Conor O’Malley and Ralph Heinz developed three-port vitrectomy with a 20-gauge (0.89 mm) system as well as a lightweight, reusable, bellows-driven, pneumatic, axial cutter driven by the Ocutome 800 console (Berkley Bioengineering, 1972).

I later invented linear (proportional) control of vacuum for Ocutome 8000 with CooperVision engineers after the Ocutome 800 was acquired from Berkley Bioengineering.

Linear suction was developed to enable control of vacuum by the surgeon rather than the circulator. Carl Wang subsequently left CooperVision (Fairport, NY) to start the original MidLabs; I worked with Wang and his engineers to develop the disposable, 20-gauge, pneumatic, axial cutter and higher cutting rates and faster aspiration fluidics. Although I did not own stock or receive any compensation, I helped grow the company until it was acquired by Alcon Laboratories, Inc. (Fort Worth, TX).

Description provided by Steve Charles, MD, FASRS, FACS, FICS, principal architect of Alcon Accurus and Constellation, as well  as the fluidics system of the Alcon Unity VCS CS. He also invented endophotocoagulation. Learn more about Dr. Charles here.