The Vidaurri Fluid Retention Ring is comprised of a metal ring assembly with a vacuum chamber for holding the ring firmly attached to the patient’s cornea. It is connected with small silicone tubing to a vacuum syringe via a blue Luer-Lok hub. The hub should not be disconnected because the silicone tubing can be pinched when re-attaching the hub to the syringe.
The fluid retention assembly consists of an alignment plug that contains crosshairs and a vacuum body that is used to secure the retention ring onto the cornea during the time that treatment fluid is in contact with the corneal surface. The crosshairs help the user to position the retention ring of the center of the cornea.
Important: The Vidaurri Fluid Retention Ring is a disposable instrument that has been sterilized with ethylene oxide. It should not be re-sterilized or reused. Each ring is tested prior to packaging and is ready for use when it is received by the surgeon.
Suggestions for Use
The Vidaurri Fluid Retention Ring should only be used by a licensed physician who is familiar with ophthalmic surgery and with the use of this instrument. The following instructions apply only to the use of this instrument and do not address any of the procedural steps required for surgery:
- Prepare the Vidaurri Fluid Retention Ring in the sterile field. The white plastic centering barrel should be left in place (as it is packaged) and not removed or discarded until after it has been used to position the retention ring on the patient cornea.
- Dry the corneal surface of the patient with a cellulose sponge. Mark the visual axis with a sterile gentian violet marking pen.
- Moisten the corneal surface with balanced salt solution.
- Push the plunger of the syringe all the way in and hold.
- Grasp the fluid retention ring by the knurled pattern using the thumb and index finger of the non-dominant hand. Look through the center of the device, and align the crosshairs with the visual axis mark on the patient’s cornea.
- Gently press the fluid retention ring evenly on the patient?s cornea and release the plunger of the syringe. Test to ensure that vacuum has been obtained and is adequately holding the ring to the cornea. If vacuum is not obtained, check the following:
- A slightly uneven cornea can prevent the fluid retention ring from making complete contact with the cornea. A small amount of viscoelastic applied to the cornea usually improves surface contact.
- Loose epithelium can also prevent the fluid retention ring from making complete contact with the cornea. Remove any loose epithelium and moisten the corneal surface with a balanced salt solution.
- Repeat steps 5 & 6 (see above) and ensure that the syringe plunger is released abruptly.
- Once vacuum has been achieved, carefully remove the white plastic centering barrel from the fluid retention ring and discard.
- To remove the fluid retention ring from the patient, release the vacuum by pushing in the plunger of the syringe, and lifting the instrument from the cornea.
CAUTION:
Before clinical use, the surgeon should thoroughly understand all aspects of the surgical procedure and the use of this instrument.
