Study of the possibility of using cavitation microcurrents in an ultrasonic scalpel for the glaucoma treatment

The development of new medical instruments for surgical treatment of glaucoma patients is an urgent scientific and applied task of modern mechanical engineering, since the number of visually impaired people in Ukraine due to glaucoma is growing every year. The role of intraocular pressure (IOP) as a major risk factor in the pathogenesis of glaucoma development and progression has been proven. It has been established that in glaucoma the rate of aqueous humor secretion does not change, while the outflow resistance increases in the area of ​​the trabecular meshwork, which leads to an increase in IOP. A lot of evidence indicates that the resistance to the outflow of intraocular fluid is created in the area of ​​the inner wall of the trabecular meshwork. To date, the exact structural location and molecular nature of the creation of trabecular outflow resistance in the area of ​​the inner wall of the trabecular meshwork have not been precisely established and require further study. Today, the phenomenon of ultrasonic cavitation is widely used in technology, which occurs when high-intensity ultrasonic vibrations are introduced into a liquid and provides high-quality removal of contaminants from surfaces, disinfection, fine atomization, the formation of intense microcurrents, etc. Our work investigates changes in biomechanical reactions as a result of minimally invasive glaucoma surgery - expansion of physiological pathways for the outflow of intraocular fluid (trabecular apparatus, Schlemm's canal, etc.) using procedures using ultrasonic cavitation. By modernizing the phacoemulsifier, an ultrasonic glaucoma scalpel was created, which will allow cleaning the pores of the trabecular meshwork, restoring and maintaining its elasticity, reducing resistance to the outflow of ocular fluid, and reducing intraocular pressure. The use of such a tool will help ophthalmologists perform minimally invasive interventions aimed at normalizing the level of intraocular pressure in a less invasive and safer way, which will contribute to the prevention of progression and successful treatment of glaucoma. The development of the latest medical tools will make it possible to develop individual treatment strategies based on the specific needs and severity of the disease of each patient and create a perfect system of treatment for glaucoma patients.