Open AccessDevelopment of an adjustable suture for trabeculectomy
Author(s) -
Yongjun Lai,
Husam Elkaseh,
Robert J. Campbell
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of biomedical engineering and informatics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2377-939X
pISSN - 2377-9381
DOI - 10.5430/jbei.v3n2p55
Subject(s) - trabeculectomy , fibrous joint , intraocular pressure , glaucoma , medicine , glaucoma surgery , surgery , ophthalmology
This study reports a new suture design that enables simple, controlled intraocular pressure (IOP) adjustments in the postoperative period after trabeculectomy surgery, a common operation used in the treatment of glaucoma. Detailed configuration of this novel suture design and the process of fabricating the new sutures are demonstrated. Ex-vivo testing with prototyped sutures has demonstrated IOP drops of over 50% following suture adjustment. The concept of using adjustable suture to realize controllable IOP drop in the post trabeculectomy treatment is proved to be feasible.