Electroactive Ophthalmic Lens Shape Memory Alloy Actuation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ophthalmic lenses, such as contact lenses, fail to dynamically change focus like the human eye, and previous electroactive designs face manufacturing challenges and deleterious effects from electroactive structures within the optic zone.

Innovation Solution

An electroactive ophthalmic lens with a shape memory alloy structure embedded outside the optic zone, powered by a controlled energy source and electronics, allowing for wireless activation to change shape and optical characteristics without obstructing the lens's vision area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If an electroactive optical structure is placed in the optic zone to enable dynamic focus change, then the lens can dynamically adjust focus, but it causes deleterious effects on vision quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedynamic focus adjustmentVSAvoiddeleterious effects on optic zone

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The electroactive optical structure is extracted from the optic zone and relocated to the peripheral region of the contact lens. This separation allows the active focusing mechanism to function without interfering with the central vision area, thereby eliminating the deleterious effects while preserving dynamic focus adjustment capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The contact lens is segmented into distinct functional zones: the optic zone for clear vision and the peripheral region for housing the electroactive structure. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function independently, with the electroactive components located in holding structures at the periphery that can actuate the lens shape without obstructing light passing through the optic zone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If a shape memory alloy structure is embedded in the contact lens to enable shape change, then dynamic focus adjustment is achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshape change capabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shape memory alloy structure serves as both the actuator and the structural element simultaneously. When electric current is applied, the shape memory alloy undergoes a phase transformation that directly changes the lens shape without requiring separate actuation mechanisms, control systems, or complex mechanical assemblies, thereby reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The shape memory alloy structure changes its physical state through parameter changes (temperature or electrical field-induced phase transformation) to alter the lens shape. This approach replaces complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms with a material property change, simplifying the overall device architecture while maintaining shape change capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If electroactive components are integrated into the contact lens for active focusing, then vision accommodation is improved, but manufacturing reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveactive focusing functionalityVSAvoidmanufacturing reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The shape memory alloy structure is pre-formed into its desired configuration during manufacturing, and its electrical connections are pre-established within the holding structures. This preliminary preparation allows the complex electroactive components to be integrated into the contact lens in a standardized, repeatable manner, improving manufacturing reliability while maintaining active focusing functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Enables dynamic focus adjustment similar to the human eye, improving vision accommodation and reducing manufacturing complexities while avoiding deleterious effects on the optic zone.

Implementation Method 1

a shape memory alloy structure supported in the hydrogel mass outside of the optic zone

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShape memory alloy effect: Shape Memory Alloy

Implementation Method 2

an electric current passed through a shape memory alloy to operate without significant structure located in the optic zone

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentUS20240160045A1Electroactive ophthalmic lens with shape memory alloy component

Publication Date: 2024.05.16 ATHENEUM OPTICAL SCIENCES LLC

AI summary

Electroactive dynamic lenses that have more than one degree of visual accommodation that supplements an accommodation provided by a human eye on which the electroactive dynamic lens is worn. The accommodation is provided via activation of a shape memory alloy structure through a transition. A desired change in a focal plane may be accomplished with structures that may be electroactively controlled to expand or contract during a transition of the shape memory alloy. In some embodiments, a ring containing one or more elements that expand or contract under the influence of an electrical current to modify an overall shape of a formable ophthalmic lens and accomplish visual accommodation.