 Constellation offers technological
advances for VR surgery
Vitreoretinal surgeons from
around the country attended
the 5th annual VR meeting in
Auckland last month. Sponsored
by Alcon, the interactive meeting was
held in one of the new wetlabs at the
Department of Ophthalmology.
The timing was perfect for the VR
specialists who got the opportunity to
gain some ‘hands-on’ experience with the
very latest piece of equipment for vitreous
surgery, the Constellation Vision System.
Julian Knaggs from Alcon said the
Constellation Vision System is the result
of years and years of R & D. It contains
many of the features from the Accurus and
incorporates improvements in virtually
all aspects of surgical functionality and
performance. Julian said the big advances
on previous technology lie in three key
areas: infusion, cutting and aspiration.
For the first time, this new system
monitors infusion pressure enabling the
surgeon to adjust and control IOP during
retinal surgery. It features advanced xenon
illumination and an embedded 532-nm
laser is an option.
The advanced Ultravit Vitrectomy
Probe technology in concert with the
Constellation Vision System enables
vitrectomy and membrane dissection at
previously unattainable cut rates of 5000
cuts per minute and variable duty cycles
(port open v’s port closed). The pneumatic
Ultravit Probe design draws from the
best features of the Accurus and Innovit
Probes and incorporates all-new patented
technology as well.
This is the first vitrectomy probe
designed for small gauge vitrectomy
survery from the ground up. The probe is
available in 20-, 23- and 25-g formats and
can be configured for additional gauge
sizes, reducing the time it takes to develop
new gauge formats.
It’s been 11 years since the release of
the Accurus and although there have been
a number of significant upgrades to that
system, the Constellation represents a
major shift in design and functionality.
Two systems will be used in Auckland, at
Mercy Hospital and Eye Institute, and it is
expected that several more will be in use
around the country before too long.
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