Corneal endothelial transplantation device

Abstract

The corneal endothelial transplantation device comprises: a balloon in which an expandable / contractible space is formed; and a catheter which provides a fluid for expanding the expandable / contractible space to the balloon. The balloon comprises: a thin-film part; and an expandable / contractible film part which has an edge part fixed to the edge part of the thin-film part such that the expandable / contractible space is formed between the thin-film part and the expandable / contractible film part, and on an outer surface of which a graft for transplantation to a transplantation site is disposed. When the graft is positioned at the transplantation site, the catheter expands the balloon such that the graft is brought into contact with the transplantation site.

Description

Corneal endothelial transplantation device

[0001] The present invention relates to a corneal endothelial transplant device.

[0002] Generally, the cornea is a transparent tissue located on the surface of the eyeball and is one of the main organs that refracts light. The cornea consists of the corneal epithelium, Bowman's layer, corneal stroma, Descemet's membrane, and corneal endothelium.

[0003] Among these, the corneal endothelium is a single layer of cells composed of hexagonal corneal endothelial cells arranged in a paving stone pattern. Due to its barrier and pump functions, the corneal endothelium prevents moisture from the anterior chamber from penetrating the corneal stroma while simultaneously draining corneal moisture toward the anterior chamber, thereby maintaining a constant water content and preserving corneal transparency.

[0004] When corneal endothelial cells are damaged, the cornea repairs itself through cell expansion and migration rather than mitosis; consequently, the cornea swells to several times its normal thickness, becomes opaque, loses its function, and the damage can be permanent. An established treatment for such corneal endothelial damage is corneal endothelial transplantation. This procedure is performed by inserting corneal endothelial tissue into the anterior chamber of the eye, relocating the inserted tissue, and then transplanting it onto the posterior surface of the cornea.

[0005] However, since the corneal endothelium is a very thin tissue, there is a risk of tissue damage when handling it with sharp tools such as forceps. Due to this problem, corneal endothelial transplantation requires highly precise and advanced surgical techniques, making it difficult for patients requiring corneal endothelial tissue transplantation to receive surgery in a timely manner.

[0006] Accordingly, when transplanting corneal endothelium, technology capable of transplanting the corneal endothelium stably and efficiently is required.

[0007] (Prior Art Literature)

[0008] (Patent Document 1) Registered Patent No. 10-2537625 (Registered June 1, 2023)

[0009] The embodiments of the present invention were invented against the background described above, and aim to provide a corneal endothelial transplantation device capable of stably and efficiently transplanting the corneal endothelial during corneal endothelial transplantation.

[0010] A corneal endothelial transplant device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a balloon having an internal expansion space formed therein; and a catheter providing a fluid to the balloon to expand the expansion space, wherein the balloon comprises a thin film portion; and an expansion film portion having an edge portion fixed to the edge portion of the thin film portion so as to form the expansion space between the thin film portions, and having a graft placed on its outer surface for transplantation to a transplantation site, wherein the catheter expands the balloon so that the graft contacts the transplantation site when the graft is positioned at the transplantation site.

[0011] Additionally, the catheter may include a body; a tube disposed in the body to connect the balloon and having a channel formed inside for supplying the fluid to the expansion space; a tube guide for guiding the movement of the tube to allow the balloon to enter and exit; and a control unit for moving the tube.

[0012] Additionally, the adjustment unit may include a moving block disposed to be movable in the front-rear direction on the body, disposed to pass through the tube, and having a rack gear formed on its upper surface; and an adjustment wheel disposed to be rotatably on the body, having a pinion gear formed on its outer surface that meshes with the rack gear.

[0013] In addition, the above-mentioned elastic film portion may be an elastic film that can expand when the catheter supplies the fluid to the expansion space.

[0014] In addition, the above-mentioned expansion film portion has a plurality of micro-holes formed therein that can separate the graft from the surface of the balloon by discharging a predetermined amount of the fluid within the expansion space when the fluid is supplied to the expansion space, and the plurality of micro-holes can be located at the attachment portion of the expansion film portion to which the graft is attached.

