Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026

Assessment of Thermal Damage from Robot-Drilled Craniotomy for Cranial Window Surgery in Mice
Published on: November 11, 2022
Evaluation of drill-induced heat transmission in an orbital model
Patrick Chan1, Gerardo F Graue, Daniel B Pizzarello
1Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA. pc2172@columbia.edu
Purpose:
To evaluate the influence of saline irrigation on temperature rise in orbit bones and the optic canal during high-speed drilling.
Methods:
An experimental study measuring temperature rise in an orbit during high-speed drilling was conducted. The orbital rims, sphenoid bone, and optic canals of 6 unpreserved caprine orbits were drilled with a 3.1-mm diamond drill bit at 35,000 rpm. Each orbit was divided into groups receiving no irrigation, continuous or intermittent external irrigation at 5-second intervals during the procedures. The temperature rise of each site was compared among the groups, along with the duration of drilling.
Results:
The mean (± SD) temperature elevation in the optic canal without irrigation was 2.38 °C (± 0.30 °C). This was significantly higher than in the canals receiving intermittent irrigation (0.90 °C ± 0.40 °C; p < 0.001) and continuous irrigation (0.66 °C ± 0.40 °C; p < 0.001). Mean temperature rise in the orbital rim without irrigation was significantly higher (3.51 °C ± 1.30 °C) than with intermittent (1.05 °C ± 0.31 °C; p < 0.001) and continuous (0.98 °C ± 0.61 °C; p < 0.001) irrigation. Mean temperature rise in the sphenoid was significantly higher (3.68 °C ± 1.66 °C) without irrigation than with intermittent (1.36 °C ± 1.17 °C; p = 0.005) and continuous (0.90 °C ± 0.33 °C; p < 0.001) irrigation. There were no statistically significant differences between any of the intermittent and continuous irrigation groups.
Conclusions:
The presence of either continuous or intermittent irrigation during orbital drilling procedures significantly decreases the temperature rise in the region adjacent to the surgical site. This has important implications for surgical technique when operating near the optic canal. Further studies regarding potential effects on the optic nerve are warranted.
Related Concept Videos
Mechanisms of Heat Transfer II
Electron Orbital Model
The first shell is closest to the nucleus, and it has only one subshell with a single spherical orbital called the...
Mechanisms of Heat Transfer I
Mechanisms of Heat Transfer
Conduction, accounting for approximately 3% of body heat loss at rest, is the process of exchanging heat between molecules of two materials in direct contact. This can result in both heat loss and gain. For instance, when the body is submerged in water, which conducts heat 20 times more effectively than air, it can either lose or gain significant heat.
Mechanism of heat transfer
Stress Concentrations in Circular Shafts

