OPTIKON CRYO-LINE - General Information; Theory of Operation; System Description

CRYO-LINE Manual for installation and use
OPTIKON 2000
Code 131002 EN 2014-02-06 Rev.F
5-1
5. GENERAL INFORMATION
5.1 THEORY OF OPERATION
The OPTIKON CRYO-LINE medical device uses the physical principle of the Joule-
Thomson effect, for which certain types of high-pressure gases, if made to expand
without exchanging heat with the exterior, have a temperature variation that depends
on the initial temperature and pressure, the final pressure and the chemical composition
of the gas. The equation that governs this principle is the following:
0
=
∂
∂
=
H
P
T
µ
where µ represents the Joule Thomson coefficient. The gases used with the CRYO-LINE
system are Nitrogen Protoxide (N
2
O) and Carbon Dioxide (CO
2
), both with a positive
Joule Thomson coefficient at room temperature.
5.2 DESCRIPTION OF THE SYSTEM
The Optikon CRYO-LINE medical device has been designed to be used in ophthalmic
surgery by trained personnel. In particular, the surgical procedures in which the device
can be used are listed below:
• Cataract
• Glaucoma
• Detachment of the retina
• Vitrectomy
The OPTIKON CRYO-LINE medical device uses medical-type Nitrogen Protoxide (N
2
O) or
Carbon Dioxide (CO
2
) from cylinders without a siphon in order to obtain freezing
temperatures below –60°C.
The OPTIKON CRYO-LINE device is composed of a control console and a footswitch.
Available accessories include a series of cryosurgical probes, gas filter and instrument
cart with cylinder housing.
Some probes are equipped with a thermocouple that allows to measure the temperature
reached at the end of the probe. The temperature, measured continuously, is displayed
on the console display, in Celsius (°C) or Fahrenheit (°F). The probes are made in
materials with high thermal conductivity so as to be able to cool and defrost very
quickly. The cable of the probe is two metres long.