[0015] Additionally, the base edge portion of the thin film portion is connected to the lower edge portion of the end of the tube of the catheter, and the base edge portion of the stretchable film portion is connected to the upper edge portion of the end of the tube of the catheter, and when the balloon is discharged from the tube guide of the catheter, both sides of the thin film portion can be unfolded and expanded in both directions, and when the balloon is inserted into the tube guide, both sides of the thin film portion can be rolled and contracted toward the center.

[0016] In addition, the above-mentioned thin film portion may be made of a transparent material that is visible from the outside.

[0017] Additionally, the corneal endothelial transplant device may further include a pressure supplyer that provides positive or negative pressure to the catheter by supplying or withdrawing the fluid to the catheter; a sensing sensor that detects the pressure of the fluid within the expansion space; and a controller that controls the pressure supplyer so that the pressure within the expansion space measured by the sensing sensor satisfies a preset pressure range.

[0018] According to embodiments of the present invention, by supplying a fluid (such as physiological saline) to an elastic film portion to which a graft (e.g., corneal endothelial graft) is attached, thereby inflating the elastic film portion into a balloon shape, the graft can be kept flat without the graft folding, bending, or curling during corneal endothelial transplantation. This eliminates the need for medical personnel to manually unfold the graft, thereby providing the advantage of significantly reducing the procedure time required for corneal endothelial transplantation.

[0019] Furthermore, according to embodiments of the present invention, by forming microholes in the stretchable film portion to which the graft is attached, when the graft is positioned at the graft site on the cornea, the adhesive of the graft can be gradually removed by the continuous supply of fluid through the microholes, and as a result, the graft naturally separates from the stretchable film portion, thereby allowing the graft to be stably attached to the cornea. Ultimately, there is an advantage in that the removal efficiency of the adhesive used to attach the graft to the stretchable film portion can be maximized, and the procedural stability can be guaranteed so that the graft separates from the stretchable film portion and is stably attached to the cornea.

[0020] Furthermore, according to embodiments of the present invention, the thin film portion and the stretchable film portion provide the precise pressure required when expanding into a balloon shape, thereby allowing the graft to adhere closely to the optimal graft site. In addition, since the size of the balloon can be easily adjusted through the injection of air or liquid, there is an advantage of being universally adaptable to various patients and procedural situations.

[0021] In addition, according to the embodiments of the present invention, corneal endothelial transplantation can be performed quickly and safely, thereby increasing the precision and safety of the procedure while minimizing the risk of corneal damage and improving the work efficiency of medical staff.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a corneal endothelial transplant device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 2 is a plan view illustrating the corneal endothelial transplant device of Figure 1.

[0024] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the state in which the balloon of the corneal endothelial transplant device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is discharged from the tube.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the balloon of the corneal endothelial transplant device according to the first embodiment of the present invention in an inflated state.

[0026] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the state in which the balloon of the corneal endothelial transplant device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is contracted and inserted into the tube.

[0027] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a corneal endothelial transplantation device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a corneal endothelial transplantation device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Hereinafter, specific embodiments for implementing the concept of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0030] In addition, in describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of related known components or functions may obscure the essence of the invention, such detailed description is omitted.

[0031] Furthermore, when it is stated that one component is 'connected,' 'supported,' 'connected,' 'supplied,' 'transmitted,' or 'contacted' with another component, it should be understood that while the connection, support, connection, supply, transmission, or contact may be direct to that other component, there may also be other components present in between.

[0032] The terms used in this specification are used merely to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0033] Furthermore, it should be noted in advance that expressions such as "upper side," "lower side," and "side" in this specification are described based on the drawings, and may be expressed differently if the orientation of the object changes. For the same reason, some components in the attached drawings may be exaggerated, omitted, or schematically depicted, and the size of each component does not entirely reflect its actual size.

[0034] Additionally, terms including ordinal numbers, such as first, second, etc., may be used to describe various components, but such components are not limited by such terms. These terms are used solely for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another.

[0035] The meaning of "comprising" as used in the specification specifies certain characteristics, regions, integers, steps, actions, elements, and / or components, and does not exclude the existence or addition of other specific characteristics, regions, integers, steps, actions, elements, components, and / or groups.

