A promising approach in laser vitrectomy executed by plasma-mediated removal of vitreous body via a diode-pumped Q-switched Nd:YAG laser

Scientific Reports, vol. 10, pp. 21710

Abstract

Abstract To examine the applicability of plasma-mediated vitreous body removal, a diode-pumped Q-switched Neodymium:YAG laser was used for a possible application in eye surgery/vitrectomy. On a total of 1500 porcine vitreous bodies, removal rates were evaluated by comparing different LaserVit-tip designs (Mark I/II Gauge 19 and Mark III Gauge 22). The Nd:YAG laser, operating at a wavelength of 1064 nm and a pulse duration of 4 ns, was utilized for vitreous body removal with respective settings of 2, 3 and 4 mJ and pulse repetition rates (cut rates) from 5 to 25 Hz (300–1500 /min) in 5 Hz-steps as well as for 100 Hz (6000 cuts/min). The exposure times were selected at 10, 20, 40 and 60 s, respectively. Comparative measurements were carried out with mechanical cutters (Gauge 20 and Gauge 23), applying a fixed cut rate of 800 /min (13.33 Hz) at identical exposure times. The LaserVit-tips showed successful vitreous body removal for all laser settings and exposure times (Mark I: 6.2 g/min, Mark II: 8.2 g/min at 1500 cuts/min and 3 mJ, Mark II: 10.1 g/min, Mark III: 3.6 g/min at 6000 cuts/min at 3 mJ). Similar tip-dimensions (Gauge 22laser and Gauge 23cutter) showed comparable removal rates of 3.6 g/minlaser and 1.3 g/mincutter with settings of 6000 cuts/min at 3 mJ (laser) and 800 cuts/min for the mechanical cutter. A diode-pumped Q-switched Nd:YAG laser can successfully and gently remove vitreous body. The efficiency of the laser was comparable to that of mechanical cutters in terms of quantity of material removed per time unit.

Authors 7

1. Daniel Uthoff corresponding Aachen Aachen Centre of Technology Transfer in Ophthalmology (ACTO e.V.) An-Institute

   RWTH Aachen University · Aachener Centrum für Technologietransfer in der Ophthalmologie

   Affiliation as printed

   Aachen Center of Technology Transfer in Ophthalmology (ACTO E.V.), An-Institute RWTH Aachen University, Karlsburgweg 9, 52070, Aachen, Germany. uthoff@acto.de

   Aachen Center of Technology Transfer in Ophthalmology (ACTO E.V.), An-Institute RWTH Aachen University, Karlsburgweg 9, 52070, Aachen, Germany

2. Rita Oravecz Aachen Aachen Centre of Technology Transfer in Ophthalmology (ACTO e.V.) An-Institute

   RWTH Aachen University · Aachener Centrum für Technologietransfer in der Ophthalmologie

   Affiliation as printed

   Aachen Center of Technology Transfer in Ophthalmology (ACTO E.V.), An-Institute RWTH Aachen University, Karlsburgweg 9, 52070, Aachen, Germany

3. Romina Kuehnl

   Ansbach University of Applied Sciences

   Affiliation as printed

   University of Applied Sciences Ansbach, Ansbach, Germany

4. Friederike Rubin-Schwarz

   University of Lübeck

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Biomedical Optics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany

5. Matthias Frentzen

   University of Bonn

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Operative and Preventive Dentistry, Bonn University, Bonn, Germany

6. Norbert Franz Schrage Aachen Aachen Centre of Technology Transfer in Ophthalmology (ACTO e.V.) An-Institute

   RWTH Aachen University · Aachener Centrum für Technologietransfer in der Ophthalmologie

   Affiliation as printed

   Aachen Center of Technology Transfer in Ophthalmology (ACTO E.V.), An-Institute RWTH Aachen University, Karlsburgweg 9, 52070, Aachen, Germany

7. Jörg Meister

   University of Bonn

   Affiliation as printed

   Center of Applied Medical Laser Research and Biomedical Optics (AMLaReBO), Bonn University, Bonn, Germany

   Center of Dento-Maxillo-Facial Medicine, Bonn University, Bonn, Germany