Adjustable Intraocular Lens for Post-Implant Power Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intraocular lenses (IOLs) often require additional surgeries to adjust for post-operative changes in the eye, such as incorrect biometry measurements or changes in the cornea or muscles, and fail to effectively correct higher-order aberrations like cylindrical astigmatism and spherical aberration without complicating the lens design or increasing manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable accommodating intraocular lens (AIOL) with a fluid-filled optic chamber and haptic fluid chambers, allowing for changes in optical power and shape through fluid exchange and external energy application, particularly laser energy, to adapt to physiological changes and correct aberrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional IOLs are used to provide fixed focal lengths for distance vision, then the lens design remains simple and manufacturing costs are low, but patients require additional corrective eyewear and cannot accommodate for near vision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic lens system where the optic portion can change its optical power and shape through fluid exchange. The lens transitions from a static traditional IOL to a dynamic adjustable lens that can accommodate different focal lengths, enabling near and distance vision without requiring complex multi-element lens designs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a fluid-filled chamber system where fluid exchange between the optic portion and haptic portions enables adjustment of the lens's optical power. This hydraulic mechanism allows dynamic focusing capability while maintaining a relatively simple single-piece lens structure, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If AIOLs are implanted to allow focusing ability, then patients can accommodate for near and distance vision, but aggressive healing responses can squeeze the lens and drive optical power higher than anticipated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the fluid from the optic portion and stores it in the haptic portions, creating a reservoir system. This separation allows the optic portion to maintain stable optical power while the haptics contain the fluid that can be exchanged as needed, preventing unwanted power changes due to healing responses
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables post-implantation adjustment of optical power by controlling fluid exchange between the optic and haptic portions. This parameter control mechanism allows correction of power drift caused by healing responses, maintaining reliability while preserving focusing ability
3Manufacturing precision
If toric IOLs are used to correct astigmatism, then cylindrical astigmatism can be corrected at the time of surgery, but rotational asymmetry makes proper placement crucial and misplacement requires additional surgery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates both spherical power correction and cylindrical astigmatism correction into a single adjustable lens system. The lens can simultaneously address multiple vision problems and can be adjusted post-implantation if placement is not perfect, reducing the need for additional corrective surgeries
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the lens adjustable after implantation, allowing correction of astigmatism and spherical power even if the initial placement is not optimal. This dynamic adjustment capability compensates for placement difficulties and reduces the need for additional surgery
4Ease of manufacture
If preoperative biometry measurements are used to determine IOL power, then the lens power can be calculated before surgery, but incorrect measurements lead to wrong lens power being implanted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent allows preliminary implantation of a lens with estimated power based on preoperative measurements, but enables post-implantation adjustment to achieve the correct final power. This two-stage approach accommodates measurement uncertainties while still allowing planned lens selection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where post-implantation visual acuity and refraction measurements guide fluid exchange adjustments to achieve the desired optical power. This closed-loop system corrects errors from initial biometry measurements
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
Enables post-implantation adjustment of IOLs without additional surgery, effectively correcting focusing power and higher-order aberrations by altering the lens's base power and cylindricity in response to physiological changes and external energy.
Implementation Method 1
The composite material can comprise an energy absorbing constituent, a plurality of expandable components, and a composite base material
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of expandable components... The thickness of the thermoplastic shells can be configured to change in response to the external energy directed at the composite material
Implementation Method 3
The base power of the optic portion can be configured to change based on an internal fluid pressure within the optic fluid chamber... as fluid enters or exits the optic fluid chamber
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B~1C
Figure 1D
AI summary
Disclosed are adjustable accommodating intraocular lenses and methods of adjusting accommodating intraocular lenses post-operatively. In one embodiment, an adjustable accommodating intraocular lens comprises an optic portion and a peripheral portion. At least one of the optic portion and the peripheral portion can be made in part of a composite material comprising an energy absorbing constituent and a plurality of expandable components. At least one of a base power and a cylindricity of the optic portion can be configured to change in response to an external energy directed at the composite material.