[0036] Hereinafter, the specific configuration of the corneal endothelial transplant device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0037] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, the corneal endothelial transplantation device (10) according to the first embodiment of the present invention can attach a graft (T: corneal endothelial graft) to the transplantation site of the cornea during corneal endothelial transplantation. Such a corneal endothelial transplantation device (10) may include a balloon (100) and a catheter (200).

[0038] The balloon (100) can move the graft (T) closer to or further away from the graft site by expanding or contracting. The balloon (100) can be connected to the front end of the catheter (200). An expandable space (101) may be formed inside the balloon (100). The expandable space (101) may be a space that can expand or contract by the inflow or outflow of a fluid (e.g., physiological saline or air). The balloon (100) may include a thin film portion (110) and an expandable film portion (120).

[0039] The thin film portion (110) may be a component forming the lower part of the balloon (100). An elastic film portion (120) may be attached to the thin film portion (110). For example, the edge portion of the thin film portion (110) may be attached to the edge portion of the elastic film portion (120). The thin film portion (110) may form an elastic space (101) together with the elastic film portion (120). The upper surface of the thin film portion (110) may be the lower surface of the elastic space (101). The thin film portion (110) may have an elliptical thin film shape. The thin film portion (110) may be made of a non-elastic material. Since the thin film portion (110) is made of a non-elastic material, when the balloon (100) expands, the thin film portion (110) does not expand, and only the elastic film portion (120) can expand. The thin film portion (110) can be made of a transparent material that is visible from the outside.

[0040] The thin film portion (110) can be connected to the tube (220) of the catheter (200). In other words, the base edge portion of the thin film portion (110) can be connected to the lower edge portion of the end portion of the tube (220) of the catheter (200). The thin film portion (110) can be moved in and out of the tube guide (230) of the catheter (200), which will be described later, by the movement of the tube (220). When the balloon (100) is discharged from the tube guide (230) of the catheter (200), the two sides of the thin film portion (110) can be expanded by unfolding in both directions, and when the balloon (100) is drawn into the inside of the tube guide (230), the two sides of the thin film portion (110) can be rolled toward the center.

[0041] The expandable film portion (120) may be a component forming the upper part of the balloon (100). A thin film portion (110) may be attached to the expandable film portion (120). For example, the edge portion of the expandable film portion (120) may be attached to the edge portion of the thin film portion (110). The base edge portion of the expandable film portion (120) may be connected to the upper edge portion of the end of the tube (220) of the catheter (200). An adhesive may be used for attachment between the expandable film portion (120) and the graft (T). A plurality of micro-holes (not shown) may be formed in the expandable film portion (120). The plurality of micro-holes may discharge a predetermined fluid when a fluid (f) is supplied to the expandable space (101). When the predetermined fluid is discharged through the plurality of micro-holes, the graft (T) may be naturally separated from the surface of the balloon (100). A plurality of micro-holes may be formed at the attachment portion of the elastic film portion (120) to which the graft (T) is attached. When the edge portion of the graft (T) is attached to the edge portion of the elastic film portion (120), a plurality of micro-holes may be formed at the edge portion of the elastic film portion (120).

[0042] The stretchable film portion (120) can form a stretchable space (101) together with the thin film portion (110). The lower surface of the stretchable film portion (120) may be the upper surface of the stretchable space (101). The stretchable film portion (120) may be provided in a shape corresponding to that of the thin film portion (110). The stretchable film portion (120) may be made of a stretchable material. The stretchable film portion (120) may be a high-strength elastic film that can expand when a fluid (f) is supplied to the stretchable space (101). An graft (T) may be placed on the outer surface (surface) of the stretchable film portion (120). The graft (T) may be a corneal endothelial graft that can be implanted into the corneal graft site during corneal endothelial transplantation.

[0043] The catheter (200) can provide fluid (f) to the balloon (100) to expand the expansion space (101). In other words, the catheter (200) can inflate the balloon (100) so that the graft (T) comes into contact with the graft site when the graft (T) is positioned at the graft site. The balloon (100) can be connected to the tip of the catheter (200). The catheter (200) may include a body (210), a tube (220), a tube guide (230), and a control unit (240).

