Corrugated Haptic Intraocular Lens for Tissue-Safe Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intraocular lenses (IOLs) face challenges in being positioned and retained within the eye without penetrating or damaging ocular tissue, while maintaining optical characteristics and allowing fluid passage, particularly in the posterior chamber without contacting the crystalline lens.
Innovation Solution
The development of a corrugated haptic portion for the IOL, which facilitates positioning and retention by being spaced anteriorly from the crystalline lens and allowing aqueous humor flow through irrigation channels within the haptic portion, eliminating the need for protrusions or penetrating structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If prior art IOLs use clasps, pointed tips, or penetrating structures to anchor the lens in place, then the IOL can be retained in the eye, but the iris or other ocular tissue is penetrated or damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the harmful penetrating structures (clasps, pointed tips) from the IOL design entirely. Instead, it uses a corrugated haptic portion that anchors to the iris through friction and mechanical interlocking without penetration, extracting the retention function while eliminating tissue damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The haptic portion is given a corrugated structure with specific local geometries (ridges and valleys) that create friction and mechanical interlocking with the iris. This localized structural modification enables retention without penetration, addressing the contradiction between stability and tissue safety.
2Length of moving object
If the IOL is made deformable or flexible for insertion via smaller incision, then the incision size is reduced and recovery time is shortened, but the IOL becomes difficult to maneuver during insertion and difficult to retain in correct position
Solution Approach 1:
The IOL is designed with a corrugated haptic portion that provides dynamic properties: flexible enough to compress and fold for insertion through small incisions, yet rigid enough to maintain shape and position once deployed. The corrugations allow the haptic to flex during insertion while providing structural stability in the final position.
Solution Approach 2:
The haptic portion uses a flexible material with corrugated structure that can be compressed for insertion through small incisions. The corrugations provide mechanical strength and rigidity when deployed, enabling the material to be both flexible for insertion and structurally sound for retention.
3Quantity of substance
If pores are added to the optical portion to allow fluid flow through the lens, then aqueous humor can pass through the IOL, but the optical characteristics deteriorate due to light reflection at pore peripheries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the fluid flow function from the optical function. Fluid flow channels are placed in the haptic portion (non-optical area) rather than the optical portion, segmenting the lens into distinct functional zones that do not interfere with each other's performance.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of creating pores through the optical portion (which would affect light paths), the patent moves fluid flow channels to the haptic portion in a different spatial dimension - the peripheral area outside the optical zone. This allows fluid flow without compromising optical characteristics.
4Stability of the object's composition
If protrusions are added to separate the optical portion from the crystalline lens, then the IOL can be positioned in the posterior chamber without contacting the crystalline lens, but the protrusions may interfere with or restrict deformability of the lens for insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes protrusions from the design entirely. Instead of adding separate spacing structures, it uses the corrugated haptic portion itself to provide the necessary spacing and positioning through its flexible, space-consuming structure when deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The corrugated structure changes the physical parameters of the haptic portion - creating a structure that occupies more space when deployed (providing spacing from the crystalline lens) but can be compressed to a smaller volume for insertion, eliminating the need for separate protrusions.
Data Source
AI summary
An intraocular and intracorneal lens includes an optical portion and a corrugated haptic portion. Corrugations of the haptic portion may be linear or arcuate, and such corrugations may be present on both anterior and posterior surfaces of the haptic portion. The intraocular lens may be deformed before or during insertion in an eye of a patient, and may be positioned in the posterior chamber of the eye such that the optical portion is spaced anteriorly from the crystalline lens of the eye. In alternative embodiments, an intraocular or intracorneal lens of the invention may be inserted in the anterior chamber, or within the cornea, of an eye of a patient. An alternative intraocular lens includes an optical portion having a peripheral optic zone and an inner non-optic zone. Methods for correcting visual deficiencies of a patient, by insertion of an intraocular or intracorneal lens of the invention in an eye of the patient, are also disclosed.