Combined Excimer Laser and Phaco Unit for Glaucoma Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Glaucoma, caused by elevated intraocular pressure, can lead to optic nerve damage and blindness if left untreated, and existing treatments are invasive and risky, while early detection methods are lacking.
Innovation Solution
Prophylactic treatment using an excimer laser to create perforations in the trabecular meshwork to enhance fluid drainage, combined with phacoemulsification ultrasound for cataract treatment, if necessary, in a single surgical procedure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If prophylactic excimer laser treatment is applied to patients at risk of glaucoma, then glaucoma prevention is improved, but the risk of treating patients without diagnosed glaucoma increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by identifying patients at risk of developing glaucoma through preoperative analysis before the actual glaucoma diagnosis occurs. The excimer laser treatment is performed prophylactically on patients with risk factors (family history, race, age, comorbidities) even before elevated intraocular pressure or glaucoma diagnosis is confirmed, thereby preventing the disease before it manifests.
2Productivity
If combined excimer laser and phacoemulsification treatment is performed in a single procedure, then treatment efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two distinct ophthalmic treatments—excimer laser trabeculostomy for glaucoma prevention and phacoemulsification for cataract treatment—into a single combined surgical procedure. The system integrates both the excimer laser device and phacoemulsification equipment to perform multiple treatments through the same corneal incision, thereby improving productivity by reducing the number of separate procedures needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The combined surgical system exhibits multi-functionality by enabling a single procedure to address both glaucoma prevention and cataract removal. The system can accommodate different probe types (excimer laser probe and phaco probe) and perform multiple treatments on the same patient during one surgical session, making the system adaptable to different treatment needs while improving overall efficiency.
3Reliability
If multiple separate procedures are used for glaucoma treatment and cataract treatment, then treatment specificity is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate treatments (glaucoma prevention via excimer laser and cataract removal via phacoemulsification) into a single surgical procedure. Both treatments are performed through the same corneal incision using a combined system, thereby eliminating the time loss associated with scheduling and performing separate procedures while maintaining the specificity of each treatment through dedicated probe and parameter control.
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
Reduces intraocular pressure and prevents glaucoma onset by improving fluid drainage through the trabecular meshwork, minimizing invasive procedures and complications.
Implementation Method 1
applying excimer laser energy to prophylactically treat glaucoma
Implementation Method 2
applying phacoemulsification ultrasound to the patient diagnosed as having cataracts
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for treating an eye includes a housing, an excimer laser source within the housing, an ultrasound generator within the housing, an irrigation source within the housing, and an aspiration source within the housing.