Flowable Media Intraocular Lens Accommodation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional intraocular lenses (IOLs) lack accommodating ability, which is essential for restoring focus at different distances, especially after cataract surgery, as they cannot adjust their power like natural lenses, leading to the need for additional corrective measures like bifocals due to age-related loss of accommodation.
Innovation Solution
An intraocular lens design featuring a flowable media within the lens that changes power in response to ciliary muscle movement, utilizing a peripheral portion with haptics and an optic portion that includes an actuator and substrate, allowing fluid to be transferred between the haptics and the active channel to increase the lens's power by deflecting the anterior or posterior elements, mimicking the natural lens's accommodation mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional single element IOL is used, then the lens provides stable distance vision, but the patient loses accommodation ability and needs glasses for reading
Solution Approach 1:
The IOL is divided into multiple lens elements (at least two) that can move independently relative to each other. The first lens element and second lens element are positioned at different distances from the retina, allowing each element to contribute differently to the overall optical power, enabling accommodation through their relative movement
Solution Approach 2:
The lens elements are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing them to change position relative to each other in response to ciliary muscle contraction. This dynamic adjustment enables the lens to change its effective optical power, restoring accommodation ability while maintaining stable distance vision when elements are in their baseline position
2Device complexity
If the lens elements are positioned closer together, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to change optical power is limited
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the lens system have different properties - the lens elements have specific optical powers and are positioned at specific distances from the retina. The first lens element and second lens element are arranged at different axial positions, creating local variations in optical power distribution that enable effective accommodation with relatively simple structure
3Ease of manufacture
If the peripheral portion is made with oval, elliptical or circular cross sectional shape, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the specific geometric requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The peripheral portion of the lens elements is designed with oval, elliptical, or circular cross-sectional shapes, which are curved geometric forms that are relatively easy to manufacture using standard lens fabrication techniques. These curved shapes also provide beneficial optical properties and structural integrity while meeting the geometric precision requirements through controlled manufacturing processes
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
This design enables the IOL to adjust its power in response to ciliary muscle contraction and relaxation, enhancing the eye's ability to focus at various distances, potentially reducing the need for additional corrective lenses and improving visual acuity.
Implementation Method 1
a flowable media within the lens that changes power in response to ciliary muscle movement, utilizing a peripheral portion with haptics and an optic portion that includes an actuator and substrate, allowing fluid to be transferred between the haptics and the active channel to increase the lens's power by deflecting the anterior or posterior elements
Data Source
Figure 1~2B
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Figure 6
AI summary
Accommodating intraocular lenses containing a flowable media and their methods of accommodation.