Anton Banko

Anton Banko (August 26, 1927 – May 18, 1986) was a Slovenian engineer who co-invented phacoemulsification surgery with Charles Kelman, in June 1971. Banko also developed and patented several ophthalmic surgical techniques, including the procedure for pars plana vitrectomy for which he filed a patent in 1968. In addition, he invented and patented specialized vitreoretinal surgical instrumentation that became foundational to modern vitrectomy systems.

Childhood, youth and education Anton Banko was born on August 26, 1927, in Vadediji, a small village in Žminj on the Istrian Peninsula. During his childhood, he lived with his mother, Lucia Banko, and his two sisters, Maria and Albina, in the nearby town of Kanfanar.

At the time of his birth, Istria was part of Italy, having been annexed in 1920 following World War I. After World War II, most of the peninsula became part of Yugoslavia in 1947 and today lies primarily within Croatia, with its northern portion in Slovenia.

Following a visit to his dentist, Kelman became interested in whether ultrasonic technology can emulsify a cataract, because the dentist was using the ultrasonic dental cleaning equipment manufactured by Cavitron Ultrasonics. According to Kelman’s account in his book Through My Eyes, he approached Cavitron Ultrasonics regarding this possibility. Anton Banko met Kelman for the first time on July 13, 1965.

Based on Banko’s recommendation that ultrasonic energy could be applied to an instrument capable of emulsifying a cataract lens, Cavitron Ultrasonics president Robert E. Navin approved Banko’s proposal on July 14, 1965. Banko was then tasked with designing a prototype instrument intended to remove cataracts through a smaller incision, an approach that became the foundation for modern phacoemulsification cataract surgery.

Based on his experience developing surgical technology with Kelman, Banko became convinced that small-incision surgery represented the future of all surgery. On July 23, 1968, he founded Surgical Design Corporation in Long Island City, New York, to develop and manufacture his small-incision surgical instruments. This approach became a foundation of modern vitreoretinal surgery. These designs attracted the attention of Charles Schepens, founder of the Retina Foundation, who contacted Banko.

During this period, owners of surgical method patents could restrict others from performing a patented procedure without their authorization. Although Banko held a patent covering the pars plana vitrectomy procedure, he chose not to enforce the patent, allowing other surgeons, including Robert Machemer, to perform the first vitrectomy procedure.

The Ocusystem

In 1979, Anton Banko began a series of discussions with ophthalmic surgeons that led him to design a new phacoemulsification surgical system. At the time, Cavitron Ultrasonics was marketing the Cavitron 8000 Phacoemulsifier, a system originally designed by Banko that had subsequently undergone further modifications by other engineers. The Cavitron system used a water-cooled handpiece, in which nonsterile cooling water was circulated around the vibrating magnetostrictive nickel laminations to dissipate the heat generated during operation. The system incorporated several unique design innovations intended to improve surgical control, safety, and efficiency. These included an air-cooled ultrasonic handpiece, automatic ultrasound tuning, surge prevention with vacuum limits, automated ultrasound delivery, pulsed ultrasound modes, and an integrated vitrectomy system. The Ocusystem also incorporated reusable silicone tubing and titanium phacoemulsification tips, which reduced operating costs compared with disposable components.

Legacy In 1986, Anton Banko was diagnosed with dermatomyositis, an inflammatory disease that primarily affected his lungs. He died on May 18, 1986, at the age of 58. At the time of his death, his son William Banko was completing medical school and later assumed management of Surgical Design after graduating. The exhibit includes an earlier model of the Ocusystem as well as the later Ocusystem Advantage, developed by Surgical Design with assistance from Marijan Kosak and his family, including his sons Marko and Marjan and daughter Mateja. The exhibit was designed by Marko Kosak.

Supporting documentation related to Anton Banko’s work, including original patents, technical drawings, and academic documents, has been archived at the National and University Library (NUK) in Ljubljana. Dr. Jana Kolar, director of NUK, accepted the materials for permanent preservation. The director of the Slovenian National Technical Museum, Natalija Polenec, also agreed to preserve the Ocusystem devices displayed at the Ljubljana Eye Clinic.