Biocompatible Metalens for Ophthalmic Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ophthalmic devices, such as intraocular lens implants, are limited by the thickness of refractive lenses, leading to larger incisions and potential trauma during surgery, and existing metalenses are not biocompatible or suitable for a broad range of visible wavelengths.
Innovation Solution
A biocompatible ophthalmic device comprising a metalens encapsulated in a polymer body, where the metalens features subwavelength dielectric structures, specifically titanium dioxide nanostructures, arranged on a transparent substrate to interact with visible light, reducing the device's thickness and enhancing biocompatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional refractive lenses are used in ophthalmic devices, then the device can correct eyesight conditions, but the device thickness increases and requires larger incisions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental optical parameter from conventional refraction to metasurface-based wavefront manipulation. By using subwavelength dielectric structures with carefully controlled geometric parameters (height, width, spacing, orientation), the lens achieves the desired optical power with dramatically reduced thickness, eliminating the need for large-incision implantation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from three-dimensional bulk lens geometry to a two-dimensional metasurface architecture. The optical functionality is achieved through in-plane variation of subwavelength structure parameters rather than through thickness, enabling ultrathin lens design that maintains full eyesight correction capability
2Reliability
If conventional refractive lenses are used, then the device can focus light, but the incision size and surgical trauma increase
Solution Approach 1:
By changing from refractive index variation in bulk material to resonant phase modulation in subwavelength structures, the lens achieves superior light focusing with minimal thickness. The subwavelength dielectric structures provide precise phase control through their geometric parameters, enabling effective light focusing that reduces surgical trauma
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structures combining dielectric materials (such as titanium dioxide, silicon dioxide, or silicon nitride) with polymer lens substrates. This composite approach enables the metalens to achieve both the necessary optical functionality and mechanical properties for safe, minimally invasive implantation
3Length of stationary object
If existing metalenses are used, then the device thickness is reduced, but biocompatibility and broad visible light functionality are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses biocompatible dielectric materials (titanium dioxide, silicon dioxide, silicon nitride) that are non-toxic and compatible with ocular tissues. These materials are integrated into polymer lens substrates to create composite structures that simultaneously achieve ultrathin profile, broad visible light spectrum functionality (400-700 nm), and excellent biocompatibility for safe long-term implantation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention optimizes the geometric parameters of subwavelength structures (height, width, spacing, orientation) to achieve broadband visible light operation. By carefully controlling these parameters, the metalens maintains effective phase modulation across the entire visible spectrum while preserving biocompatibility, unlike narrowband metallic metasurfaces
4Length of stationary object
If standard metalenses are used, then the device is thinner, but antimicrobial properties and optical performance are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages titanium dioxide's photocatalytic oxidation properties when exposed to light, which generates reactive oxygen species that exhibit strong antimicrobial activity. This naturally occurring oxidation process provides inherent infection resistance to the implant without requiring additional antimicrobial coatings or treatments, while simultaneously maintaining excellent optical performance across the visible spectrum
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 solution allows for thinner ophthalmic devices with reduced incision size requirements, minimizing surgical trauma and complications, while maintaining functionality across a broad visible light spectrum, and providing antimicrobial and optical benefits.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of subwavelength structures arranged on the substrate in a pattern to interact with visible light
Implementation Method 2
the subwavelength structures each have at least one respective dimension that is less than a wavelength of the visible light
Implementation Method 3
the dielectric material is titanium dioxide
Data Source
AI summary
Ophthalmic devices are used to treat a variety of eye conditions. Such devices include intraocular lens (IOL) implants, contact lenses, intraocular telescopes, and the like. Such ophthalmic devices typically include one or more lenses to interact with visible light. According to an aspect of the disclosure, there is provided an ophthalmic device comprising a biocompatible polymer body and a metalens. The metalens is encapsulated by the polymer body. The metalens comprises a substantially transparent substrate and a plurality of subwavelength structures arranged on the substrate in a pattern to interact with visible light. subwavelength structures comprise a dielectric material such as titanium dioxide.