Dual Lumen Surgical Work Tip for Cataract Emulsification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ultrasonic hand pieces used in phacoemulsification for cataract removal cause significant mechanical trauma to the eye and have limitations in delivering pharmaceutical compounds directly to the cataract tissue, as they rely on eye drops which are not effective and inefficient in concentration and duration.
Innovation Solution
A dual lumen work tip with a side-by-side lumen construction that receives ultrasonic energy to emulsify cataract tissue, simultaneously irrigates and aspirates, allowing for direct injection of pharmaceutical compounds into the cataract tissue through one lumen and removal of emulsified tissue through the other, reducing mechanical trauma and improving treatment efficacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ultrasonic hand pieces are used for phacoemulsification, then cataract tissue can be emulsified and removed, but significant mechanical trauma is caused to the eye
Solution Approach 1:
The work tip is divided into two separate lumens: one for ultrasonic emulsification and aspiration, and another for chemical compound delivery. This segmentation allows simultaneous mechanical and chemical treatment, reducing reliance on high-power ultrasonic energy and thereby reducing mechanical trauma while maintaining cataract removal efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Pharmaceutical compounds are introduced as an intermediary chemical agent that works synergistically with ultrasonic energy. The chemicals help dissolve and emulsify cataract proteins, reducing the mechanical force required and minimizing trauma to surrounding ocular tissues while maintaining effective cataract removal.
2Quantity of substance
If eye drops are used to deliver pharmaceutical compounds, then treatment can be administered, but delivery is not effective or efficient in concentration and duration
Solution Approach 1:
The second lumen extracts the limitation of systemic or topical delivery by providing a dedicated, isolated pathway for direct intraocular injection. This allows precise control of pharmaceutical compound delivery directly to the treatment site, ensuring reliable concentration and duration of action that cannot be achieved with eye drops.
Solution Approach 2:
The dual lumen work tip combines two previously separate functions into one instrument: ultrasonic emulsification/aspiration and pharmaceutical compound delivery. This multi-functionality ensures reliable and effective delivery of therapeutic agents directly to the cataract tissue during the surgical procedure, overcoming the limitations of separate eye drop administration.
3Measurement precision
If a dual lumen work tip is used for direct injection, then pharmaceutical compounds can be delivered precisely to cataract tissue, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Two separate functional components (ultrasonic work tip and injection needle) are merged into a single dual lumen work tip. This integration maintains measurement precision for drug delivery by providing a dedicated second lumen for direct injection, while reducing overall device complexity by eliminating the need for separate injection equipment and procedures.
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 dual lumen work tip effectively reduces mechanical trauma during cataract removal, allows precise delivery and control of pharmaceutical compounds directly to the cataract tissue, enhancing treatment effectiveness by restoring transparency and improving surgical precision.
Implementation Method 1
The work tip is effectively a unit of two tubes or sections of two tubes. Hereafter the term 'tube' refers to a full tube or a section of a tube with each such tube or section having its own lumen. Where sections of tubes are used, at least a portion of such sections are integrated along a common surface. The tubes receive ultrasonic energy from a handpiece that contains piezoelectric or ceramic elements that vibrate at ultrasonic frequencies and contain a connecting body that transmits ultrasonic energy to the dual lumen work tip.
Implementation Method 2
The tubes receive ultrasonic energy from a handpiece that contains piezoelectric or ceramic elements that vibrate at ultrasonic frequencies
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for chemically treating a cataract in the eye of a patient comprising the steps of (a) inserting a dual lumen work tip into the eye and placing it adjacent the cataract tissue; (b) causing the work tip to vibrate so that pieces of the cataract separate or emulsify; (c) moving the work tip into the cataract tissue so as to form a tunnel therein; and (d) injecting into the tunnel a pharmaceutical compound capable of treating cataract tissue.