Disposable Contact Lens with Degradable Electrical Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing contact lens assemblies used in laser-based ophthalmological treatments for macula diseases like diabetic macular edema, age-related macular degeneration, and central serous chorioretinopathy face challenges such as component degradation, contamination, and unsafe reuse due to uneven heating and scattering, leading to potential vision loss and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a lens/sensor subassembly with a feedback sensor, data transmission line, and an electrical element that degrades upon exposure to therapeutic radiation, interrupting communication and preventing unsafe reuse by detecting an open circuit condition, ensuring safe operation and prompting replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If contact lens assembly is reused to avoid costs, then cost reduction is achieved, but safety and effectiveness deteriorate due to component degradation and contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating a degradable electrical element that is pre-configured to fail at a predetermined threshold of therapeutic radiation exposure. This element proactively interrupts feedback signal transmission before the contact lens components actually degrade, preventing unsafe reuse before contamination or effectiveness loss occurs. The system predicts the end of safe usage based on cumulative radiation dose rather than waiting for actual degradation signs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements the disposable principle by designing the contact lens assembly with a built-in radiation-sensitive electrical element that degrades after a predetermined amount of therapeutic radiation exposure. This creates a single-use or limited-use device that automatically becomes non-functional after its safe service life, eliminating the need for costly sterilization processes and ensuring patient safety without requiring expensive reusable components.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple sterilizations are performed on contact lens, then contamination is reduced, but lens scattering increases due to uneven heating and surface scratching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the sterilization problem entirely by adopting a disposable contact lens assembly design. The degradable electrical element limits the number of uses to one or a few times based on cumulative radiation exposure, making sterilization unnecessary. This avoids the harmful effects of repeated sterilization such as uneven heating and surface scratching that increase lens scattering, while still preventing contamination through single-use disposal.
3Reliability
If degradable electrical element is used to prevent reuse, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the safety function with the existing feedback sensor and data transmission line by incorporating a degradable electrical element into the current circuitry. Rather than adding a separate safety mechanism, the electrical element is integrated into the feedback signal path, so that its degradation naturally interrupts communication and prevents reuse. This combines multiple functions (feedback transmission and safety control) into a single integrated component structure.
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 solution ensures safe and effective treatment by preventing reuse of degraded contact lens assemblies, reducing the risk of vision loss and associated costs, while maintaining treatment efficacy through real-time feedback and controlled radiation exposure.
Implementation Method 1
The electrical element may be degradable in response to exposure to therapeutic radiation from the therapeutic radiation source. Degradation of the electrical element may interrupt communication of the feedback data measured by the feedback sensor to the dosimetry board.
Implementation Method 2
The beam splitter may be partially positioned on the optical path. The beam splitter may be configured to direct a portion of a therapeutic radiation emitted through the contact lens towards the electrical element.
Data Source
AI summary
A lens/sensor subassembly (318) may include a feedback sensor (324), a data transmission line (302), and an electrical element (328). The feedback sensor (324) may be configured to measure a phenomenon in an eye (100) of a patient during a laser-based ophthalmological therapy. The data transmission line (302) may be configured to communicate feedback data measured by the feedback sensor (324) to a laser-based ophthalmological treatment system (200). The electrical element (328) may be degradable in response to exposure to therapeutic radiation (316). The degradation of the electrical element (328) may interrupt communication of the feedback data measured by the feedback sensor (324) to the laser-based ophthalmological treatment system (200).