Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 1, 2026

The Quantification of Injectability by Mechanical Testing
Published on: May 13, 2020
Comparison of 20-, 23-, and 25-gauge air infusion forces
Leonardo Martins Machado1, Octaviano Magalhães, Mauricio Maia
1Department of Ophthalmology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. leo_m@terra.com.br
Purpose:
To determine and compare 20-, 23-, and 25-gauge retinal infusion air jet impact pressure (force per unit area) in an experimental setting.
Methods:
Experimental laboratory investigation. Infusion cannulas were connected to a compressed air system. A controlled valve mechanism was used to obtain increasing levels of infusion pressure. Each infusion tube was positioned in front of a manual transducer to measure force. Impact pressure was calculated using known formulas in fluid dynamics.
Results:
The 20-gauge infusion jet showed similar impact pressure values compared with the 23-gauge infusion jet. Both showed higher levels than the 25-gauge infusion jet. This was because of the smaller jet force for the 25-gauge system.
Conclusion:
In this experimental study, both the 23- and the 20-gauge air infusion jet showed higher impact pressure values compared with the 25-gauge air infusion jet. This could be of concern regarding air infusion during 23-gauge vitrectomy since retinal damage has been shown in standard-gauge surgeries.
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