[0044] The body (210) can support a tube guide (230) and a control unit (240). The control unit (240) may be movably installed on the body (210), and the tube guide (230) may be connected to the front end of the body (210). A tube (220) may be positioned to pass through the interior of the body (210). The body (210) may be provided in a gripper shape that can be grasped by a user.

[0045] The tube (220) can receive fluid (f) from an external device and can transfer the received fluid (f) to the balloon (100). A channel through which the fluid (f) can move may be formed inside the tube (220). The tube (220) may be connected to the balloon (100). The tube (220) may be positioned through the tube guide (230) and the body (210). The tube (220) may be made of a flexible material. Such a tube (220) may include a moving tube (221) and a fixed tube (222).

[0046] The moving tube (221) can be moved along the longitudinal direction of the body (210) by the operation of the control unit (240). When the moving tube (221) is moved to the front side of the body (210) by the operation of the control unit (240), the balloon (100) can be discharged from the tube guide (230), and when the moving tube (221) is moved to the rear side of the body (210) by the operation of the control unit (240), the balloon (100) can be drawn into the interior of the tube guide (230). The front end of the moving tube (221) can be connected to the balloon (100), and the rear end of the moving tube (221) can be inserted into and fixed to the front end of the moving block (241) described later. The moving tube (221) can be moved along the longitudinal direction of the body (210) in conjunction with the movement of the moving block (241).

[0047] The fixed tube (222) can receive fluid (f) from an external device and deliver it to the moving tube (221). The fixed tube (222) can be arranged to communicate with the moving tube (221) via the moving block (241). The fixed tube (222) can be fixed to the body (210). The front end of the fixed tube (222) can be inserted into the rear end of the moving block (241) so as to be inserted and removed. When the moving block (241) moves along the longitudinal direction of the body (210), the longitudinal movement of the moving block (241) can be guided by the front end of the fixed tube (222). A tube inlet / outlet (222-1) may be provided at the rear end of the fixed tube (222). An external device for supplying or discharging fluid (f) may be optionally connected to the tube inlet / outlet (222-1).

[0048] The tube guide (230) can guide the movement of the tube (220). A channel through which the balloon (100) and the tube (220) can move may be formed inside the tube guide (230). An opening through which the balloon (100) can enter and exit may be formed at the front end of the tube guide (230). The rear end of the tube guide (230) may be connected to the front end of the body (210). The inner diameter of the tube guide (230) may be larger than the outer diameter of the tube (220).

[0049] The control unit (240) can move the tube (220) along the longitudinal direction of the body (210). The control unit (240) may be a switch for moving the tube (220). The control unit (240) may be controlled by a user. The control unit (240) may be placed on the body (210). The control unit (240) may include a moving block (241) and a control wheel (242).

[0050] The movable block (241) can be positioned to be movable in the front-rear direction on the body (210). The movable block (241) can be positioned so that the tube (220) passes through it. The rear end of the movable tube (221) can be inserted and fixed into the front end of the movable block (241). The movable block can be moved along the longitudinal direction of the body (210) together with the movable tube (221). The front end of the fixed tube (222) can be inserted into the rear end of the movable block (241) so that it can be inserted and removed. A communication space can be formed inside the movable block (241) so that the movable tube (221) and the fixed tube (222) can be inserted and communicate with each other. A rack gear (241-1) can be formed on the upper part of the movable block (241). An adjustment wheel (242) can be engaged with the rack gear (241-1).

[0051] The control wheel (242) may be rotatably positioned on the upper part of the body (210). A pinion gear (242-1) may be formed on the outer surface of the control wheel (242). The pinion gear (242-1) of the control wheel (242) may be positioned to mesh with the rack gear (241-1) of the moving block (241). When the control wheel (242) is rotated in one direction (clockwise in the drawing) by a user, the moving block (241) may be moved forward by the rotation of the control wheel (242), and by the forward movement of the moving block (241), the moving tube (221) may discharge the balloon (100) to the outside of the tube guide (230). When the control wheel (242) is rotated in the other direction (counterclockwise in the drawing) by the user, the moving block (241) can be moved in the rearward direction by the rotation of the control wheel (242), and by the rearward movement of the moving block (241), the moving tube (221) can draw the balloon (100) into the interior of the tube guide (230).

