Electroretinography Ocular Interface for Stable Eye Signal Recording

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current electroretinography devices are expensive, difficult to clean, uncomfortable, and produce inconsistent signals due to unstable placement on the eye, leading to discomfort and inaccurate measurements.

Innovation Solution

The electroretinography devices are designed with an ocular member featuring a proximal and distal portion, including grooves and recesses to manage tears and fluids, a flexible material for comfort, and a conductive element for stable signal reception, ensuring better fit and consistent measurements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If reusable electroretinography devices are used, then measurement capability is maintained, but cleaning difficulty and discomfort increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement consistencyVSAvoidcleaning ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into a reusable body portion and a disposable ocular interface portion. The disposable portion can be easily discarded after use, eliminating cleaning requirements while maintaining measurement capability through the reusable portion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The ocular interface portion is designed as a disposable component that is discarded after a single use. This eliminates the need for cleaning and sterilization while ensuring consistent measurement quality, as each new disposable portion is factory-prepared and sterile.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Ease of operation

If disposable electroretinography devices are used, then cleaning ease is improved, but signal stability and placement consistency worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning easeVSAvoidsignal stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device separates reusable and disposable functions. The reusable body contains precision components ensuring signal stability, while the disposable ocular interface ensures ease of use without compromising measurement quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The ocular interface portion uses flexible materials that conform to the curved surface of the eye, ensuring stable placement and consistent signal acquisition. The flexibility allows the disposable portion to maintain reliable contact despite being discarded after single use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Strength

If stiff materials are used for device construction, then structural strength is improved, but corneal abrasion risk and discomfort increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidcorneal abrasion risk

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The ocular interface portion is constructed from flexible, compliant materials that gently conform to the eye surface. This eliminates the risk of corneal abrasion while maintaining sufficient structural integrity for stable signal recording through the flexible connection to the reusable body.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Reliability

If the device covers a large portion of the eye, then signal reception area is improved, but tear trapping and visual acuity reduction worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal receptionVSAvoidvisual acuity reduction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The design extracts only the necessary portion of the eye surface for signal acquisition. The ocular interface is sized to cover only the corneal area needed for electroretinography, leaving the rest of the eye uncovered and functional, thus avoiding tear trapping in large cavities while maintaining adequate signal reception.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 devices provide improved comfort, reduce measurement inconsistencies, and enhance signal stability by effectively managing tears and fluids, allowing for accurate electrophysiological recordings.

Implementation Method 1

a conductive element and a signal relay operatively connecting the conductive element and a signal processor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS12543999B2Systems, devices, and methods for electrophysiological recording from the eye

Publication Date: 2026.02.10 RETMAP INC

AI summary

Systems, devices, and methods for electrophysiological recording from the eye are disclosed herein. An electroretinography device can detect a biopotential signal from an eye of a subject and transmit the same to a processor. Embodiments of the present technology include one or more features directed to improving the use and operability of an electroretinography device. For example, the device can include features for (i) inhibiting multiple devices from adhering or sticking to one another or a different object and (ii) providing tactile feedback to users to help distinguish one side of the device from the other.