• About Us
  • What We Do
  • Leadership
    • Board of Directors
    • National Medical & Scientific Advisory Committee
    • International Advisory Committee
  • U.S. Locations
  • International Programs
    • IFETB Members
  • Research
  • Medical Education
  • Collaborations
  • Accreditation and Licensure
  • Annual Report
• TBI Tissue Services
  • VisionGraft Ocular Tissue Services
  • TranZgraft Allograft Tissue Services
• About Tissue Donation
  • Become a Donor
  • Donation Facts
  • Stories of Hope
• TBI Centers of Excellence
  • National Eye Bank Center
  • National Processing Center
• Support TBI
  • Make a Contribution
  • Run for Mobility & Vision
  • Frederick N. Griffith Foundation
  • Donate Online

Press Room

Tissue Banks International Expands Use of IntraLase Technology in Eye Banking Through Support from Abbott

Generous Donation and Ongoing Collaboration Promote Innovation in Tissue Preparation, More Surgeon Customization

BALTIMORE, Maryland, July 14, 2010 – Tissue Banks International (TBI) is pleased to announce a generous gift-in-kind from Abbott valued at $500,000. The gift represents use of the IntraLase Femtosecond Laser to prepare corneas for transplant at TBI’s National Eye Bank Center (NEBC).

This donation signifies a continued collaboration between the two organizations as they utilize the cutting-edge laser technology to better meet the needs of surgeons and patients. TBI staff is involved in clinical research with several surgeons to explore further potential for use of the IntraLase femtosecond laser in corneal transplantation, particularly in the area of lamellar keratoplasty.

TBI’s NEBC was one of the first eye banking facilities to utilize the IntraLase femtosecond laser for preparation of corneas for IntraLase Enabled Keratoplasty (IEK). The IEK technique gives surgeons the ability to precisely create uniquely shaped corneal incisions — delivering the potential for faster healing and improved visual recovery. At NEBC, IntraLase-certified technicians prepare the cornea allograft to precisely match the surgeon’s planned cut.

TBI also uses the IntraLase Femtosecond Laser extensively in the preparation of its VisionGraft Sterile Cornea, which is used in tectonic ophthalmic procedures. The laser is used to prepare specialized cornea allografts for applications including patches for glaucoma tube shunt surgery and tissue for keratoprosthesis surgery.

“We strongly believe in the mission of Tissue Banks International and the National Eye Bank Center to relieve human suffering through transplantation,” said Jim Mazzo, senior vice president, Abbott Medical Optics. “Our gift represents Abbott’s commitment to both expanding and refining the use of femtosecond laser technology in cornea transplantation to help restore vision to those in need.”

“Abbott’s donation represents the largest gift-in-kind received in the history of TBI, and it marks an exciting milestone for our organization and for the NEBC in particular,” said Kathleen Terlizzese, President of the Frederick N. Griffith Foundation, TBI’s supporting foundation.

“TBI is dedicated to helping the entire eye banking and ophthalmic communities discover methods to maximize the benefits of this exciting technology,” said TBI President and CEO Gerald Cole. “More surgeons are looking for pre-cut tissue, prepared to their exact specifications. Use of the IntraLase laser to provide these services is an area of rapid innovation, and we are proud to be a leader in this arena.”

About TBI/Tissue Banks International

Non-profit TBI/Tissue Banks International, founded as a single eye bank in 1962, today is a far-reaching network of medical eye and tissue banks throughout the United States and around the world. TBI’s mission is “to relieve human suffering by facilitating the donation, retrieval, processing and equitable distribution of corneal and other cadaveric tissue for transplantation, research and other medical needs worldwide.” For more information from TBI, visit www.tbionline.org.