Adjustable Ophthalmic Device With Immiscible Liquid Meniscus
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Solution Overview
Problem
After implantation of intraocular lenses, patients often require additional optical correction due to unpredictable settling positions within the eye, leading to refractive surprises and associated astigmatism, especially in cases with irregular corneas or post-LASIK patients.
Innovation Solution
An ophthalmic device featuring an annular body with a reconfigurable layer and immiscible liquids, where the layer's position and curvature are adjusted using laser ablation or phase-change materials to alter the optical power, allowing for in situ correction of refractive errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an intraocular lens is implanted into the eye, then the cataract is treated and visual function is restored, but the lens settles at an unpredictable position causing refractive errors and astigmatism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the intraocular lens optically adjustable after implantation. The lens incorporates a mechanism that allows its optical power to be dynamically changed in response to settling position variations, transforming a static lens into an adaptive system that compensates for positioning errors and maintains reliable optical correction.
2Ease of manufacture
If the intraocular lens is made fixed in design, then manufacturing is simplified, but additional optical correction procedures are required after implantation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by enabling the intraocular lens to alter its optical parameters (optical power) after implantation. The lens includes a mechanism that can change its refractive properties in situ, allowing a single fixed-manufacturing design to provide variable optical correction and eliminate the need for additional surgical procedures.
3Measurement precision
If the optical power of the intraocular lens is adjusted after implantation, then refractive surprises are corrected, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanics substitution by replacing complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms with optical or electromagnetic fields to change the lens's optical power. This substitution reduces mechanical complexity while maintaining the ability to precisely adjust and correct refractive errors after implantation.
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 precise adjustment of optical power to correct refractive surprises and astigmatism, reducing the need for additional optical corrections such as spectacles or contact lenses, by altering the curvature of the meniscus formed by immiscible liquids within the ophthalmic device.
Implementation Method 1
the layer's position and curvature are adjusted using laser ablation
Implementation Method 2
altering the curvature of the meniscus formed by immiscible liquids within the ophthalmic device
Implementation Method 3
phase-change materials to alter the optical power
Data Source
AI summary
Adjustable ophthalmic devices, systems including adjustable ophthalmic devices, and methods of adjusting an optical power of an ophthalmic device are described. In an embodiment, the ophthalmic devices include a body including an inner surface defining an aperture through the body, wherein the inner surface includes a feature selected from a sharp surface feature, a layer on at least a portion of the inner surface having a surface energy different than a surface energy of the inner surface, and a combination thereof. In an embodiment, the ophthalmic device includes two immiscible liquids disposed in the aperture defining a meniscus, wherein a curvature of the meniscus is defined at least in part by a position of an interface between the layer and the inner surface, a position of the sharp surface feature, or combination thereof.