External Energy Delivery for Glaucoma Angle Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current glaucoma treatments, such as medication and invasive surgeries, face challenges with non-compliance, side effects, and risks, and existing procedures like laser trabeculoplasty are complex and require specialized equipment, necessitating a less invasive method to effectively reduce intraocular pressure.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that deliver energy externally to the eye to open the iridocorneal angle by applying energy to multiple treatment locations radially outward from the limbus, using thermal, RF, mechanical, or light energy to tension zonules and increase aqueous outflow, thereby reducing intraocular pressure without extensive inflammation or scarring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If medication is used to treat glaucoma, then intraocular pressure can be reduced, but patient compliance becomes unpredictable and treatment costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the chemical medication system with a mechanical/physical energy delivery system. An energy delivery device applies controlled energy (thermal, RF, mechanical, or light) to specific ocular tissues to modify aqueous outflow mechanically, eliminating the need for ongoing medication administration and improving compliance while maintaining treatment effectiveness
2Reliability
If invasive surgery is performed to treat glaucoma, then intraocular pressure can be reduced, but surgical risks and side effects increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by delivering energy to specific localized regions of ocular tissue rather than performing comprehensive invasive surgery. The energy is applied to create controlled modifications in the aqueous outflow pathway that are sufficient to reduce pressure without the extensive tissue disruption and associated risks of traditional invasive glaucoma surgeries
3Reliability
If laser trabeculoplasty is used to treat glaucoma, then aqueous outflow can be improved, but procedure complexity and equipment requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a multi-functional energy delivery system that can deliver multiple types of energy (thermal, RF, mechanical, light) through a single device platform. This universal approach simplifies the overall procedure by consolidating what would otherwise require multiple specialized devices and procedures, while achieving improved aqueous outflow through various energy mechanisms
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 approach is relatively non-invasive, effectively reduces intraocular pressure, and can be used for both narrow and open-angle glaucoma, improving aqueous outflow and minimizing the need for post-operative interventions, while avoiding excessive inflammation and scarring.
Implementation Method 1
The energy delivered to the plurality of locations may comprise thermal energy
Implementation Method 2
The energy delivered to the plurality of locations may comprise thermal energy, RF energy
Implementation Method 3
The energy delivered to the plurality of locations may comprise thermal energy, RF energy, mechanical energy
Data Source
AI summary
An iridocorneal angle of the eye can be opened with a plurality of treatment locations at least about 2 mm radially outward from a limbus of the eye. The opening on the angle can be beneficial for treating both narrow angle glaucoma and open angle glaucoma. The plurality of treatment locations located away from the limbus can decrease invasiveness and complexity of the procedure. The plurality of treatment locations at least about 2 mm away from the limbus can provide tensioning to zonules coupled to the lens of the eye to flatten the lens of the eye, which can allow the iris to move posteriorly so as to open the iridocorneal angle. The plurality of treatment locations may comprise scleral locations, in which shrinkage of scleral tissue at the plurality of treatment locations provides tensioning to the zonules.