Corneal Implant Surface Treatment for Suture-Free Adhesion

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge lies in achieving long-term adhesion of corneal implants to corneal tissue without using sutures or mechanical fasteners, while ensuring compatibility with the ocular environment and maintaining ocular quality.

Innovation Solution

Surface treatments such as laser, chemical, thermal, plasma, and flame treatments are applied to create a thin adhesive layer on the corneal implant or corneal tissue, enhancing adhesion strength beyond the native surfaces, utilizing methods like plasma treatment, corona treatment, and flame treatment to form reactive functional groups and increase surface energy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If surface treatments (laser, chemical, thermal, plasma, corona, flame) are applied to create an adhesive layer, then adhesion strength is improved, but treatment complexity and processing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadhesion strengthVSAvoidtreatment process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive layer is formed on the implant surface before implantation surgery through various surface treatments (laser, chemical, thermal, plasma, corona, or flame treatments). This preliminary action creates the adhesive properties in advance, allowing the implant to bond to corneal tissue without requiring sutures or mechanical fasteners during the actual surgery, thereby improving adhesion strength while managing treatment complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces mechanical fastening systems (sutures, staples, or mechanical fasteners) with a chemically or physically treated adhesive layer on the implant surface. This substitution eliminates the need for complex mechanical attachment mechanisms during surgery, reducing operational complexity while maintaining strong bonding between the implant and corneal tissue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Duration of action of stationary object

If surface treatments are applied to enhance adhesion, then bonding durability is improved, but risk of ocular environment incompatibility increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebonding durabilityVSAvoidocular environment compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention modifies the surface parameters of the implant through controlled treatments (laser, chemical, thermal, plasma, corona, or flame) to create an adhesive layer with specific properties. These parameter changes are optimized to achieve durable bonding while maintaining biocompatibility with the ocular environment, ensuring that the adhesive layer provides long-term adhesion without causing harmful effects to the eye

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The adhesive layer is created as a localized modification on the implant surface that provides enhanced bonding properties only where needed for tissue attachment. The bulk material properties of the implant remain unchanged, preserving biocompatibility and optical properties while the surface layer provides durable adhesion. This local quality approach allows durable bonding without compromising overall ocular environment compatibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

These treatments enable strong, durable bonding between the implant and corneal tissue, eliminating the need for external adhesives and ensuring compatibility with the ocular environment, thereby facilitating effective dehydration of the cornea.

Implementation Method 1

The invention prepares the surface of the implant and/or the corneal tissue with a laser treatment, chemical treatment, thermal treatment, plasma treatment, corona treatment, flame treatment, or other treatments to create a thin adhesive layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser ablation: Laser Ablation

Implementation Method 2

utilizing methods like plasma treatment, corona treatment, and flame treatment to form reactive functional groups and increase surface energy

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPlasma treatment: Plasma

Implementation Method 3

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical bonding: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 4

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal treatment: Heat Treatment

Implementation Method 5

utilizing methods like plasma treatment, corona treatment, and flame treatment to form reactive functional groups and increase surface energy

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Data Source

PatentUS11903877B2Treatment to improve adhesive properties of corneal implant

Publication Date: 2024.02.20 EYEYON MEDICAL

AI summary

A method is described of improving adhesion of an ocular implant to corneal tissue by forming an implant adhesive layer on the ocular implant, the implant adhesive layer having greater adhesive strength than a rest of the implant or by forming a corneal adhesive layer on a posterior surface of a posterior portion of the corneal tissue, the corneal adhesive layer having greater adhesive strength than a rest of the corneal tissue.