Cross-Linked Corneal Lenslet Implantation via Tissue Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current corneal transplantation methods face challenges such as corneal graft rejection, preservation of clarity, and invasion by migrating cells, particularly in cases of corneal scarring and refractive errors like myopia, hypermetropia, and astigmatism, with existing laser surgical techniques like LASIK and PRK causing complications like post-operative pain and dry eye, especially in patients with thin corneas.
Innovation Solution
The method involves cross-linking a portion of a donor cornea to reduce antigenicity, forming a lamellar lenslet, and implanting it into a corneal pocket using techniques like femtosecond laser shaping and ultraviolet light activation to create a custom lens that corrects refractive errors while preventing immune responses and cellular invasion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If laser surgical techniques like LASIK and PRK are used to correct refractive errors, then refractive errors can be corrected, but post-operative pain and dry eye complications occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces laser ablation (mechanical/thermal removal of tissue) with a corneal inlay implant that mechanically corrects refractive errors through its optical properties. The inlay is inserted into a corneal pocket and uses refraction through the implant material to correct myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism without the thermal damage and pain associated with laser procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The corneal inlay acts as an intermediary optical element between the cornea and the retina. Rather than directly altering the corneal tissue with lasers, the inlay mediates the refraction of light passing through the cornea, providing the necessary optical correction while leaving the corneal tissue intact and avoiding laser-induced pain and dry eye complications.
2Reliability
If corneal transplantation is performed to treat corneal scarring, then visual clarity can be restored, but corneal graft rejection and cellular invasion occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary optical portion (the inlay) from a donor cornea and implants it into a pocket created in the recipient's own cornea. This avoids the need to transplant entire corneal tissue, thereby eliminating the risk of immune rejection and cellular invasion that would occur with full or partial corneal transplants, while still providing the optical correction needed for visual clarity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies a localized solution by implanting a small inlay only in the central optical zone of the cornea where it is needed for vision correction. The surrounding corneal tissue remains unchanged and continues to function normally, avoiding the immune response that would be triggered by introducing foreign corneal tissue across the entire corneal surface.
3Reliability
If a corneal inlay is implanted to correct refractive errors, then refractive correction can be achieved, but the inlay may move around inside the cornea and fail to remain centered
Solution Approach 1:
The corneal inlay is nested within a corneal pocket that is created by making an incision and folding back the corneal stroma. This pocket structure physically confines the inlay and prevents it from moving or decentering, while still allowing the inlay to maintain its optical function. The pocket acts as a protective housing that secures the inlay in the correct position.
4Manufacturing precision
If donor cornea is used for lenslet formation, then custom lens correction can be created, but immune response and rejection occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary optical portion (the inlay) from a donor cornea and implants it into a pocket created in the recipient's own cornea. This avoids the need to transplant entire corneal tissue, thereby eliminating the risk of immune rejection and cellular invasion that would occur with full or partial corneal transplants, while still providing the optical correction needed for visual clarity.
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
This approach reduces the likelihood of corneal rejection, preserves clarity, and ensures the implanted lens remains centered, effectively correcting refractive errors and preventing cellular migration, thereby improving surgical outcomes for corneal transplantation.
Implementation Method 1
forming a lamellar lenslet from the cross-linked portion of the donor cornea, and removing the cross-linked lamellar lenslet from a remainder of the donor cornea
Implementation Method 2
cross-linking at least a portion of a donor cornea so as to kill donor keratocytes in the portion of the donor cornea and make the portion of the donor cornea less antigenic to the eye of the recipient patient
Data Source
AI summary
A method of corneal lenslet implantation with a cross-linked cornea is disclosed herein. In one or more embodiments, the method includes the steps of: (i) forming a two-dimensional cut into a cornea of an eye; (ii) creating a three-dimensional pocket in the cornea of the eye in tissue around the two-dimensional cut to gain access to tissue surrounding the three-dimensional pocket; (iii) applying a photosensitizer inside the three-dimensional pocket so the photosensitizer permeates at least a portion of the tissue surrounding the three-dimensional pocket to facilitate cross-linking of the tissue surrounding the three-dimensional pocket; (iv) irradiating the cornea to activate cross-linkers in the portion of the tissue surrounding the three-dimensional pocket, and thereby stiffen the cornea, prevent corneal ectasia of the cornea, and kill cells in the portion of the tissue surrounding the three-dimensional pocket; and (v) inserting a lens implant into the three-dimensional pocket through a small corneal incision.