Microsurgical roto-extractor instrument for vitrectomy.

A double-edged cutting blade oscillates between a clockwise and a counter-clockwise high speed rotation without completing a full revolution. This imparts a great mechanicaldvantage and safety to the instrument's cutting efficiency. The cutter may also be used with a continuous high speed clockwise rotation. Multiple interchangeable probe tips are used that are of either double- or triple-walled construction. A fiber-optic light pipe surrounds the probe tip used for deep vitrectomy in conjunction with an irrigated fundus lens. A film will illustrate the use of the roto-extractor in two diabetic patients with old unabsorbed vitreous hemorrhage and membranes. In the first case, a pars plana incision was used for vitrectomy in conjunction with a cataract extraction. In the second case, the para plana vitrectomy was combined with an optical iridectomy necessitated by the presence of an updrawn pupil following previous cataract extraction complicated by vitreous loss. To date, 12 roto-extractors have been distributed to 12 various teaching institutions throughout the United States.