Annular Device with Encircling Grooves for Ocular Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing annular devices for delivering drugs to the posterior eye segment are unstable when worn, leading to foreign body sensations and risks of eye damage due to inadequate stability and inefficient drug delivery.
Innovation Solution
An annular device with approximately encircling grooves on the back surface of an intermediate part between the outer and inner rim parts, which enhances stability by generating negative pressure during blinking, reducing mobility and improving holding over the eyeball.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the radius of curvature of the base curve is decreased to improve stability, then stability is partially improved, but the device still has insufficient stability over the eyeball
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into distinct functional parts: an outer rim part, an inner rim part, and an intermediate part with encircling grooves. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function - the grooves in the intermediate part create negative pressure to enhance stability while maintaining overall device integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The encircling grooves are specifically positioned in the intermediate part of the device, creating localized negative pressure zones that enhance stability at critical interfaces with the eyeball, while other parts of the device maintain their original properties
2Stability of the object's composition
If the diameter of the annular device is increased to position the center of gravity over the posterior eye segment for stability, then stability is improved, but foreign body sensation increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing the overall device diameter, the invention changes the parameter of adding encircling grooves to the intermediate part. This creates negative pressure that enhances stability without increasing the device size, thereby avoiding increased foreign body sensation
3Productivity
If the annular device moves over the eyeball, then drug delivery to posterior eye segment is attempted, but drug release efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The encircling grooves are pre-formed in the intermediate part to create negative pressure zones that are ready to engage with the eyeball surface. This preliminary structure ensures that when the device is worn, stability is immediately enhanced, allowing efficient drug release without movement
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 device achieves increased stability and reduced foreign body sensations, allowing for efficient controlled release of drugs to the posterior eye segment, minimizing the risk of eye damage.
Implementation Method 1
an annular device with approximately encircling grooves on the back surface of an intermediate part between the outer and inner rim parts, which enhances stability by generating negative pressure during blinking
Data Source
AI summary
The object of the present invention is to provide an annular device superior to a conventional annular device in the stability over an eyeball when being worn, which overcomes problems caused by wearing a conventional annular device.The above object is attained by preparing an annular device to be worn over the surface of the sclera, the annular device including an opening exposing the cornea and one or a plurality of approximately encircling grooves on an intermediate part between an inner rim part and an outer rim part. The annular device has a maximum thickness preferably in the intermediate part.