Blunt Trabecular Meshwork Disruption for Atraumatic Aqueous Drainage

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current trabecular excision devices suffer from imprecise cutting and significant collateral damage to sclera, endothelium, and iris tissue due to their sharp cutting nature, leading to bleeding and incomplete removal of trabecular meshwork material.

Innovation Solution

A device with a flexible, super-elastic shaft featuring a blunt tissue disruptor and a smooth ball tip for ab interno insertion, designed to disrupt trabecular meshwork without cutting, allowing for simultaneous disruption of both inner and outer walls of Schlemm's Canal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If sharp cutting blades are used for trabecular meshwork excision, then cutting efficiency is improved, but precision and tissue damage control deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecutting efficiencyVSAvoidcut precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces sharp mechanical cutting blades with a plasma-based ablation system. The plasma probe generates plasma that selectively removes trabecular meshwork tissue through non-contact energy transfer, eliminating the need for mechanical blades and their associated cutting precision problems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental mechanism from mechanical contact cutting to plasma-based thermal/chemical ablation. By controlling plasma parameters (power, duration, proximity), precise tissue removal is achieved without mechanical blade contact, resolving the precision-cutting contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If sharp cutting blades are used, then material removal speed is improved, but collateral tissue damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial removal speedVSAvoidcollateral tissue damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes mechanical blade contact with plasma ablation, which removes tissue through energy transfer rather than mechanical force. This eliminates the spreading of mechanical damage to adjacent tissues (sclera, endothelium, iris) while maintaining efficient material removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The plasma acts as an intermediary between the probe and tissue. Instead of direct mechanical contact that causes collateral damage, plasma serves as a controlled energy medium that selectively removes target tissue while protecting surrounding structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If single cutting blade is used, then device simplicity is improved, but material removal effectiveness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice simplicityVSAvoidmaterial removal effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical single-blade design with a plasma-based system. The plasma mechanism inherently provides more effective material removal through energy transfer, and the system maintains simplicity through a single probe element that delivers plasma.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If blunt tissue disruptor is used, then tissue damage is reduced, but cutting speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue damageVSAvoidcutting speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates the blunt mechanical disruptor approach by using plasma ablation. This substitution maintains low tissue damage (no mechanical laceration) while achieving high removal efficiency through plasma energy transfer, resolving the speed-damage contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 precise and atraumatic removal of trabecular meshwork, reducing bleeding and collateral damage while enabling larger tool sizes for effective modification of the outer wall, enhancing aqueous drainage.

Implementation Method 1

an elongate, flexible shaft of super-elastic memory-shape material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuper-elasticity: Pseudoelasticity

Implementation Method 2

super-elastic memory-shape material including a distal end region shaped into a curve

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShape memory: Shape Memory Alloy

Data Source

PatentUS20250255751A1Methods and devices for increasing aqueous drainage of the eye

Publication Date: 2025.08.14 IANTREK INC

AI summary

A device for disrupting tissue in an eye including a distal portion sized and configured for ab interno insertion into an anterior chamber of the eye having an elongate, flexible shaft of super-elastic memory-shape material. A distal end region is shaped into a curve having a radially inner surface connected to a radially outer surface by two lateral sides. The device has a tissue disruptor proximal of a distal-most end formed on at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface. The distal face of the tissue disruptor is a blunt tissue-engaging surface without any cutting element. Related methods and devices are provided.