Collapsible IOL Injector With Push-Screw Delivery Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing intraocular lens (IOL) injectors face challenges in delivering IOLs with precise control over force and speed, leading to potential uncontrollable ejection due to varying resistance during insertion, and require complex user interaction for varying skill levels.

Innovation Solution

An IOL injector with a combination push and screw drive mechanism, featuring a variable pitch thread and a plunger with a decoupled flange, allowing axial movement and rotational control to maintain consistent force and speed during IOL delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the intraocular lens injector uses a rigid barrel structure to maintain stability and precision, then the structural stability is improved, but the device length increases and portability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoiddevice length
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The injector is divided into a handle assembly and a barrel assembly that can be separated. The barrel can be detached from the handle, allowing the barrel to be sterilized separately and reducing the overall device length when stored or transported without the handle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The barrel is designed with dynamic characteristics including rotation capability around the longitudinal axis and telescopic movement along the longitudinal axis. This allows the barrel to adjust its position and orientation during use, providing flexibility while maintaining a compact form factor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If the intraocular lens injector uses a fixed-length barrel to simplify structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to advance the lens from storage to delivery location is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebarrel structure complexityVSAvoidlens advancement capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The barrel incorporates dynamic movement capabilities including telescopic extension and retraction along the longitudinal axis, and rotation around the longitudinal axis. These dynamic features enable the barrel to advance the lens from the storage cavity through the cornea to the desired delivery location, providing the necessary adaptability while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of manufacture

If the intraocular lens injector uses a simple cylindrical barrel to reduce manufacturing complexity, then the manufacturing ease is improved, but the precision of lens delivery and positioning is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebarrel manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidlens delivery precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The barrel is segmented into functional zones including a storage cavity, a delivery pathway, and interface regions with the handle and lens. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall manufacturing simplicity through the basic cylindrical form factor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The dynamic capabilities of the barrel, including controlled rotation and telescopic movement, enable precise positioning of the lens during delivery. These movements can be controlled to achieve accurate placement of the lens within the cornea, improving delivery precision without requiring a complex fixed structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4371593B1Intraocular lens injector
Publication Date: 2026.05.20 ALCON INC
  • EP4371593B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4371593B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4371593B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

An intraocular lens (IOL) injectors and associated methods are described. The IOL injectors may include a collapsible portion configured to reduce the length of the IOL injector when the collapsible portion is altered from an uncollapsed configuration to a collapsed configuration. In some instances, an IOL may be advanced from a storage location to a dwell location when the collapsible portion is altered from the uncollapsed configuration to the collapsed configuration. The IOL injectors may also include a combination push and screw drive.