Aspiration of Surgical Debris

Effective aspiration of fluids can reduce backwash of micro-debris, meibomian secretions, and contaminants onto the exposed stromal tissues of the flap bed as well as the flap during LASIK surgery.

Conventional LASIK - Throughout the Stage II of the procedure, various ocular secretions and fluids containing meibomian oils, and contaminants from the lashes and lids collect within the cul-de sac spaces. These fluids may creep or backwash onto the open tissues of the highly absorbent flap and stromal bed resulting in possible infectious and inflammatory contamination. In addition these fluids may contribute to over hydration of the flap and stromal target tissue resulting in prolongation of the procedure, delay in flap adherence, and decrease in laser effectiveness.

During the delivery of irrigation fluids, the backwash can “pool” until eventually reaching a level where it “runs off” of the surgical field if it hasn’t been effectively removed by an aspirating lid speculum or absorbed by sponges. (Illustration 26)

Absorption or mechanical removal of this fluid pooling and runoff may reduce levels of exposure.

The use a surgical sponge helps to reduce fluid pooling. However, micro surgical sponges cannot provide surgical field containment and are limited by their absorption capacity and retain and concentrate fluids containing contaminants in or near proximity to the surgical field. Additionally, sponges cannot provide for containment of the surgical field.

Some LASIK physicians use an aspirating lid speculum to reduce fluids in the bed. However, aspirating lid speculums have reduced efficiency in deep-set eyes and cannot prevent backwash of fluids onto the exposed stromal tissues. Additionally, the ports of aspirating lid speculums may become obstructed from the conjunctiva tissues contributing to a reduction of aspiration effectiveness. (Illustration 27)

LAHayeSIK™ Surgical System - LAHayeSIK™ Surgical System is designed to efficiently remove surgical fluids away from the surgical field as soon as any fluid appears throughout Stage II. The aspiration function of the LAHayeSIK™ Surgical System is designed to preemptively remove fluids from the lowest point (lower than the stromal bed and the flap lying on the platform) within the cylinder body of the Handpiece, thereby minimizing backwash or “creep” of fluids onto the open stromal tissues (Illustration 28).

Furthermore, LAHayeSIK™ Surgical System is designed to provide contained irrigation and aspiration to rinse and remove micro-cellular debris, contaminants, and foreign material from the surgical field while simultaneously minimizing backwash onto the exposed stromal tissue of the bed as well as the flap.

Because the LAHayeSIK™ Surgical System aspiration ports are contained within the cylinder body of the LAHayeSIK™ Handpiece there is no chance of obstruction from conjunctivae tissues.

LAHayeSIK™ Surgical System provides the LASIK physician with “hands-free” contained irrigation and aspiration functions to water vacuum the surgical field in preparation for the next important step - replacement of the flap back to its original position.

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