Dry Eye Marking Ink for Precise Surgical Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional eye marking technologies face challenges with inadequate ink transfer, short-lasting marks, and imprecision due to the use of wet ink on a wet ocular surface, which limits the duration and accuracy of marks, especially in surgical settings where precise marking is critical for astigmatism treatment.
Innovation Solution
A dry ink composition with a higher concentration of gentian violet (GV) in an anhydrous solvent, combined with magnetic carbon compounds, is applied to eye marker tips, allowing for improved ink adherence and longevity, and enabling precise marking even under infrared cameras.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If conventional wet ink markers are used on the eye, then the marking process is simple and quick, but the ink transfer is inadequate and marks are blinked off within minutes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the ink by using a concentrated gentian violet solution (approximately 13% GV) in an anhydrous solvent system instead of conventional dilute aqueous ink. This parameter change allows the ink to adhere to the dry marker tip and transfer effectively to the ocular surface, creating marks that last several hours rather than being blinked off within minutes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite ink formulation combining gentian violet dye with an anhydrous solvent system (alcohol-based). This composite material provides both the staining capability of GV and the adhesion properties of anhydrous solvents, enabling the ink to remain on the dry marker tip and transfer precisely to the eye surface without the problems of aqueous-based conventional inks.
2Duration of action of moving object
If surgical ink marker dots are placed before surgery, then lasting marks are achieved, but the placement is imprecise and dots smear over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the ink from the liquid state and deposits it as a dry composition on the marker tip. This dry ink formulation prevents premature smearing that occurs with liquid surgical ink markers, while still providing lasting visibility. The ink is applied precisely when needed rather than being pre-applied as a dot.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the ink from liquid to dry composition, and modifies the solvent system from aqueous to anhydrous. These parameter changes prevent the ink from smearing over time while maintaining precise placement capability, as the dry ink remains stable on the marker tip until application.
3Measurement precision
If marks are applied in vertical position, then accurate eye positioning is achieved, but surgical preparation time is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables preliminary marking to be performed accurately in the vertical position before the patient is moved to the horizontal surgical position. The dry ink formulation and improved marker design allow the mark to be applied precisely and then remain stable during patient repositioning, eliminating the need to delay surgical preparation for re-marking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by using a dry ink composition on a dry marker tip rather than wet ink on a wet surface. This inversion allows the mark to be applied first and remain stable, rather than requiring the marker and eye to be continuously wetted, thus enabling accurate marking before position change without time loss.
4Duration of action of moving object
If concentrated GV ink is used, then mark longevity is improved, but ink transfer to the eye surface becomes inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the dry marker tip as an intermediary medium to transfer the concentrated GV ink to the ocular surface. The dry ink adheres to the dry tip and is transferred through direct contact with the eye, bypassing the need for liquid-to-liquid transfer that causes dilution and inadequate marking. This intermediary approach maintains ink concentration while enabling effective transfer.
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 solution provides longer-lasting, precise, and accurate marks that remain visible for several hours, enhancing surgical efficiency and patient outcomes by allowing preoperative marking without interrupting surgical preparation, and ensuring marks are clear and visible during procedures.
Implementation Method 1
anhydrous solvent
Implementation Method 2
magnetic carbon compounds
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates generally to dry inks for use in marking the eye prior to surgery and methods of applying the same to eye marking devices. Such inks can include various accepted inks for use on the eye that can be applied to a marking device using relatively fast-evaporating solvents. In this manner, the remaining ink composition can be precisely placed on the eye marking device, and desirably transfer to the marking surface of the eye without dissolving on the journey through the various membranes above the marking surface. Application methods may include use of charged ink particles that may be advantageously manipulated using magnetic fields to even more precisely place the dry ink on a marking device.