Excimer Laser Trabecular Perforations for Glaucoma Treatment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for glaucoma are invasive and may cause complications, and there is a need for a minimally invasive method to prevent glaucoma progression, especially in patients at risk due to age, family history, or comorbidities.

Innovation Solution

The use of an excimer laser to create perforations in the trabecular meshwork during a surgical procedure, either alone or combined with phacoemulsification, to enhance fluid drainage and reduce intraocular pressure before glaucoma symptoms appear.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional glaucoma treatments are used, then glaucoma can be treated, but the treatments are invasive and may cause complications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveglaucoma treatment effectivenessVSAvoidinvasiveness and complications

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical/invasive glaucoma treatments with an excimer laser-based photodisruptive treatment. The excimer laser creates perforations in the trabecular meshwork through photodisruption, eliminating the need for mechanical surgery while achieving similar therapeutic effects of improving fluid drainage and reducing intraocular pressure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes specific laser parameters (excimer laser wavelength, pulse duration, energy levels) to achieve precise photodisruption of the trabecular meshwork. By controlling these parameters, the treatment creates effective perforations while minimizing damage to surrounding tissues, thus reducing invasiveness and complications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If prophylactic glaucoma treatment is applied to at-risk patients, then glaucoma progression can be prevented, but the treatment should be minimally invasive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveglaucoma progression preventionVSAvoidinvasiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies excimer laser treatment prophylactically to patients at risk of developing glaucoma before symptoms appear or significant damage occurs. By performing the minimally invasive photodisruptive treatment in advance on at-risk patients (those with family history, age, or other risk factors), the therapy prevents glaucoma progression while causing minimal harm due to the non-invasive nature of the excimer laser approach.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If excimer laser treatment is applied, then fluid drainage is enhanced and intraocular pressure is reduced, but the treatment creates perforations in the trabecular meshwork

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid drainage efficiencyVSAvoidperforations in trabecular meshwork

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potential harm of creating perforations in the trabecular meshwork into a beneficial therapeutic effect. The excimer laser-induced perforations, while structurally altering the meshwork, simultaneously improve aqueous humor drainage by creating channels that reduce intraocular pressure. The 'harm' of perforation is transformed into the 'benefit' of enhanced fluid outflow, which is the desired therapeutic outcome for glaucoma treatment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 minimizes recovery time, reduces the risk of complications, and effectively lowers intraocular pressure, potentially preventing glaucoma progression in at-risk patients.

Implementation Method 1

treating the patient with an excimer laser to create a plurality of perforations in the trabecular meshwork by applying a plurality of shots to the trabecular meshwork from the excimer laser

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser ablation: Laser Ablation

Implementation Method 2

applying phacoemulsification ultrasound to the patient diagnosed as having the cataracts

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasonic vibration: Ultrasonic Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS11918516B1Systems and methods for treating patients with closed-angle or narrow-angle glaucoma using an excimer laser unit

Publication Date: 2024.03.05 ELIOS VISION INC

AI summary

An illustrative method of treating a patient having an eye condition includes determining that the patient has a closed-angle or narrow-angle glaucoma. The method further includes treating the closed-angle or narrow-angle glaucoma during a surgical procedure performed on the patient. The method further includes, during the surgical procedure, treating the patient with an excimer laser to create a plurality of perforations in the trabecular meshwork by applying a plurality of shots to the trabecular meshwork from the excimer laser.