Sonic WAVE™ Phacoemulsification System (Ultrasound Alternative)
Innovation and attention to detail are what distinguish STAAR® Surgical Company as a technology leader in the ophthalmic industry. The company’s commitment to developing superior technology is evident in its phacoemulsification product line, which includes the Sonic WAVE (an ultrasound alternative that employs the patented PeriVent™ Fluidics for optimum results) and Cruise Control (a high vacuum surgery filter that effectively reduces post occlusion surge). For more information on the full range of STAAR Surgical Company's phacoemulsification equipment and accessories, click on the links below:
- Sonic WAVE System (Currently not available in international markets)
- Cruise Control – High Vacuum Surgery
- Coiled Tubing (Currently not available in international markets)
Sonic WAVE Ultrasound Alternative Phacoemulsification System
The first market-ready ultrasound alternative phacoemulsification system, Sonic WAVE offers ophthalmologists performing cataract and refractive surgery a sonic frequency mode and a traditional ultrasound mode in one phacoemulsification system. (Please note that Sonic WAVE is currently not available in international markets.) By using a footswitch on the Sonic WAVE, surgeons can alternate between low-frequency (40 – 400Hz) sonic pulses and the traditional ultrasound mode.
The Sonic WAVE sonic frequency mode allows a surgeon a more efficient process for cataract removal. Combining the fragmentation ability of device's sonic frequency with its PeriVent Fluidics provides excellent anterior chamber stability and requires between 200 and 1000 times less energy than a traditional ultrasound.
When comparing sonic energy to ultrasound energy, there are:
- No thermal burns
- No irrigation sleeve
- No change in technique
- No loss of efficiency
- No heat
- No cavitations
- No ultrasonic wave turbulence
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In addition to sonic technology, the Sonic WAVE Phacoemulsification System offers additional features exclusive to STAAR Surgical Company. These features include:
Real-time Digital Recording of Surgical Events
The Sonic WAVE Power Touch is a stand-alone Windows-based computer capable of digitally recording surgery in real time along with various phacoemulsification parameters such as vacuum level, irrigation volume, and incision temperature.
UltraVac™
The UltraVac feature of the Sonic WAVE ultrasound alternative phacoemulsification system consists of coiled tubing that allows for unprecedented chamber stability at extreme vacuum levels up to 500 mmHg. The constant movement of fluid within the coils virtually eliminates post-occlusion surge.
PeriVent Fluidics
When compared to conventional peristaltic systems, the Sonic WAVE produces unsurpassed rapid vacuum rise upon occlusion. PeriVent Fluidics, Auto-Correlation™ mode coupled with the Cruise Control filtering device allows for excellent anterior chamber stability at all vacuum levels, even as high as 500mmHg.
Auto-Correlation Mode
Auto-correlation links the vacuum level and the flow rate to increase surgical efficiency.
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Random Pulse™
By constantly varying the pulse rate, free fragments tend to stay closer to the phaco tip.
AutoTune™
The Sonic WAVE ultrasound alternative phacoemulsification system's hand piece does not require pre-tuning or calibration prior to or during surgery. This is true even if the hand piece is changed during surgery.
The phacoemulsification product line from STAAR Surgical Company includes phaco equipment and accessories. Innovative technology (such as PeriVent Fluidics, Auto-Correlation mode, and Cruise Control) separates the Sonic WAVE Phacoemulsification System from all others.
Contact STAAR Surgical Company for a demonstration of the equipment.
Cruise Control
Cruise Control – A Filtering Device That Helps Prevent Surges during Phacoemulsification
What is Cruise Control? Cruise Control is a filtering device developed by STAAR Surgical Company that limits fluid egress by its .3mm opening. This feature prevents post occlusion surge.
Placed between the phaco hand piece and aspiration tubing, the phacoemulsification filtering system captures nuclear material from the phaco tip and only allows clear fluid to pass through the aspiration tubing. This allows for an enhancement of the safety and efficiency of phacoemulsification procedures by prohibiting material from clogging the tubing, eliminating surges, and stabilizing the anterior chamber.
Advantages of Cruise Control:
- Cruise Control removes phaco tip size limits. Larger bore phaco needles can be used safely, reducing overall length of phacoemulsification surgery.
- Cylindrical filter mesh prohibits cataract fragments from passing through aspiration tubing, thereby producing a cleaner surgical environment.
- Surge suppression allows higher vacuum levels to be used.
- Phaco handpiece compatibility allows for easy attachment to the aspiration ports.
- Compatible design allows Cruise Control to be used with the Sonic WAVE and non-STAAR Surgical peristaltic or venturi phacoemulsification machines.
- Cruise Control, PeriVent Fluidics, and Auto-Correlation improve chamber strength at high vacuum levels.
