Artificial Eye Lens Diffractive Grating Suppressing Halos

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing artificial eye lenses, particularly intraocular lenses, suffer from undesirable diffraction orders that lead to halos and glares, which are visually disturbing and impair vision, especially in low-light conditions.

Innovation Solution

The development of an artificial eye lens with a diffractive grating structure designed as an amplitude grating, created using a laser, which suppresses unwanted diffraction orders by modulating light amplitude and incorporating a microperforation design that allows for precise control over optical imaging properties, reducing halos and glares effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a diffractive grating structure is used in the artificial eye lens, then optical imaging properties are improved, but undesirable diffraction orders occur causing halos and glares

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical imaging propertiesVSAvoidhalos and glares
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The diffractive grating structure is segmented into multiple zones with different diffraction characteristics. By dividing the grating into zones with varying pitch and depth, the patent directs different wavelengths of light to different focal points while suppressing unwanted diffraction orders that cause halos and glares.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the diffractive grating are assigned different local properties. The grating pitch, depth, and orientation vary across different zones to optimize optical performance for specific functions (e.g., distance vision, near vision) while minimizing harmful diffraction effects in each local area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional manufacturing processes are used, then production is simpler, but production complexity increases due to stable machine requirements and vibration damping

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing process simplicityVSAvoidproduction environment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional mechanical manufacturing methods (ultra-precision machining with diamond tools) with laser-based manufacturing. The laser directly writes the diffractive grating structure onto the lens material, eliminating the need for complex mechanical machining equipment, stable environmental conditions, and vibration-damped production environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The manufacturing process transitions from mechanical removal of material to laser-induced modification of material properties. By changing the laser parameters (pulse duration, wavelength, intensity), the patent can directly create the desired grating structure without mechanical contact, simplifying the manufacturing system while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If laser structures are used instead of mechanical machining, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but production precision must be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing system complexityVSAvoidgrating structure precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The laser manufacturing process uses periodic pulsed action to create the diffractive grating. By controlling the pulse frequency, duration, and spacing, the patent precisely defines the grating pitch and depth while maintaining manufacturing simplicity. The periodic laser pulses enable accurate reproduction of the grating pattern without complex mechanical positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

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 solution significantly reduces halos and glares, enhances contrast, and improves optical functionality by allowing for precise design of the amplitude grating, ensuring that the optical imaging properties are not distorted and are protected from mechanical influences.

Implementation Method 1

a laser beam from an ultrashort pulse laser is used to modify the hydrophilic behavior of the polymer material from which the artificial lens is already made. This modification of the hydrophilic behavior of the polymer material results in a reduction in the optical refractive index of this polymer material.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser beam modification: Laser

Implementation Method 2

The artificial eye lens has a diffractive grating structure that contributes to the optical imaging properties of the optical part. These undesirable diffraction orders occur which limit their optical functionality. These undesirable diffraction orders occur to a greater or lesser extent regardless of the known manufacturing processes.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffraction: Diffraction

Implementation Method 3

An amplitude grating is an absorbing grating. An amplitude grating is designed to modulate the amplitude of the incident light wave.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP3630472B1Artifical eye lens with diffractive grating structure and method for producing an artificial eye lens
Publication Date: 2024.08.21 CARL ZEISS MEDITEC AG
  • EP3630472B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~3
  • EP3630472B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to an artificial eye lens (1) with an optical part (2), which has a first optical side (4) as considered in the direction of a primary optical axis (A) of the artificial eye lens (1) and an opposite, second optical side (5), wherein the optical part (2) has a diffractive grating structure, which contributes to the optical imaging property of the optical part (2), wherein the diffractive grating structure is an amplitude grating (6), which is formed in the optical part (2) as a laser structure. The invention also relates to a method for producing an artificial eye lens (1) of this kind using a laser device (17).