Resilient Expansion Ring for Iris Tissue Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
During ophthalmic surgery, existing methods for expanding the pupil, such as using hooks, may not effectively maintain the iris in an expanded condition, which can limit access and stability during procedures like phacoemulsification.
Innovation Solution
A continuous ring formed from resilient material with enlarged corner portions and straight sides is designed to engage and spread eyeball tissue segments, providing a stable expansion by capturing tissue in gaps and applying a clamping force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If hooks are used to engage and pull against edge portions of the eyeball tissue, then the pupil can be expanded during the procedure, but the iris cannot be effectively maintained in an expanded condition
Solution Approach 1:
The ring is divided into multiple tissue-engaging portions (corner portions with gaps) that can independently engage different segments of the iris tissue. This segmentation allows each corner portion to capture and hold a specific tissue segment, providing distributed support that maintains the expanded state more reliably than a single hook structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The corner portions are pre-formed with gaps specifically designed to receive and capture tissue. This preliminary preparation of the tissue-engaging structure allows for easy and reliable capture of iris tissue during deployment, ensuring the iris is promptly and effectively maintained in the expanded condition without requiring complex manipulation during the procedure.
2Reliability
If a continuous ring with corner portions is used to engage and spread tissue segments, then stable expansion is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional elements (tissue engagement, spreading, and maintenance capabilities) are merged into a single continuous ring structure. The corner portions with gaps are integrated directly into the ring, eliminating the need for separate components and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining stable expansion through the distributed tissue-engaging portions.
3Ease of operation
If hooks are used to expand the pupil, then access can be obtained, but the stability during the procedure is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The ring provides locally optimized tissue engagement at each corner portion, with gaps specifically positioned to capture iris tissue. This local quality enhancement at multiple points around the ring creates distributed stability, ensuring the iris remains securely expanded throughout the procedure while maintaining easy access through the pupil.
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 ring effectively maintains the iris in an expanded state, providing a stable and enlarged opening for ophthalmic procedures by securely engaging and spreading the tissue, enhancing access and reducing the risk of tissue damage.
Implementation Method 1
a continuous ring formed from resilient material with enlarged corner portions and straight sides is designed to engage and spread eyeball tissue segments
Data Source
AI summary
A length or strand of resilient material is formed into a continuous ring having multiple tissue-engaging portions for engaging and spreading eyeball tissue segments apart. The strand is formed with elongated straight sides joined by corner portions which are enlarged in directions transverse to the length dimension of each adjacent side. The corner portions constitute the tissue-engaging portions and have top and bottom sections and a connecting section that forms a gap for receiving the tissue. Each side of the ring extends from a bottom section of one corner to a top section of an adjacent corner. When the ring is deployed, the tissue is captured in the gaps at the corners of the ring and also is engaged along each side as that side transitions from a position situated below the tissue to a position situated above the issue.