Eye Gas Enclosure With Fluid Regulation for Prolonged Ocular Therapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for delivering therapeutic gases to the eye surfaces, such as the cornea, sclera, and conjunctiva, fail to maintain prolonged contact and effective delivery, which is crucial for treating conditions like glaucoma and other eye diseases.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising an enclosure sized to fit over the eye, a fluid regulator, and sensors/pumps to control the composition and pressure of therapeutic gases like CO2, O2, and NO within a cavity, allowing extended contact and simultaneous multi-modal treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If topical medications are applied to the eye, then the eye receives therapeutic substances, but the medications drain quickly from the eye minimizing contact time with absorbing surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
An enclosure is introduced as an intermediary device that captures and retains therapeutic gases near the eye surfaces. The enclosure creates a controlled environment that prevents rapid drainage of therapeutic substances, allowing prolonged contact time with the cornea, sclera, and conjunctiva while minimizing loss of the therapeutic gas mixture.
2Duration of action of moving object
If therapeutic gases are introduced into an enclosure, then prolonged contact with eye surfaces is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into distinct functional components: an enclosure that interfaces with the eye, fluid regulators that control gas composition, and sensors that monitor therapeutic parameters. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall design while achieving prolonged therapeutic contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The enclosure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it contains the therapeutic gas mixture, maintains contact with the eye surfaces, and provides a controlled environment for gas delivery. The fluid regulator system also performs multiple roles including composition control, pressure regulation, and flow management, reducing the need for separate dedicated components.
3Manufacturing precision
If fluid regulators and sensors are used to control gas composition, then treatment precision is improved, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid regulator system incorporates sensors that automatically monitor and adjust gas composition and pressure within the enclosure. This self-regulating mechanism maintains precise therapeutic parameters without requiring constant manual intervention, thereby improving treatment precision while preserving ease of operation through automated 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
Enhances patient outcomes by maintaining therapeutic gas concentrations and pressures to treat conditions like glaucoma and macular edema, improving treatment efficacy and patient comfort.
Implementation Method 1
Topical medications, such as eye drops, can drain quickly from the eye thereby minimizing contact time with absorbing surfaces, such as the cornea, sclera, and conjunctiva
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus to maintain an environment over an anterior surface of a patient eye can include an enclosure sized and shaped to be seated about the patient eye to form a cavity within the enclosure. The enclosure can be configured to contain a fluid other than ambient air in contact with the patient eye. The apparatus can include a fluid regulator in communication with the enclosure, where the fluid regulator can be configured to regulate the composition of the fluid contained within the enclosure.