
medicine
Animals
Cattle
sense organs
Rabbits
Electroretinography
Biomedical engineering
- Language
- ISSN
- 0003-9950
Objectives To evaluate the precision of retinal tissue dissection by the pulsed electron avalanche knife (PEAK) and to assess possible toxic effects from this device. Methods To demonstrate precision of cutting, bovine retina (in vitro) and rabbit retina (in vivo) were incised with the PEAK. Samples were examined by scanning electron microscopy and histologic examination (light microscopy). To evaluate possible toxic effects in rabbit eyes, 30 000 pulses were delivered into the vitreous 1 cm above the retina. Histologic examinations and electroretinography were performed at intervals up to 1 month after exposure. Results Cuts in postmortem bovine retina showed extremely sharp edges with no signs of thermal damage. Full-thickness cuts in living attached rabbit retina were similarly sharp and were typically less than 100 µm wide. No signs of retinal toxic effects were detected by histologic examination or electroretinography. Conclusions The PEAK is capable of precise cutting through retinal tissue, and there are no demonstrable retinal toxic effects from its use. The precision and tractionless nature of PEAK cutting offers advantages over mechanical tools and laser-based instrumentation. We believe this new device will prove useful in a variety of vitreoretinal surgical applications.