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New chopper uses ultrasound to divide nucleus
SAO PAULO, Brazil — A new chopper helps divide the cataract nucleus into fine pieces “as if it were cutting a bar of chocolate with a hot knife,” according to the device’s developer.
Luis Escaf, MD, presented his experience with the device, which he called the Ultrachoper, at the World Ophthalmology Congress here. The Ultrachoper has been registered with the U.S. Patent Office, but it is not yet commercially available, he said.
The Ultrachoper attaches directly to a phacoemulsifier and cuts and divides the nucleus using high-frequency ultrasound energy, Dr. Escaf said. The power can be adjusted according to the degree of hardness of the nucleus, he said.
The device can be used in conjunction with conventional ultrasound or with the Aqualase cataract liquefaction system from Alcon.
Dr. Escaf said that 60% to 70% of cataracts in his native Colombia are grade 3 or 4 and that the Ultrachoper has helped him divide even the hardest cataracts into as many as eight to 10 pieces with an easy, clean cutting motion.
“This new development will have very interesting repercussions [for cataract surgeons],” he said.