[0052] Meanwhile, in addition to this configuration, a corneal endothelial transplant device according to a second embodiment of the present invention may be provided. Another embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. 6. In describing the second embodiment, since there is a difference in that a separation tube is additionally included compared to the first embodiment described above, the following description will focus on the differences, and the same descriptions and reference numerals will be used by reference.

[0053] Referring to FIG. 6, the separation tube (250) can supply a fluid (e.g., physiological saline, air, etc.) to the stretchable film portion (120). The separation tube (250) can separate the graft (T) from the stretchable film portion (120) by supplying the fluid to the micro-holes of the stretchable film portion (120). The tip of the separation tube (250) can be positioned at the attachment site of the stretchable film portion (120) to which the graft (T) is attached, that is, at the site where the micro-holes are formed. The tip of the separation tube (250) can be connected to the micro-holes. When the fluid is supplied through the separation tube (250), the fluid can be discharged through a plurality of micro-holes, and the graft (T) can be separated from the surface of the balloon (100) by the discharge of the fluid.

[0054] The separation tube (250) can be positioned through the balloon (100) and the tube (220). The separation tube (250) can supply fluid to the stretchable film portion (120) separately from the fluid that inflates or deflates the balloon (100). Thus, regardless of whether fluid is supplied through the tube (220), when the user wishes to separate the graft (T) from the surface of the balloon (100), the user can supply fluid to the stretchable film portion (120) through the separation tube (250).

[0055] In addition, in addition to the configuration according to the second embodiment above, a corneal endothelial transplant device according to the third embodiment of the present invention may be provided.

[0056] Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the corneal endothelial transplantation device according to the present invention will be described. In describing the third embodiment, the same descriptions and reference numerals as those used in comparison with the first embodiment described above will be used by reference.

[0057] Referring to FIG. 7, a corneal endothelial transplant device according to the third embodiment of the present invention may include a balloon (100), a catheter (200), a pressure supply device (300), a sensing sensor (400), and a controller (500).

[0058] The balloon (100) can move the graft (T) closer to or further away from the graft site by expanding or contracting. The balloon (100) can be connected to the front end of the catheter (200). An expandable space (101) may be formed inside the balloon (100). The expandable space (101) may be a space that can expand or contract by the inflow or outflow of a fluid (e.g., physiological saline or air). The balloon (100) may include a thin film portion (110) and an expandable film portion (120).

[0059] The thin film portion (110) may be a component forming the lower part of the balloon (100). An elastic film portion (120) may be attached to the thin film portion (110). For example, the edge portion of the thin film portion (110) may be attached to the edge portion of the elastic film portion (120). The thin film portion (110) may form an elastic space (101) together with the elastic film portion (120). The upper surface of the thin film portion (110) may be the lower surface of the elastic space (101). The thin film portion (110) may have an elliptical thin film shape. The thin film portion (110) may be made of a non-elastic material. Since the thin film portion (110) is made of a non-elastic material, when the balloon (100) expands, the thin film portion (110) does not expand, and only the elastic film portion (120) can expand. The thin film portion (110) can be made of a transparent material that is visible from the outside.

[0060] The thin film portion (110) can be connected to the tube (220) of the catheter (200). In other words, the base edge portion of the thin film portion (110) can be connected to the lower edge portion of the end portion of the tube (220) of the catheter (200). The thin film portion (110) can be moved in and out of the tube guide (230) of the catheter (200), which will be described later, by the movement of the tube (220). When the balloon (100) is discharged from the tube guide (230) of the catheter (200), the two sides of the thin film portion (110) can be expanded by unfolding in both directions, and when the balloon (100) is drawn into the inside of the tube guide (230), the two sides of the thin film portion (110) can be rolled toward the center.

