Balloon Retinal Electrode Conforming to Curved Retina Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional retinal stimulation devices face challenges in achieving close contact with the retina due to their thickness, which varies with individual eye sizes and shapes, leading to detachment issues during medical procedures and difficulties in applying stable electrical stimulation.
Innovation Solution
A balloon-type retinal stimulation device with an expandable and contractible insertion portion that matches the retina's shape, allowing close contact and stable electrical stimulation, and a method for manufacturing this device using specific substrate and electrode layer formations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional retinal stimulation device is used, then the device structure is simple, but the device cannot come into close contact with the retina due to thickness issues, leading to detachment and unstable stimulation
Solution Approach 1:
The insertion portion is designed to be expandable and contractible, transforming from a static structure to a dynamic one. When contracted, it allows for minimal incision; when expanded, it conforms to the curved retina surface, ensuring stable contact without requiring complex additional fixation structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical state of the insertion portion changes from a compressed state (for insertion) to an expanded state (for contact). This parameter change allows the same structure to serve multiple functions: minimizing incision size and adapting to the retina's curvature, thereby improving contact stability without increasing overall device complexity.
2Reliability
If the electrode is made thicker to provide structural support, then the device is more stable, but it cannot come into close contact with the curved retina surface
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode's insertion portion transitions from a thin, flexible state during insertion to an expanded, supported state during operation. This dynamic transformation allows the electrode to maintain close contact with the curved retina surface without requiring excessive thickness, as the expansion provides the necessary structural support in-situ.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode is inserted in a compressed or nested state through a small incision, then expanded within the eyeball to achieve its functional shape. This nesting approach allows a thin electrode to provide sufficient contact area and stability without requiring large initial dimensions or excessive thickness.
3Reliability
If additional fixation devices are used to prevent electrode movement, then the electrode remains stable, but the medical procedure time and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The insertion portion serves dual functions: it provides structural support for the electrode while simultaneously adapting to the retina's surface to ensure stable contact. This self-adapting mechanism eliminates the need for additional fixation devices, reducing both medical procedure time and manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The insertion portion is designed to perform multiple functions: minimizing incision size, providing structural support, and ensuring close contact with the curved retina surface. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate components, thereby reducing procedure time and manufacturing costs while maintaining fixation stability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the insertion portion is made rigid to maintain shape, then the device structure is stable, but it cannot adapt to different eyeball sizes and retina curves
Solution Approach 1:
The insertion portion is designed with dynamic properties, allowing it to change from a flexible state during insertion to a stabilized expanded state during operation. This dynamic characteristic enables adaptation to various eyeball sizes and retina curvatures while maintaining sufficient structural stability for reliable electrode contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical parameters of the insertion portion (volume, shape, rigidity) are changed through expansion and contraction. This parameter transformation allows the same structure to adapt to different anatomical variations in eyeball size and retina curvature while maintaining the necessary structural integrity for stable electrode positioning.
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 minimizes incision area, prevents bacterial penetration, ensures long-term implantation without damaging biological tissue, and allows for adjustable intraocular pressure, providing stable electrical stimulation and signal measurement without additional fixation devices.
Implementation Method 1
The insertion portion is provided to be expandable and contractible as a fluid is injected into and discharged from an inside of the injection portion
Implementation Method 2
When the insertion portion expands, one surface of the insertion portion is deformed to match a shape of the retina
Data Source
AI summary
A balloon type retinal stimulation device includes: a substrate unit having an insertion portion to be inserted into an eyeball; and a stimulation unit provided at one or both of one and the other surfaces of the substrate unit. The insertion portion is expandable and contractible as a fluid is injected into and discharged from an inside of the injection portion. When the insertion portion expands, one surface of the insertion portion matches a shape of the retina such that the stimulation unit is brought into close contact with the retina on which an image is formed, and the other surface of the insertion portion comes into close contact with an inner surface of the eyeball that is not a region of retina on which an image is formed, to support the insertion portion that is in contact with the region of retina on which an image is formed.