Porcine lens nuclei as a model for comparison of 3 ultrasound modalities regarding efficiency and chatter.

PURPOSE

To validate a porcine lens model by comparing density and ultrasound (US) with known human standards using the Infiniti Ozil with Intelligent Phacoemulsification (torsional), Whitestar Signature Micropulse (longitudinal), and Ellips FX (transversal) modalities.

SETTING

Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.

DESIGN

Experimental study.

METHODS

Lens nuclei were formalin soaked in hour-based intervals and divided into 2.0 mm cubes. Density was characterized by crushing experiments and compared with known human measures. Efficiency and chatter were examined.

RESULTS

The mean weight to cut thickness in half ranged from 16.9 g ± 5.5 (SD) in the 0-hour group to 121.3 ± 47.5 gm in the 4-hour group. Lenses in the 2-hour group (mean 70.2 ± 19.1 g) best matched human density (P=.215). The mean efficiency ranged from 0.432 ± 0.178 seconds to 9.111 ± 2.925 seconds; chatter ranged from zero to 1.85 ± 1.927 bounces. No significant difference was detected when comparing the 2-hour formalin group with human lenses in torsional and transversal US. There was no significant difference between transversal and torsional modalities, consistent with human studies. Although longitudinal (6 milliseconds on, 12 milliseconds off) was significantly more efficient at 50% power than at 25%, there was no significant difference compared with transversal or torsional US.

CONCLUSIONS

Animal lenses soaked for 2 hours in formalin were most comparable to human lenses. Longitudinal US may be an acceptable alternative to torsional and transversal US.