Concave Transducer Array for Glaucoma Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for glaucoma, such as laser cyclophotocoagulation and high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapies, are invasive, time-consuming, and prone to errors due to the need for repeated manual manipulation and alignment of equipment to treat the entire circumference of the eye, leading to potential tissue damage and complications.
Innovation Solution
A device featuring a sawn-off cone element with transducers arranged to generate high-intensity focused ultrasound energy, allowing for circumferential treatment of the eye in a single step without manual displacement, using a control unit to activate transducers in a pattern that covers the entire ciliary body effectively, reducing operative time and improving treatment reproducibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If laser cyclophotocoagulation or HIFU therapy is used to treat glaucoma, then intraocular pressure can be reduced, but the treatment requires repeated manual manipulation and alignment to cover the entire ciliary body circumference, increasing operative time and risk of tissue damage
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment device divides the ciliary body treatment into multiple independent transducer segments arranged circumferentially. Each transducer can be independently activated to treat specific portions of the ciliary body, allowing the entire circumference to be treated systematically without requiring repeated manual repositioning of a single transducer.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-point transducer approach to a circumferential array of transducers, adding a spatial dimension to the treatment. This allows simultaneous or sequential treatment of multiple locations around the ciliary body circumference, converting a time-consuming sequential process into a more efficient multi-point approach.
2Reliability
If repeated manual manipulation is performed to treat the entire ciliary body circumference, then complete treatment coverage can be achieved, but tissue damage and complications increase due to repeated positioning and alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The transducers are pre-positioned in a circumferential array around the treatment site before the procedure begins. This preliminary arrangement eliminates the need for repeated manual manipulation during the procedure, as all transducers are already in their correct positions and can be activated sequentially or simultaneously to treat the entire ciliary body circumference in one setup.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses multiple identical transducer elements arranged circumferentially, where each transducer serves as a copy of the others. This allows the treatment to be distributed across multiple identical units, each contributing to the overall treatment coverage without requiring complex manual repositioning and alignment procedures.
3Power
If conventional HIFU devices are used, then focused ultrasound energy can be delivered to the ciliary body, but the need for repeated operations to cover the entire circumference reduces treatment reproducibility
Solution Approach 1:
The circumferential array of transducers divides the treatment into discrete, independently controllable segments. This segmentation allows for precise control of which transducers are activated and for how long, enabling reproducible treatment protocols where the same pattern of transducer activation can be consistently applied across different patients and procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention allows for systematic variation of treatment parameters such as the number of active transducers, their activation sequence, and individual transducer power levels. These controllable parameters enable standardized treatment protocols with high reproducibility, where the same parameter settings can be consistently applied regardless of minor anatomical variations between patients.
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 enables efficient, safe, and accurate treatment of glaucoma by reducing operative time, minimizing tissue damage, and enhancing treatment consistency, as it allows for extended lesions covering large regions of the ciliary body without the need for repeated operations, thus improving patient outcomes and simplifying the procedure for operators.
Implementation Method 1
high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapies
Implementation Method 2
means to generate an ultrasound beam presenting a concave segment shape conformed along a single curvature corresponding to a single direction
Data Source
AI summary
A device for treatment of an ocular pathology characterized in that it comprises at least one eye ring (1) wherein the proximal end of said eye ring (1) is suitable to be applied onto the glove and means (2,17) to generate ultrasound beam fixed on the distal end of the eye ring (1), said means to generate ultrasound beam presenting a concave segment shape conformed along a single curvature corresponding to a single direction wherein the concavity is designed to be tuned towards the eyeglobe.