Eyelid Retractor Irrigation Tool with Curved Hook
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for cleaning and flushing the eye after medical procedures are inefficient, as they often rely on manual techniques and simple devices that do not effectively deliver liquids or gases to all areas of the eye and eyelid, potentially leaving debris and foreign materials behind.
Innovation Solution
A tool with a handle and hook portion designed to retract the eyelid, featuring inwardly and outwardly facing curved walls with openings that allow fluid to be directed to the eye, including a fluid channel and compressible bulb for efficient irrigation and flushing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual techniques and simple devices are used to clean the eye, then the device complexity is low, but the irrigation effectiveness and debris removal capability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the eyelid retraction function and the irrigation function into a single integrated tool. The hook portion retracts the eyelid while the handle portion with fluid channel and openings delivers irrigation fluid, eliminating the need for separate manual retraction and irrigation steps, thereby improving irrigation effectiveness without proportionally increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The tool is designed to perform multiple functions: retracting the eyelid, delivering irrigation fluid to the eye, and flushing debris. This multi-functional design improves the overall effectiveness of the cleaning process by ensuring that all necessary actions are performed by a single device rather than multiple separate tools
2Area of stationary object
If the eyelid is not retracted, then the device complexity is reduced, but the access to the eye and irrigation coverage are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The retraction mechanism is integrated into the same tool that delivers irrigation fluid. The hook portion mechanically retracts the eyelid to expose the eye, while the handle portion positioned nearby delivers fluid through its openings, ensuring that the retraction action directly enables the irrigation coverage without requiring separate complex positioning systems
3Measurement precision
If simple fluid dispensing is used, then the device complexity is low, but the precision of liquid delivery to specific eye areas is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The handle portion includes multiple openings positioned at specific locations to deliver irrigation fluid to different areas of the eye. The hook portion is shaped to position these openings in contact with or near specific eye areas, ensuring that fluid is delivered precisely where needed rather than being dispensed in a single location, thereby improving liquid delivery precision through localized fluid ejection points
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 tool effectively irrigates and flushes the eye and eyelid, ensuring removal of debris, foreign materials, and chemical agents, improving access and reducing irritation by delivering liquids and gases precisely to the conjunctiva and cornea.
Implementation Method 1
a compressible bulb in communication with the fluid channel for expelling liquid from the opening
Data Source
AI summary
An eyelid retractor and irrigation tool includes a handle portion defining a longitudinal first axis configured to be grasped by a user and a hook portion connected to the handle portion for retracting an eyelid. The hook portion of the tool includes: inwardly and outwardly facing walls, which are curved about a second axis, which is distinct from the first axis; an edge wall extending between the inwardly and outwardly facing walls; and an interior cavity defined by the walls. The tool further comprises at least one opening extending through the inwardly facing wall or the outwardly facing wall fluidly connected to the interior cavity and positioned such that fluid in the interior cavity passes through the at least one opening to irrigate portions of an eye including the eyelid.