Composite Eye Colorant Particles for Stable Iris Coloring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for altering iris appearance, such as keratopigmentation, are risky and limited in their ability to maintain color stability and natural appearance, with conventional inks potentially fading or spreading within the cornea, and existing surgical interventions carry risks.
Innovation Solution
A patient-specific eye colorant comprising composite material particles with embedded coloring pigments and a matrix material, which can be combined to mimic natural iris colors, and optionally includes additional particles for reflective or absorbing properties, is injected into the cornea or used in a cornea implant to create a stable and long-lasting visual effect.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional ink is inserted into the intrastromal pocket of the cornea to change iris appearance, then the visual appearance of the iris can be changed, but the ink may bleach in the sun or change/lose brightness and color over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining coloring pigments with a matrix material to form composite material particles. The matrix material serves as a protective carrier that stabilizes the coloring pigments, preventing them from bleaching or changing color over time while maintaining the desired iris appearance. This composite structure resolves the contradiction between ease of application and long-term color stability.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional ink is inserted into the intrastromal pocket of the cornea to change iris appearance, then the visual appearance of the iris can be changed, but the ink may penetrate over time into additional areas of the cornea leading to undesired visual appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The composite material particles consisting of coloring pigments embedded in a matrix material provide controlled placement within the intrastromal pocket. The matrix material acts as a containment structure that prevents the coloring agents from penetrating into additional corneal areas, thereby maintaining precise placement and avoiding undesired visual effects while keeping the surgical procedure relatively simple.
3Reliability
If keratopigmentation is performed to improve visual appearance of affected iris, then the appearance can be enhanced, but the method carries surgical risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable composite material particles that are inserted into pre-formed intrastromal pockets in the cornea. This approach eliminates the need for complex pigmentation procedures while maintaining safety. The particles are applied in a controlled manner and do not require extensive surgical intervention, thereby reducing surgical risks while keeping the procedure relatively simple.
4Stability of the object's composition
If composite material particles with embedded coloring pigments are used to create realistic iris appearance, then color stability and longevity are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite material particles where coloring pigments are embedded in a matrix material. This composite structure provides color stability and longevity while maintaining a relatively simple overall design. The matrix material serves multiple functions: protecting the pigments, enabling controlled release, and facilitating insertion into the cornea. This approach achieves stability without excessive complexity by using a straightforward composite architecture.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~7
Figure 8~10
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an eye colorant (100) for coloring a portion of a cornea of an eye of a patient, the eye colorant comprises composite material particles (110) with coloring pigments (112) of at least one color and, a matrix material (114), which at least partially embeds the coloring pigments (112), thereby forming the composite material particles (110) and to a method for manufacturing a patient individual eye colorant (100) for coloring a portion of a cornea of an eye of a patient.