[0061] The stretchable film portion (120) may be a component forming the upper part of the balloon (100). A thin film portion (110) may be attached to the stretchable film portion (120). For example, the edge portion of the stretchable film portion (120) may be attached to the edge portion of the thin film portion (110). An adhesive may be used for attachment between the stretchable film portion (120) and the graft (T). A plurality of micro-holes (not shown) may be formed in the stretchable film portion (120). The plurality of micro-holes can discharge fluid when fluid is supplied through the separation tube (250). When fluid is discharged through the plurality of micro-holes, the graft (T) can be naturally separated from the surface of the balloon (100). The plurality of micro-holes may be formed at the attachment portion of the stretchable film portion (120) to which the graft (T) is attached. When the edge portion of the graft (T) is attached to the edge portion of the stretchable film portion (120), a plurality of micro-holes may be formed on the edge portion of the stretchable film portion (120).

[0062] The stretchable film portion (120) can form a stretchable space (101) together with the thin film portion (110). The lower surface of the stretchable film portion (120) may be the upper surface of the stretchable space (101). The stretchable film portion (120) may be provided in a shape corresponding to that of the thin film portion (110). The stretchable film portion (120) may be made of a stretchable material. The stretchable film portion (120) may be a high-strength elastic film that can expand when a fluid (f) is supplied to the stretchable space (101). An graft (T) may be placed on the outer surface (surface) of the stretchable film portion (120). The graft (T) may be a corneal endothelial graft that can be implanted into the corneal graft site during corneal endothelial transplantation.

[0063] The catheter (200) can provide fluid (f) to the balloon (100) to expand the expansion space (101). In other words, the catheter (200) can inflate the balloon (100) so that the graft (T) comes into contact with the graft site when the graft (T) is positioned at the graft site. The balloon (100) can be connected to the tip of the catheter (200). The catheter (200) may include a body (210), a tube (220), a tube guide (230), and a control unit (240).

[0064] The body (210) can support a tube guide (230) and a control unit (240). The control unit (240) may be movably installed on the body (210), and the tube guide (230) may be connected to the front end of the body (210). A tube (220) may be positioned to pass through the interior of the body (210). The body (210) may be provided in a gripper shape that can be grasped by a user.

[0065] The tube (220) can receive fluid (f) from an external device and can transfer the received fluid (f) to the balloon (100). A channel through which the fluid (f) can move may be formed inside the tube (220). The tube (220) may be connected to the balloon (100). The tube (220) may be positioned through the tube guide (230) and the body (210). The tube (220) may be made of a flexible material. The tube (220) may include a moving tube (221) and a fixed tube (222).

[0066] The moving tube (221) can be moved along the longitudinal direction of the body (210) by the operation of the control unit (240). When the moving tube (221) is moved to the front side of the body (210) by the operation of the control unit (240), the balloon (100) can be discharged from the tube guide (230), and when the moving tube (221) is moved to the rear side of the body (210) by the operation of the control unit (240), the balloon (100) can be drawn into the interior of the tube guide (230). The front end of the moving tube (221) can be connected to the balloon (100), and the rear end of the moving tube (221) can be inserted into and fixed to the front end of the moving block (241) described later. The moving tube (221) can be moved along the longitudinal direction of the body (210) in conjunction with the movement of the moving block (241).

[0067] The fixed tube (222) can receive fluid (f) from an external device and deliver it to the moving tube (221). The fixed tube (222) can be arranged to communicate with the moving tube (221) via the moving block (241). The fixed tube (222) can be fixed to the body (210). The front end of the fixed tube (222) can be inserted into the rear end of the moving block (241) so as to be inserted and removed. When the moving block (241) moves along the longitudinal direction of the body (210), the longitudinal movement of the moving block (241) can be guided by the front end of the fixed tube (222). A tube inlet / outlet (222-1) may be provided at the rear end of the fixed tube (222). An external device for supplying or discharging fluid (f) may be optionally connected to the tube inlet / outlet (222-1).

[0068] The tube guide (230) can guide the movement of the tube (220). A channel through which the balloon (100) and the tube (220) can move may be formed inside the tube guide (230). An opening through which the balloon (100) can enter and exit may be formed at the front end of the tube guide (230). The rear end of the tube guide (230) may be connected to the front end of the body (210). The inner diameter of the tube guide (230) may be larger than the outer diameter of the tube (220).

