Corneal Lenticule Removal via Overlapping Laser Access Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ophthalmological devices for corneal surgery using pulsed laser beams often weaken the integrity of the cornea during lenticule removal, as they require creating two access channels that can be cumbersome and risky for surgeons.
Innovation Solution
An ophthalmological device that uses a pulsed laser beam to create overlapping or partially overlapping access channels on the cornea, allowing for complete separation of the lenticule surfaces with minimal weakening of the cornea, by controlling the scanner system to cut access channels with specific geometric characteristics and arrangements to facilitate easy surgical tool access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two separate access channels are created to remove the lenticule, then complete separation of lenticule surfaces is achieved, but the integrity of the cornea is weakened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the two separate access channels into a single shared access channel that provides access to both the anterior and posterior lenticule surfaces. This single channel is positioned to allow surgical tools to reach both surfaces sequentially, thereby achieving complete lenticule separation while minimizing the number of corneal incisions and preserving corneal integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The single access channel is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides access to both the anterior lenticule surface and the posterior lenticule surface. The channel is positioned and dimensioned to allow surgical tools to perform separation operations on both surfaces through the same incision, making the access channel universal for both tasks.
2Ease of operation
If two separate access channels are created, then access to both lenticule surfaces is facilitated, but the surgical procedure becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the creation and use of two separate access channels into a single access channel that serves both anterior and posterior surface access needs. This reduces the surgical procedure complexity by eliminating the need to create, manage, and close two separate incisions, while still providing adequate access to both lenticule surfaces through strategic positioning and dimensioning of the single channel.
3Reliability
If two separate access channels are created, then lenticule removal is enabled, but the surgical time is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the access functionality into a single channel, which reduces the time required for creating multiple incisions and for closing them after surgery. The single access channel is designed with sufficient dimensions and optimal positioning to allow efficient sequential access to both lenticule surfaces, thereby reducing overall surgical time while maintaining complete lenticule removal capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
An ophthalmological device (1) for surgical treatment of a cornea (20) comprises a laser source (11), a focusing optical module (12), a scanner system (13), and an electronic circuit (10) configured to control the scanner system (13) to move the focus (F) of the pulsed laser beam (B) generated by the laser source (11) to cut inside the cornea (20) a lenticule (L), an opening incision in an exterior surface of the cornea (20), and two access channels which connect the opening incision to the posterior lenticule surface and to the anterior lenticule surface to provide access for a surgical tool through the opening incision to the posterior lenticule surface and the anterior lenticule surface, respectively. The access channels are cut to overlap at least partially from a top view perspective onto the cornea (20).