Accommodating Intraocular Lens Layout for Small-Incision Implantation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrically actuated intraocular lenses (IOLs) are difficult to implant through small incisions, risking surgical complications and are vulnerable to power failures leading to poor visual quality.

Innovation Solution

An intraocular lens system comprising a passive and electro-active components, designed to provide clear corrective vision and enhanced accommodative ability, the system includes an optical element with a variable optical power and a housing with an opaque frame, allowing for implantation through smaller incisions and maintaining visual quality even in power failures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If an electrically actuated IOL is used to provide variable optical power, then accommodation capability is improved, but the device size increases making implantation through small incisions difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation capabilityVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The IOL is divided into two separate components: a passive optical element and an electro-active optical element. These components can be implanted separately through small incisions, avoiding the need to implant a large integrated device. The passive element provides structural support and baseline optical power, while the electro-active element provides variable optical power through electrical actuation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The electro-active optical element is positioned within or adjacent to the passive optical element, allowing the smaller active component to be nested within the larger passive structure. This nesting arrangement enables the electro-active element to provide accommodation capability while the passive element provides structural support, together forming a compact integrated system that can be implanted through small incisions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Adaptability or versatility

If an electrically actuated IOL is used to provide variable optical power, then accommodation capability is improved, but surgical complications increase due to large incision requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation capabilityVSAvoidsurgical complications

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the IOL into separable passive and electro-active components, each component can be implanted through smaller incisions independently. This segmentation reduces the size of the surgical incision required, thereby reducing surgical trauma, scarring, and the risk of vision loss associated with large incisions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If an electro-active element is added to provide adjustable optical power, then accommodation capability is improved, but reliability decreases due to power system vulnerability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustable optical powerVSAvoidvisual quality stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The passive optical element is designed to provide a baseline level of optical correction that maintains useful visual function even when the electro-active element fails. This passive component acts as a backup or cushion, ensuring that the patient retains at least monocular distance vision capability even in the event of power system failure, battery depletion, or electronic component malfunction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

4Stability of the object's composition

If a housing with opaque frame is added to contain the optical element, then structural stability is improved, but light transmission is blocked in certain areas

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidlight transmission

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing structure is designed with spatially varying optical properties: the opaque frame provides structural support and blocks light only in the peripheral regions where structural integrity is needed, while the transparent windows provide unobstructed light transmission in the central regions where optical function is needed. This local differentiation of optical properties allows the housing to simultaneously provide structural stability and adequate light transmission for vision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system provides clear vision and accommodation capabilities, reducing surgical complications and ensuring high image quality across various pupil sizes and object distances, even in the event of power failure.

Implementation Method 1

the optical element comprises an electrically responsive active element having a first thickness and first refractive index

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectro-active material response: Electroactive Polymer

Data Source

PatentEP3618765B1Accommodating intraocular lens system

Publication Date: 2025.12.17 ALCON INC

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Figure 3A~3B

AI summary

Disclosed herein is an implantable accommodative IOL system (300) for insertion into an eye of a patient, the system (300) comprising: an optical element (305) and a housing (306) including an opaque frame (310). The optical element (305) comprises an optical lens having variable optical power, and the opaque frame (305) is circumferentially disposed around a periphery of the optical element (305).