[0069] The control unit (240) can move the tube (220) along the longitudinal direction of the body (210). The control unit (240) may be a switch for moving the tube (220). The control unit (240) may be controlled by a user. The control unit (240) may be placed on the body (210). Such a control unit (240) may include a moving block (241) and a control wheel (242).

[0070] The movable block (241) can be positioned to be movable in the front-rear direction on the body (210). The movable block (241) can be positioned so that the tube (220) passes through it. The rear end of the movable tube (221) can be inserted and fixed into the front end of the movable block (241). The movable block can be moved along the longitudinal direction of the body (210) together with the movable tube (221). The front end of the fixed tube (222) can be inserted into the rear end of the movable block (241) so that it can be inserted and removed. A communication space can be formed inside the movable block (241) so that the movable tube (221) and the fixed tube (222) can be inserted and communicate with each other. A rack gear (241-1) can be formed on the upper part of the movable block (241). An adjustment wheel (242) can be engaged with the rack gear (241-1).

[0071] The control wheel (242) may be rotatably positioned on the upper part of the body (210). A pinion gear (242-1) may be formed on the outer surface of the control wheel (242). The pinion gear (242-1) of the control wheel (242) may be positioned to mesh with the rack gear (241-1) of the moving block (241). When the control wheel (242) is rotated in one direction (clockwise in the drawing) by a user, the moving block (241) may be moved forward by the rotation of the control wheel (242), and by the forward movement of the moving block (241), the moving tube (221) may discharge the balloon (100) to the outside of the tube guide (230). When the control wheel (242) is rotated in the other direction (counterclockwise in the drawing) by the user, the moving block (241) can be moved in the rearward direction by the rotation of the control wheel (242), and by the rearward movement of the moving block (241), the moving tube (221) can draw the balloon (100) into the interior of the tube guide (230).

[0072] The pressure supply unit (300) can supply fluid to the catheter (200) or recover fluid from the catheter (200). In other words, the pressure supply unit (300) can provide negative or positive pressure to the balloon (100) through the supply or recovery of fluid. The pressure supply unit (300) can be controlled by a controller (500). The pressure supply unit (300) can supply fluid to the catheter (200) or recover fluid from the catheter (200) by being connected to the tube inlet / outlet (222-1) of the catheter (200).

[0073] The sensing sensor (400) can measure the pressure of the fluid within the expansion space (101) in real time. The sensing sensor (400) can be placed within the expansion space (101). The sensing sensor (400) can be electrically connected to the controller (500). After measuring the pressure of the fluid within the expansion space (101), the sensing sensor (400) can apply information regarding the measured pressure within the expansion space (101) to the controller (500).

[0074] The controller (500) can control the operation of the pressure supply unit (300) and the detection sensor (400). The controller (500) can receive information regarding the pressure measured within the expansion space from the detection sensor (400) and can control the pressure supply unit (300) so that the received pressure satisfies a preset reference pressure range. For example, if the pressure measured within the expansion space from the detection sensor (400) is lower than the reference pressure range, the controller (500) can control the operation of the pressure supply unit (300) so that the pressure measured can reach the reference pressure range. If the pressure measured within the expansion space from the detection sensor (400) is higher than the reference pressure range, the controller (500) can control the operation of the pressure supply unit (300) so that the pressure measured can satisfy the reference pressure range. By precisely controlling the pressure within the expansion space, the controller (500) can precisely adjust the degree of inflation of the balloon (100) desired by the user. The controller (500) may be implemented by a computing device including a microprocessor, memory, etc., and since the method of implementation is obvious to those skilled in the art, further detailed explanation is omitted.

[0075] The operation and effects of a corneal endothelial transplant device having the configuration described above will be explained below.

[0076] The present invention allows the stretchable film portion to be inflated into a balloon shape by supplying physiological saline or air, etc., to the stretchable film portion to which a corneal endothelial graft is attached. During corneal endothelial transplantation, the present invention can maintain the graft flat without the graft folding, bending, or curling, thereby eliminating the need for medical personnel to manually unfold the graft, which can significantly reduce the procedure time required for corneal endothelial transplantation.

