Contact Lens Cleaner with UV-C Sterilization and Debris Filtration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Generic contact lens cases fail to effectively clean contact lenses from debris and harmful materials, leading to potential eye infections, prompting a need for a device that can properly remove debris and sterilize lenses.
Innovation Solution
A contact lens cleaner device with a pump system to circulate contact lens solution through a compartment, using UV-C radiation to sterilize and a filter to collect debris, ensuring thorough cleaning and prevention of recontamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If generic contact lens cases are used to store contact lenses, then the contact lenses can be stored in a static body of solution, but the contact lenses are not sufficiently cleaned from debris and harmful materials
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the cleaning process into multiple functional compartments: a storage compartment for holding contact lenses, a pump system for circulating solution, a filter system for debris removal, and a UV lighting compartment for sterilization. Each compartment performs a specific function, transforming a simple storage case into a multi-functional cleaning system while maintaining ease of manufacture through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The contact lens cleaner integrates multiple functions into a single device: storage of contact lenses, circulation of cleaning solution, filtration of debris, and UV sterilization. This multi-functional approach ensures comprehensive cleaning and sterilization while maintaining a compact form factor that is easy to manufacture and use
2Ease of operation
If contact lenses are not properly cleaned, then they can be stored simply in solution, but eye infections can occur
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs cleaning and sterilization actions before the contact lenses are stored in the solution. The pump circulates cleaning solution through the storage compartment, the filter removes debris in advance, and UV lighting sterilizes the lenses before storage. This preliminary action ensures lenses are clean and sterile before being placed in the storage case, preventing eye infections
Solution Approach 2:
The device introduces intermediary elements between the contact lenses and potential contaminants: a circulating pump system that brings fresh cleaning solution to the lenses, a filter that acts as a barrier to debris, and UV lighting that provides a antimicrobial barrier. These intermediaries protect the lenses from contamination while maintaining simple storage
3Reliability
If a pump system is added to circulate contact lens solution, then debris can be physically removed from the lens, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses a pump system to circulate contact lens solution through the storage compartment, utilizing hydraulic principles to physically remove debris from the lenses. The pump creates a continuous flow of cleaning solution that contacts the lenses and carries debris away, ensuring effective cleaning while maintaining a relatively simple mechanical design
4Reliability
If a filter system is added to collect debris, then recontamination of the lens is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter system acts as an intermediary barrier between the cleaned lenses and the cleaning solution. The filter collects and removes debris from the solution circulation, preventing recontamination of the lenses while maintaining a relatively simple design that integrates seamlessly with the pump and storage compartment
5Reliability
If UV-C radiation is used to sterilize, then microbes are killed, but the device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device replaces mechanical cleaning methods with UV-C radiation for sterilization. The UV lighting compartment contains UV-C lamps that emit ultraviolet radiation to kill microbes on the contact lenses and in the storage compartment. This substitution provides effective sterilization with relatively low energy consumption compared to thermal or chemical alternatives
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
Effectively removes debris and sterilizes contact lenses, reducing the risk of eye infections by ensuring thorough cleaning and prevention of recontamination.
Implementation Method 1
a pump to provide a flow of contact lens solution through a contact lens compartment to physically remove debris from the contact lens
Implementation Method 2
The pump for circulating contact lens solution through a contact lens storage compartment flushes debris from the lens into a filter or screen to collect the debris and prevent recontamination of the lens
Implementation Method 3
The device may comprise a source of ultraviolet light to provide sterilize the contact lens solution, the contact lens storage compartment, and/or the contact lens. Typically, UV-C radiation is used to kill microbes
Data Source
AI summary
A contact lens cleaner device which can be used to clean contact lenses from debris and bacteria. The contact lens cleaner device pumps contact lens solution into reservoirs where contact lenses can be placed. The contact lenses rotate within the reservoirs and debris falls into a filter, as the contact lens solution continues to be pumped through the device. UV-lighting kills bacteria and cleanses the contact lenses in the reservoirs.