Dual-Lens Body-Mountable Device With Reciprocal Topography
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional body-mountable devices, particularly eye-mountable devices, face challenges in maintaining comfort and accuracy due to hydrophobic materials like silicone elastomer, which cause corneal binding and discomfort, while hydrophilic materials may not provide sufficient rigidity for sensor operation.
Innovation Solution
The use of a dual-lens system with a hydrophilic posterior lens and a hydrophobic anterior lens, featuring reciprocal topographical features for secure mounting, along with an embedded electronic structure comprising an antenna, sensor, and electronic device, to facilitate comfortable wear and accurate analyte measurement in the tear film.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If hydrophobic materials like silicone elastomer are used in body-mountable devices, then structural integrity and sensor operation are maintained, but corneal binding occurs causing discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into two separate lenses: a posterior lens made of hydrophilic material and an anterior lens made of hydrophobic material. This segmentation allows each lens to perform its specific function - the posterior lens prevents corneal binding while the anterior lens maintains structural integrity and supports sensor operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different materials are used at different locations of the device. The posterior lens (facing the cornea) uses hydrophilic material to prevent binding, while the anterior lens (outer layer) uses hydrophobic material for structural strength. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between comfort and structural requirements.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If hydrophilic materials are used to reduce corneal binding, then user comfort is improved, but rigidity sufficient for sensor operation is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The device separates the functions of comfort and structural support into two distinct lenses. The posterior lens made of hydrophilic material provides comfort by preventing corneal binding, while the anterior lens made of hydrophobic material provides the necessary rigidity for sensor operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The posterior lens uses hydrophilic material locally where it contacts the cornea to ensure comfort, while the anterior lens uses hydrophobic material locally where structural integrity is needed for sensor support, resolving the contradiction between comfort and rigidity requirements.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single-material lens is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but both comfort and structural integrity cannot be simultaneously achieved
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single material, the device is manufactured as two separate lenses with different material properties. This segmentation enables each lens to be optimized for its specific function while being mounted together to form the complete device.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses a composite structure combining two different materials (hydrophilic and hydrophobic) in separate lenses. This composite approach allows the device to simultaneously achieve comfort (through hydrophilic material) and structural integrity (through hydrophobic material) that cannot be achieved with a single material.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If two separate lenses with different materials are used, then both comfort and structural integrity are achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The two separate lenses (posterior and anterior) are merged together through mounting to form a single integrated device. This merging combines the benefits of different materials while presenting a unified structure to the user, reducing the perceived complexity despite the multi-component construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The device transitions from a single-layer structure to a two-layer structure, adding a dimensional aspect to the design. This layered approach allows different material properties to be utilized in different layers, achieving multiple functions simultaneously while maintaining a relatively compact overall form factor.
Data Source
AI summary
A body-mountable device may include a first layer, a second layer, and an electronic structure. The first layer may include a first topographical feature, while the second layer may include a second topographical feature. The first topographical feature and the second topographical feature may be reciprocally-shaped. The second layer may be mounted on the first layer such that the first topographical feature interfaces with the second topographical feature, thereby mechanically securing the second layer to the first layer. The electronic structure, which may include an antenna, a sensor, and an electronic device, may be embedded in the second layer. In an example in which the body-mountable device is an eye-mountable device, the first layer may be a posterior lens, and the second layer may be an anterior lens.