Experimental model for analyzing cutting resistance by various knives for cataract surgery

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Surgical Instrumentation
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Modern cataract surgery emphasizes sutureless techniques, highlighting the critical role of wound construction.
• Optimal surgical outcomes depend on high-quality surgical instruments, particularly cataract knives.
• Developing superior cataract knives requires a thorough understanding of their performance characteristics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the cutting characteristics of seven commercially available disposable cataract knives.
• To identify key features contributing to the performance of cataract knives.
• To provide insights for the future development of improved cataract knives.

Main Methods:

• A resistance recording system was utilized to measure cutting resistance.
• Porcine scleral tissues were used to simulate surgical conditions for knife penetration.
• MATLAB software was employed for mathematical analysis of resistance wave shapes and their derivatives.

Main Results:

• Cataract knives exhibited distinct, product-dependent cutting resistance wave shapes.
• Average maximum penetration resistance varied significantly among the tested knives (86.4 to 233 mN).
• First-order time derivatives of the resistance data also showed unique patterns for each knife.

Conclusions:

• An experimental model effectively analyzed a key aspect of cataract knife performance.
• The study provides initial data and a methodology for evaluating cataract knife characteristics.
• This research offers valuable clues for the future design and development of advanced cataract knives.