Translational Vision Science & Technology
Physical Parameters Influencing the Rate of Subretinal Injection: A Microfluidic Analysis
By Aaron Nagiel and Lamberto Rondoni.
Abstract
Purpose
Subretinal injection during vitrectomy has become an important technique owing to the growing number of cell and gene therapy trials for retinal disease. Reducing the injection rate can mitigate trauma or shear forces on the retinal pigment epithelium, yet many surgeons alter the subretinal injection system in ways that could influence this rate.
Methods
We created a theoretical model of a standard subretinal injection system by applying the Hagen–Poiseuille equation, assuming steady, incompressible, laminar flow of a water-like Newtonian fluid. The system consisted of the vitrectomy console, plastic tubing, the MedOne Microdose kit, and the MedOne 38G/41G subretinal cannula set.
