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The microtrephine
Author(s) -
Schrage Norbert Franz,
Lorenz Ulrich,
Fischern Tatjana,
Reim Martin
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.1994.tb02779.x
Subject(s) - medicine
. We have developed a new tool for obtaining biopsies of the cornea in a manner which is less traumatic than former biopsy techniques. The new instrument consists of a drill with an aperture of 160 μm which functions as a trephine and is powered at 30 000 rpm. The instrument contains a 120 μm mandrel to remove the samples. In order to monitor electrolyte contents in alkali burnt corneas, 32 rabbit eyes underwent an alkali burn of one cornea (1 n NaOH for 30 sec) followed by a sequence of microtrephinations at different times. A total of 81 microtrephinations were performed. Fifty samples were obtained. One corneal perforation occurred. Forty‐four puncture sites were examined by means of histology. Forty‐eight biopsies were examined in a scanning electron microscope and identified as punctures of corneal tissue by way of an energy dispersive X‐ray analysis. Human corneas had been punctured with this device.