Artificial Eye Anterior Segment Simulation for Ophthalmic Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ophthalmic devices require multiple, inefficient silicone phantoms and gel targets for calibration and demonstration, which fail to realistically simulate the human eye's anatomy and behavior, especially the anterior segment, leading to inaccuracies in imaging and surgical procedures.
Innovation Solution
An artificial eye with a body, lens element, cornea element, and liquid, designed to mimic the human eye's optical and physical properties, allowing for calibration and demonstration of ophthalmic imaging and surgical systems, and enabling realistic simulation of incisions and imaging depths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If silicone eye phantoms with nanopowder particles are used to simulate light scattering, then light scattering can be observed, but the nanopowder clumps or forms gradients causing unrealistic scattering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the scattering medium by using silicone oil with inherent scattering properties instead of adding nanopowder particles. This eliminates the clumping and gradient formation issues while maintaining realistic light scattering simulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a disposable silicone oil-based target that can be easily replaced rather than attempting to maintain and redistribute nanopowder in reusable phantoms. This eliminates the nanopowder stability issue entirely by using a fresh, pre-configured scattering medium for each use.
2Measurement precision
If silicone gel targets are used for depth calibration, then fixed refractive index calibration is achieved, but the target compresses when contacted by ophthalmic devices affecting depth measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite structure combining silicone gel layers with different properties - a softer compressible layer for realistic deformation and a harder stable layer for maintaining calibration references. This composite approach allows both compression response and structural stability simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the target into multiple functional layers: a compressible anterior layer that deforms realistically under contact and a stable reference layer that maintains fixed depth markers. This segmentation allows different parts to serve different functions - one for realistic compression, another for stable measurement reference.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate silicone eye phantom and gel target are used for imaging and surgical demonstrations, then both imaging and incision demonstration capabilities are provided, but device switching leads to inefficiencies and unrealistic demonstrations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the imaging phantom and surgical target into a single integrated device. The silicone oil-filled eye model incorporates both scattering properties for imaging demonstration and structured layers for surgical incision demonstration, eliminating the need to switch between separate devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal eye model that performs multiple functions: it serves as both an imaging phantom for OCT calibration and a surgical target for laser incision demonstration. The single device has both the optical scattering properties needed for imaging and the structural properties needed for surgical procedure demonstration.
4Adaptability or versatility
If conventional eye phantoms simulate posterior segment, then posterior eye aspects are covered, but anterior segment structures that affect ophthalmic device performance are not simulated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different material properties in different regions of the eye model. The anterior segment uses silicone oil with specific scattering properties to simulate cornea and aqueous humor, while the posterior segment uses different structures. Each region has locally optimized properties matching the specific anatomical structures it represents.
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 artificial eye provides a single device for calibrating and demonstrating ophthalmic systems, accurately simulating the human eye's anatomy and behavior, improving imaging quality and surgical precision by modeling the full anterior segment and responding realistically to photocoagulation.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid disposed within the cavity such that the liquid is positioned between the lens element and the cornea element
Implementation Method 2
The silicone layers can also include suspended nanopowder particles because silicone by itself does not scatter light in the same way that anatomy within the human eye does
Data Source
AI summary
An artificial eye can include a body defining a cavity; a lens element disposed within the cavity; a cornea element positioned anteriorly of the lens element; and a liquid disposed within the cavity such that the liquid is positioned between the lens element and the cornea element. A method of simulating an ophthalmic procedure can include providing an artificial eye positioned in an optical path of light transmitted by an ophthalmic device and at least one of calibrating the ophthalmic device using the artificial eye; and operating on the artificial eye using the ophthalmic device.