Asymmetrical Laser Lens Fragmentation for Easier Cataract Removal
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for cutting tissues, particularly in cataract surgery, result in rough surfaces, sub-optimal incisions, and complications such as lens fragmentation and difficulty in removing lens pieces due to rotation and size, leading to increased surgical challenges.
Innovation Solution
A laser eye surgery system that includes a laser to generate precise incisions, a spatial measurement system for eye tracking, and a processor to determine a fragmentation pattern aligned with the corneal incision, allowing for asymmetrical fragmentation patterns to facilitate easier removal of lens pieces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If mechanical cutting tools (chisels, knives, scalpels) are used to cut tissue, then the cutting process is simple and direct, but the resulting surface is rough and sub-optimal for further surgical operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical cutting tools with a pulsed laser beam system. The laser delivers precise energy to the tissue, vaporizing and cutting the material through photodisruption rather than mechanical contact. This substitution eliminates the rough surfaces produced by mechanical tools while maintaining surgical effectiveness, directly resolving the contradiction between surface quality and process complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If the laser beam incises tissue at a targeted location, then the precision of the incision is improved, but the incision location may be sub-optimal for the surgeon to further operate on
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the lens into multiple segments or quadrants using the laser. By creating a segmented fragmentation pattern, the lens pieces become smaller and more manageable, allowing the surgeon to access and remove them more easily through the precise incision sites. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining incision precision while improving surgical accessibility to the fragmented lens pieces.
3Ease of manufacture
If the lens is fragmented using prior methods, then the lens can be broken into pieces, but the pieces are difficult to remove due to rotation and size issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an asymmetrical fragmentation pattern created by the laser, where the lens is divided into unequal segments with specific geometric characteristics. This asymmetry is designed to prevent rotation of the lens pieces during removal and to optimize their size for extraction through the corneal incision. The asymmetrical pattern directly addresses the removal difficulties caused by rotational symmetry in traditional fragmentation methods.
4Reliability
If traditional cataract surgery methods are used, then the procedure is well-established, but complications arise from lens fragmentation and difficulty in removing lens pieces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical lens fragmentation methods with laser-based photodisruption. The laser creates controlled fragmentation patterns without the mechanical forces that cause unpredictable lens piece rotation and scattering. This substitution maintains the reliability of established cataract surgery while eliminating the harmful complications associated with mechanical fragmentation and difficult lens piece removal.
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 system enables precise and efficient fragmentation of the lens, reducing complications and improving the ease of removal, thereby enhancing the surgical process.
Implementation Method 1
photodisruption induced by a pulsed laser beam
Data Source
AI summary
A laser eye surgery system includes a laser to generate a laser beam. A spatial measurement system generates a measurement beam and measure a spatial disposition of an eye. A processor is coupled to the laser and the spatial measurement system, the processor comprising a tangible medium embodying instructions to determine a spatial model of the eye in an eye coordinate reference system based on the measurement beam. The spatial model is mapped from the eye coordinate reference system to a machine coordinate reference system. A laser fragmentation pattern is determined based on a plurality of laser fragmentation parameters. The laser fragmentation pattern and the spatial model is rotated by a first rotation angle such that the spatial model is aligned with the reference axis of the machine coordinate reference system and the rotated laser fragmentation pattern is aligned with the corneal incision.