Intrastromal Corneal Insert With Permeable Holes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Intrastromal corneal inserts used to correct refractive errors like keratoconus and myopia can cause poor irrigation and oxygen supply issues, leading to hypoxia and necrosis due to inadequate fluid circulation around the implant, affecting the operation's outcome and vision quality.
Innovation Solution
An intrastromal corneal insert with a circular arc shape and angular extension less than 360°, made from inert or biocompatible polymer material, featuring through holes with axes perpendicular and parallel to the plane, arranged alternately and equally spaced, to enhance fluid circulation and oxygen supply by allowing organic fluids to pass through in multiple directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If intrastromal corneal inserts are implanted between corneal lamellae to correct refractive errors, then vision correction is achieved, but poor irrigation and oxygen supply occur leading to hypoxia and necrosis
Solution Approach 1:
The insert incorporates through holes penetrating the polymer material to create a porous structure. This allows organic fluids and oxygen to pass through the insert, preventing stagnation and hypoxia in the corneal tissue while maintaining the insert's structural integrity and vision correction function
Solution Approach 2:
The insert is divided into multiple segments by creating through holes that penetrate the polymer material. These holes segment the continuous polymer structure, allowing fluid circulation pathways to be established without compromising the overall arc-shaped structure needed for vision correction
2Ease of operation
If inserts are made very thin and transparent for minimal invasiveness, then ease of implantation is improved, but fluid circulation is restricted causing oxygen deprivation
Solution Approach 1:
The thin transparent polymer insert incorporates through holes to create a porous structure that maintains optical transparency while enabling fluid and oxygen circulation, thus preventing oxygen deprivation without sacrificing the ease of implantation provided by the thin profile
3Reliability
If inserts are positioned concentrically to flatten central cornea for keratoconus correction, then vision quality is improved, but tissue areas adjacent to inserts experience poor fluid supply
Solution Approach 1:
The concentrically positioned insert incorporates through holes distributed through its structure, creating channels that allow organic fluids to reach the tissue areas adjacent to the insert, thus preventing fluid supply deficiency while maintaining the vision quality improvement from concentric positioning
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 insert improves fluid circulation and oxygenation around the cornea, preventing hypoxia and ensuring optimal vision correction by allowing organic fluids to pass through in multiple directions, thereby maintaining corneal health and reducing the risk of surgery failure.
Implementation Method 1
the element with the shape of an arc of circumference comprises first through holes, suitable for allowing organic fluids to pass, having the respective axes that are perpendicular or substantially perpendicular with respect to the plane defined by the element with the shape of an arc of circumference, and second through holes, suitable for allowing organic fluids to pass, having the respective axes parallel or substantially parallel to the plane defined by the element with the shape of an arc of circumference
Data Source
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Figure 2A~4D
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AI summary
An intrastromal corneal insert (1), comprising an element with the shape of an arc of circumference (2) with a predetermined angular extension (A) less than 360° and made in inert or biocompatible polymer material, intended to be implanted in the stroma of the cornea for correcting sight defects, said element with the shape of an arc of circumference (2) comprising first through holes (3' ), suitable for allowing organic fluids to pass, having the respective axes perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the element with the shape of an arc of circumference (2), and second through holes (3"), suitable for allowing organic fluids to pass, having the respective axes parallel or substantially parallel to the plane defined by the element with the shape of an arc of circumference (2); the first through holes (3' ) are arranged alternately with the second through holes (3"), and/or the first through holes (3' ) are in communication with the second through holes. (3").