Corneal Fluorescence Depth Profiling for Cross-Linking Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cross-linking treatment systems lack the ability to determine the distribution of cross-linking agents in the cornea and structural characteristics, such as corneal thickness, which can lead to sub-optimal treatment outcomes and increased procedural variability.
Innovation Solution
Systems and methods employing illumination and imaging techniques to measure the distribution of cross-linking agents, such as riboflavin, and structural characteristics of the cornea, using fluorescence emission and optical elements to capture and analyze fluorescence emissions at various depths, allowing for precise control of cross-linking treatments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If cross-linking treatment is applied to strengthen cornea, then corneal strength is improved, but ability to measure cross-linking agent distribution is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs fluorescence imaging to measure cross-linking agent distribution before initiating cross-linking treatment. This preliminary measurement ensures adequate agent presence in the cornea, allowing optimization of treatment parameters and prediction of treatment outcomes before the actual cross-linking process begins
2Productivity
If cross-linking treatment is performed without measuring agent distribution, then treatment speed is maintained, but treatment precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs fluorescence imaging to measure cross-linking agent distribution before initiating cross-linking treatment. This preliminary measurement ensures adequate agent presence in the cornea, allowing optimization of treatment parameters and prediction of treatment outcomes before the actual cross-linking process begins
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time feedback on cross-linking agent distribution through fluorescence imaging during the treatment process. This feedback allows dynamic adjustment of treatment parameters to maintain optimal cross-linking conditions and ensure uniform agent distribution throughout the cornea
3Measurement precision
If fluorescence imaging is used to measure cross-linking agent distribution, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system integrates multiple functions into a single device: corneal imaging, cross-linking agent distribution measurement, and cross-linking treatment delivery. This multi-functional integration allows the same optical components to serve both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining measurement accuracy
4Reliability
If real-time monitoring of cross-linking agent distribution is implemented, then treatment efficacy is improved, but measurement time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs continuous or near-continuous fluorescence imaging during the cross-linking treatment process to monitor agent distribution in real-time. This continuous monitoring ensures that the cross-linking process proceeds under optimal conditions throughout, maximizing treatment efficacy without requiring interruption for separate measurement steps
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
Enables accurate determination of cross-linking agent distribution and corneal thickness, ensuring sufficient agent presence before treatment and allowing for real-time monitoring, thereby improving treatment efficacy and reducing variability.
Implementation Method 1
a light source configured to emit an excitation light that causes a fluorescing agent, e.g., a cross-linking agent, applied to a cornea to generate a fluorescence emission
Implementation Method 2
an optical element positioned to receive the excitation light from the light source and configured to focus the excitation light to an area of corneal tissue at a selected depth of the cornea
Implementation Method 3
The pinhole structure is positioned to receive the fluorescence emission from the fluorescing agent in the cornea. The aperture is configured to selectively transmit the fluorescence emission from the area of corneal tissue at the selected depth
Implementation Method 4
a detector positioned to capture the selected fluorescence emission transmitted by the aperture and to communicate information relating to a measurement of the selected fluorescence emission captured by the detector
Data Source
AI summary
In a corneal measurement system, an optical element focuses an excitation light to an area of corneal tissue at a selected depth. In response, a fluorescing agent applied to the cornea generates a fluorescence emission. An aperture of a pinhole structure selectively transmits the fluorescence emission from the area of corneal tissue at the selected depth. A detector captures the selected fluorescence emission transmitted by the aperture and communicates information relating to a measurement of the selected fluorescence emission captured by the detector. A controller receives the information from the detector and determines a measurement of the fluorescing agent in the area of corneal tissue at the selected depth. The system may include a scan mechanism that causes the optical element to scan the cornea at a plurality of depths, and the controller may determine a measurement of the fluorescing agent in the cornea as a function of depth.