Advanced Approach to Phaco
Abbott Medical Optics' Whitestar Signature phaco system now incorporates Ellips FX Transversal Ultrasound for all its tip styles, straight and curved. The technology refines the original Ellips ultrasound's blended transversal and longitudinal motion with higher frequency cutting performance, a larger zone of tissue removal and reduced clogging for smoother and more efficient lens extraction.

Ellips FX Transversal Ultrasound "? Abbott Medical Optics "? www.amo-inc.com

Reducing Retinal Surgery's Risks
The benefit of 25+ vitrectomy techniques is that they allow surgeons to achieve their goals with reduced surgical trauma, less post-op inflammation, more rapid recovery times and less patient discomfort as compared to standard 20-gauge techniques. Alcon's lightweight, pneumatic, 5,000-cuts-per-minute 25+ Vitrectomy Probe, available in the company's Constellation and Accurus system platforms, is designed for reducing traction and increasing stability when cutting close to the retina.

25+ Vitrectomy Probe "? Alcon Laboratories "? www.alconretina.com

Consistent Corneal Transplants
Angiotech's Tan EndoGlide System for DSEK corneal cell transplants enables surgeons to maintain control of the donor tissue throughout the insertion process while reducing the damage that manipulation poses to the endothelial tissue, says the company. The single-use system consists of a preparation base, glide cartridge and glide introducer that fits through a 4.5mm incision.

Tan EndoGlide System ($225, volume discounts available) "? Angiotech "? www.sharpoint.com

Silicone for Softer Surgery
The flexible, 45-degree-angled tip of the single-use CapsuleGuard I/A Handpiece, for use in 2.2mm to 2.8mm incisions, is made of silicone to facilitate effective cortical removal, capsule polishing, viscoelastic removal and IOL manipulation. Its smooth irrigation and aspiration ports eliminate sharp edges to reduce the risk of capsule rupture. And the semi-transparency of the silicone sleeve enables easy visualization.

CapsuleGuard I/A Handpiece ($330 for box of 12) "? Bausch & Lomb Storz Ophthalmics "? www.storzeye.com/siliconeia.aspx

Improvements on a Microscope
Carl Zeiss Meditec's OPMI Lumera 700 Microscope features motorized magnification control (with the option of coupled or independent magnification and focus on the assistant's scope), a programmable, wireless foot pedal for hands-free scope operation and integrated HD video for documentation and presentation. The Resight Fundus Viewing System is available as an attachment for vitreoretinal surgery, offering edge-to-edge clarity and optional motorized inverters that automatically refocus when the unit is moved in and out of position.

OPMI Lumera 700 Microscope (starting in low $100,000s) and Resight Fundus Viewing System ($24,285 for basic model; $25,920 for motorized model) "? Carl Zeiss Meditec "? www.meditec.zeiss.com/usa

Preloaded IOLs for Predictability
The first and only preloaded intraocular lens injection system currently available on the U.S. market, Hoya's iSert provides predictable and safe insertion of aspheric, glistening-free, hydrophobic, blue-blocking or UV-absorbing acryclic IOLs.

The single-use, self-contained, ready-to-use system, designed for 2.4mm incisions, eliminates the risk of lens damage from misloading and of contamination from endotoxins in poorly reprocessed reusable instruments.

iSert preloaded IOL injection system "? Hoya Surgical Optics "? www.tryisert.com

Monitor and Recorder, Combined
Med X Change's latest high-definition digital recording system, distributed exclusively through Leica Microsystems and compatible with the M800 series of scopes, joins a 19-inch, medical-grade monitor and an HD documentation system for high-resolution image and video display and recording without a cart of equipment. The system, which can be mounted on a scope, boom or workstation, features a 320GB hard drive that can store approximately 50 hours of HD video, 2 USB ports and a CD/DVD recorder for external data transfer.

HDMD system "? Med X Change "? www.medxchange.com

Longer-Lasting Topical Anesthetic
Building on the original TetraVisc topical ophthalmic anesthesia, TetraVisc Forte offers higher viscosity for increased corneal contact time and a longer anesthetic effect. Its rapid and immediate dispersion across the cornea eliminates the need for multiple drops or supplemental intracameral anesthesia, while significantly improving pain levels in post-operative cataract patients, says OcuSoft.

TetraVisc Forte ($17.95 for multi-dose 5mL bottle; $78 for box of 12 single-dose 0.6mL bottles) "? OcuSoft "? www.ocusoft.com

Precise Handling With Forceps
The primary purpose of this multi-functional, stainless steel instrument is the precise handling of intraocular lenses, says Rhein Medical. With the forceps, a physician can lift a lens out of its case, place it in an open cartridge and tamp it down as the cartridge is closed. The cylindrical shape of the forceps' distal end when closed lets the physician push the lens down the cartridge barrel for injection.

Injector cartridge loading forceps ($85) "? Rhein Medical "? www.rheinmedical.com

Rapid Instrument Sterilization
SciCan's Bravo fractionated vacuum chamber autoclave offers sterilization cycles for wrapped and unwrapped, solid and hollow instruments. Its pre-vac cycle removes air to ensure steam penetration, and its rapid cycle times and Dri-Tec vacuum heat drying provide fast turnarounds. Available in 17- or 21-liter chamber capacities, the Bravo offers an optional internal printer or external data logger for cycle documentation.

Bravo (starts at $7,800) "? SciCan "? www.scican.com