Electro-active Ophthalmic Lens with Electromyography Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ophthalmic lenses, particularly intraocular lenses (IOLs), lack a reliable sensing approach to effectively adjust optical power for accommodation demands, especially in presbyopic patients and those with age-related macular degeneration, limiting their ability to perform visual tasks such as reading without cumbersome magnification devices.
Innovation Solution
The use of electromyography sensors to measure ciliary muscle activity, allowing for continuous adjustment of electro-active ophthalmic lenses to meet accommodation demands, either automatically or through user-controlled interfaces, using sensors and processing techniques to calibrate and control the lens's optical power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If electro-active elements with control circuitry are integrated into IOLs to enable adjustable optical power, then accommodation demand response is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The IOL system integrates multiple functions into a single device: the electro-active optical element provides both structural support and variable focusing capability, while the control circuitry handles sensing, processing, and actuation functions. This multi-functionality enables the lens to adapt to different accommodation demands without requiring separate external devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuitry and power supply are packaged within biocompatible materials and sealed electronic packaging that is integrated into the IOL structure. The sensors, processors, and electro-active elements are nested within the lens assembly, creating a compact self-contained system that can be implanted as a single unit.
2Ease of operation
If sensors are integrated into IOLs for automatic control, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The IOL system incorporates sensors that automatically detect accommodation demands and trigger appropriate lens power adjustments without requiring user intervention. The control circuitry continuously monitors physiological signals and autonomously controls the electro-active element to maintain optimal focus, making the system self-regulating and eliminating the need for manual operation.
3Reliability
If packaging components in biocompatible materials is done to ensure reliability, then biocompatibility is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The IOL construction utilizes composite materials combining biocompatible polymers with electronic components. The biocompatible material packaging encapsulates the electronic elements while maintaining physiological compatibility, creating a hybrid structure that satisfies both biological and functional requirements through material composition rather than complex manufacturing processes.
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 approach enables a more granular and reliable detection of accommodation demands, allowing for continuous adjustment of optical power, improving vision quality for presbyopic patients and those with AMD by providing a range of vision correction equivalent to natural eye performance, reducing the need for external magnification devices.
Implementation Method 1
the sensor includes an electromyography sensor that senses an electrical signal from the ciliary muscle
Implementation Method 2
The electro-active element has an adjustable optical power based on electrical signals controlling the element
Data Source
AI summary
An electro-active ophthalmic lens includes an electromyography sensor, a processor, and an electro-active optical element. The electromyography sensor is configured to detect an electric field in a ciliary muscle of the eye that is proportional to a force exerted by the ciliary muscle and to generate a sensor signal indicative of the electric field. The processor is operable to receive the signal from the electromyography sensor and to determine, based on the sensor signal, an adjustment to optical power for an electro-active optical element and to generate a control signal for the electro-active optical element. The electro-active optical element is operable to receive the control signal and to change an optical power of the electro-active optical element in response to the control signal.