Eye Simulator Device with Electromagnetic Eyelid Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional eye simulators are limited in function, reliability, and realism, as they often rely on noisy pneumatic actuators or electric gear motors, cannot mimic realistic eyelid motion, and fail to track eye movement, making them inconvenient and less effective for medical training.
Innovation Solution
An eye simulator device with an electromagnetic coil and actuator arm to control simulated eyelid motion, combined with a display projecting realistic eye images and conditions, allowing manual control of the eyelid and pupil movement, and integrated with a mannequin simulator for enhanced realism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pneumatic actuators or electric gear motors are used to operate conventional eye assemblies, then the eye simulator can perform basic opening/closing functions, but noise interference increases and mechanical failure occurs prematurely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces pneumatic actuators and electric gear motors with an electromagnetic coil that directly actuates the eyelid assembly. This substitution eliminates mechanical gears and pneumatic components, thereby reducing noise interference and improving reliability by removing potential failure points associated with mechanical wear and tear.
2Ease of operation
If conventional simulated eyeballs are designed with fixed components, then the structure is simplified, but the ability to manually splay eyelids and track eye motion is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic elements to the eyelid assembly, including a pivot point that allows the eyelid to rotate and splay manually, and an electromagnetic coil that enables active tracking of eye motion. These dynamic features allow the eyelid to move beyond simple opening/closing actions, providing manual splay capability and motion tracking while maintaining operational ease.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional simulated eyeballs include only basic opening/closing components, then the device complexity is reduced, but realistic eye motion tracking and pupil movement are not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The electromagnetic coil serves multiple functions: it actuates the eyelid for opening/closing motions, enables manual splay through rotational movement, and tracks eye motion by responding to magnetic field changes. This multi-functionality achieves realistic eye motion tracking and pupil movement without requiring separate dedicated components for each function, thereby managing device complexity while enhancing adaptability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If large and complicated simulated eyeballs are used, then more functions can be integrated, but convenience of use is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the actuator, electromagnetic coil, and eyelid assembly into a compact integrated unit. By combining these components into a unified structure, the system achieves multiple simulated eye functions (opening, closing, splaying, tracking) in a space-efficient design that maintains ease of operation and improves usability convenience.
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 enables realistic simulation of eye opening, closing, blinking, and pupil movement, providing a more intuitive and realistic training experience for medical practitioners, improving the standardization and usability of the simulator across various mannequin models.
Implementation Method 1
an electromagnetic (EM) coil in connection with the actuator arm, the actuator arm being in a mechanical connection with the simulated eyelid so as to drive the simulated eyelid to generate an eye motion
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an eye simulator device, wherein same is a medical training aid and includes: an eyepiece having a display configured to project at least one image onto or through a convex shaped front surface of a simulated eyeball of the eyepiece; a support configured to hold the eyepiece; a simulated eyelid pivotally attached to the support; and an actuator assembly having an actuator arm and an electromagnetic (EM) coil in connection with the actuator arm, so as to control a motion of the simulated eyelid, which allows to more realistically mimic the eye, and to more intuitively mimic a motion change of the eye, and it is illustratable to show a change process of the eye by projecting an eye condition, making it easier for a student to understand.