[0077] Furthermore, the present invention has the advantage that by forming micro-holes in the elastic film portion to which the graft is attached, the adhesive on the graft can be gradually removed by the continuous supply of fluid through the micro-holes when the graft is positioned at the graft site on the cornea, thereby allowing the graft to naturally separate from the elastic film portion and stably attach the graft to the cornea. Ultimately, the efficiency of removing the adhesive used to attach the graft to the elastic film portion can be maximized, and procedural stability can be ensured, allowing the graft to separate from the elastic film portion and stably attach to the cornea.

[0078] Furthermore, the present invention allows the graft to adhere closely to the optimal graft site by accurately providing the necessary pressure when the thin film portion and the stretchable film portion expand into a balloon shape. Since the size of the balloon can be easily adjusted through the injection of air or liquid, it can be universally adapted to various patients and surgical situations.

[0079] In addition, since the present invention allows for rapid and safe corneal endothelial transplantation, it can increase the precision and safety of the procedure while minimizing the risk of corneal damage and improving the work efficiency of medical staff.

[0080] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above as specific embodiments, they are merely examples and the present invention is not limited thereto, but should be interpreted as having the broadest scope in accordance with the basic concept disclosed in this specification. Those skilled in the art may implement patterns of shapes not specified by combining or substituting the disclosed embodiments, and this also does not deviate from the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, those skilled in the art may easily modify or alter the disclosed embodiments based on this specification, and it is evident that such modifications or alterations also fall within the scope of the rights of the present invention.

Claims

1. A balloon in which an expansion space is formed inside; and It includes a catheter that provides fluid to the balloon to expand the above expansion space, The above balloon is Thin film portion; and It includes an elastic film portion in which an edge portion is fixed to the edge portion of the thin film portion so that the elastic space is formed between the thin film portions, and an implant piece for implantation to an implantation site is disposed on the outer surface. The above catheter Inflating the balloon so that the graft contacts the graft site when the graft is positioned thereon, Corneal endothelial transplant device.

2. In Paragraph 1, The above catheter body; A tube disposed in the body to be connected to the balloon, having a channel formed inside for supplying the fluid to the expansion space; A tube guide that guides the movement of the tube to allow the balloon to enter and exit; and A control unit for moving the above tube, Corneal endothelial transplant device.

3. In Paragraph 2, The above control unit is A movable block disposed to be movable in the forward and backward directions on the above body, disposed to have the above tube penetrating it, and having a rack gear formed on its upper portion; and A control wheel comprising a rotatably disposed body and having a pinion gear formed on its outer surface that meshes with the rack gear, Corneal endothelial transplant device.

4. In Paragraph 1, The above-mentioned elastic film portion A flexible elastic film that can be expanded when the above catheter supplies the fluid to the above expansion space, Corneal endothelial transplant device.

5. In Paragraph 1, The above-mentioned elastic film portion When the above fluid is supplied to the expansion space, a plurality of micro-holes are formed that can separate the graft from the surface of the balloon by discharging a predetermined amount of the above fluid within the expansion space, and The above plurality of microholes Located at the attachment site of the elastic film portion to which the above graft is attached, Corneal endothelial transplant device.

6. In Paragraph 2, The base-side edge of the above-mentioned thin film portion It is connected to the lower edge portion of the end of the tube of the above catheter, and The base edge of the above-mentioned elastic film portion It is connected to the upper edge portion of the end of the tube of the above catheter, and When the balloon is discharged from the tube guide of the catheter, both sides of the thin film portion expand as they unfold in both directions, and when the balloon is inserted into the tube guide, both sides of the thin film portion contract as they curl toward the center. Corneal endothelial transplant device.

7. In Paragraph 6, The above thin film portion Made of a transparent material that is visible from the outside, Corneal endothelial transplant device.

8. In Paragraph 1, A pressure supply device that provides positive or negative pressure to the catheter by supplying or recovering the above fluid to the catheter; A sensing sensor for detecting the pressure of the fluid within the above-mentioned expansion space; and A controller further comprising a controller that controls the pressure supply unit so that the pressure within the expansion space measured by the above detection sensor satisfies a preset pressure range. Corneal endothelial transplant device.

Images