Accommodative Intraocular Lens Ciliary Mass Coupling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current accommodative intraocular lenses positioned inside the capsular bag face challenges in effectively transferring movement from the ciliary muscle to the lens and maintaining direct contact, which affects the lens's ability to vary focusing power and accommodate properly.

Innovation Solution

An accommodative intraocular lens positioned outside the capsular bag with an optical arrangement and haptic components, including a rim and coupling mechanism, that directly transfers movement from the ciliary mass to the optical elements, allowing for variable focusing power by adjusting the distance or shape of the optical elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the lens is positioned inside the capsular bag with movement transfer via the bag, then the lens is well-positioned and supported, but the movement transfer from ciliary muscle to lens is inefficient and the bag separates lens and ciliary mass

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelens positioning stabilityVSAvoidmovement transfer efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The lens is extracted from the capsular bag and repositioned to contact the ciliary mass directly. The haptic elements are designed to extend from the lens equator to the ciliary sulcus, allowing the lens to be positioned where it can be directly actuated by ciliary muscle movement without the intervening capsular bag, thereby improving movement transfer efficiency while maintaining stable positioning through the haptic-ciliary interface

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The haptic elements serve as an intermediary structure that bridges the lens and the ciliary mass. These haptics transfer the mechanical movement from the ciliary muscle directly to the lens equator, enabling efficient movement transfer while maintaining proper lens positioning and orientation within the eye

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the lens and ciliary mass are separated by the capsular bag, then the lens is protected from direct muscle contact, but direct movement transfer and direct contact are prevented

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelens protectionVSAvoidaccommodation function
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The lens is extracted from the capsular bag environment and repositioned to directly contact the ciliary mass. This extraction eliminates the barrier effect of the capsular bag, allowing direct mechanical coupling between the ciliary muscle and lens through the haptic elements, thereby restoring natural accommodation function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The haptic elements perform multiple functions simultaneously: they position the lens at the appropriate distance from the cornea, transfer mechanical movement from the ciliary mass to the lens, and provide structural support while allowing the lens to maintain direct contact with the ciliary mass for efficient accommodation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2501337B1Accommodative intraocular lens driven by ciliary mass
Publication Date: 2022.01.05 AKKOLENS INT BV
  • EP2501337B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2501337B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to an intraocular accommodative lens, comprising an optical arrangement (7, 8) and haptics (9,10), the lens being adapted for variable focusing by movement of at least one part of the optical arrangement by at least one of the haptics, wherein the haptics comprise a part adapted to transfer a movement from the ciliary mass (4) to the optical arrangement. This forms an attractive way of driving the variable lens, in particular for locations of the lens avoiding the capsular bag (16).