Eye Pressure during an Occlusion Break from 500 MMHG (REGULAR ASPIRATION)
19 Gauge (1.1 mm) Phaco Tip – Bottle Height 70 cm
When breaking occlusions, the pressure in the eye becomes negative, resulting in dimpling or even the collapse of the anterior chamber.
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EYE PRESSURE DURING AN OCCLUSION BREAK FROM 500 MMHG (ASPIRATION WITH CRUISE CONTROL)
19 Gauge (1.1 mm) Phaco Tip – Bottle Height 70 cm
Cruise Control eliminates vacuum surge regardless of the size and configuration of a phaco tip or tubing, even with lower bottle height.
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The cylindrical filter mesh retains all cataract material coming from the phaco hand piece. Only clear fluid flows into the aspiration line. Occlusions and stagnation in the tubing are eliminated.
Since there is not any solid material outside the filter, a flow restriction the size of an I/A port is placed in front of the aspiration tubing. The I/A size restriction reduces the vacuum surges generated during phaco to I/A levels.
Cruise Control limits the flow in a non-linear manner such that only excessive flows are limited. Regular flow rates, below 50 cc/min are not affected.
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Coiled Tubing
Coiled tubing slows the flow in the aspiration line so that the flow exiting the eye is less than or equal to the irrigation flow entering the eye, thus keeping the anterior chamber deep and stable. The flow exiting the eye is slowed by the resistance of the curvature of each coil in the tubing. With multiple coils, the flow can be slowed so the aspiration flow rate is always maintaining equilibrium. (Please note that coiled tubing is currently not available in international markets.)
Advantages of Coiled Tubing
Higher vacuum levels: With coiled tubing, vacuum levels in phacoemulsification surgery can be raised significantly while achieving unprecedented chamber stability. With straight tubing, the anterior chamber may start to collapse at approximately 110mmHg, even with MicroFlow®, MicroFlow Plus®, and Microseal® phaco needles. See charts below.
No Vacuum Surge: With coiled tubing, vacuum surge is eliminated, creating a safer anterior chamber. Because the multiple coils slow the flow out of the eye, fluid in the anterior chamber does not rush into the phaco tip after an occlusion break.
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Note: Even when using MicroFlow, MicroFlow Plus, and Microseal phaco needles with straight tubing, vacuum surge is still created when an occlusion break occurs because fluid in the higher-pressure anterior chamber tends to rush into the lower-pressure phaco tip.
The graph shows the eye pressure versus vacuum for a venturi system with straight and coiled aspiration tubing. It can be seen that the eye pressure is considerably higher with the coiled tubing due to increased fluidic resistance and loss of momentum induced by the continual change of the direction of flow through the coils. The increased eye pressure ensures a deeper, more stable chamber and higher level of safety during surgery. In addition, higher vacuum levels can be achieved.
Example: If straight tubing and a 19-gauge phaco tip were utilized at 200 mmHg, the eye pressure would be less than 5 mmHg. This would lead to a very shallow (almost collapsed) chamber that would make phacoemulsification surgery impossible. With the coiled tubing, the eye pressure is 30 mmHg, which is a normal pressure for performing phacoemulsification surgery. Moreover, with the coiled tubing the eye pressure becomes zero at approximately 400 mmHg, which means that operating at 200 mmHg leaves the surgeon with an additional 200 mmHg of a safety margin.
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Doctor Testimonials:
“I was able to get right next to the capsule in I/A and not worry about [Vacuum] Surge.” – Helen Seward, MD – Shirley Oaks Hospital, England
“Amazing. Can’t believe [Coiled] Tubing can do this. It takes away the fear factor.” 1
“During I/A, I was able to get right next to the capsule and not worry that the capsule is captured into the I/A tip hole. Without coiled tubing, I have to reflux to push the capsule out of the tip.” – Rob Morris, MD – Southampton General Hospital, England
“I was able to increase my vacuum level for segment removal from 110mmHg to 200mmHg without shallowing the AC.” – Helen Seward, MD – Shirley Oaks Hospital, England
“I was able to go to higher vacuum levels to perform a stop and chop technique. I was able to vacuum the epinucleus with higher vacuum (similar to the technique I use with the Allergan Sovereign) without having to worry about vacuum surge and the capsule coming up against the phaco tip. (200mmHg vacuum). With straight tubing and a vacuum level of 80mmHg, I cannot aspirate the epinucleus” – Rob Morris, MD – Southampton General Hospital, England
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Learn More about STAAR Surgical Phacoemulsification Product Lines
From the Sonic WAVE ultrasound alternative device with PeriVent Fluidics to the Cruise Control filtering system that allows for a larger phaco tip to be used during cataract fragmentation, STAAR Surgical's phacoemulsification products support the company's position as a technological leader in the industry. For more information on Sonic WAVE, Cruise Control, or any of our ophthalmic product lines, please contact a STAAR Surgical representative today.
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