Glaucoma Shunt Placement via Nested Needle Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for treating glaucoma, particularly in addressing increased intraocular pressure, are inadequate as they often result in irreversible damage to the optic nerve and retina, and existing surgical interventions for placing shunts in the eye lack precision and effectiveness in achieving fluid drainage.

Innovation Solution

A medical puncturing device and kit that allow for precise placement of a shunt in the suprachoroidal or subconjunctival space, enabling fluid communication between the anterior chamber and target outflow regions, with methods for injecting a flowable composition to expand the space and position the shunt for improved drainage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If surgical intervention is performed to treat glaucoma, then fluid drainage can be established, but the procedure lacks precision in needle placement and puncturing depth control

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneedle placement precisionVSAvoidsurgical procedure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The needle assembly is pre-configured with the shunt device in a nested arrangement before the surgical procedure. The needle serves as a delivery mechanism that is already prepared with the implant, eliminating the need for separate positioning steps during surgery and improving placement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The shunt device is nested within the needle assembly, with the needle serving as an outer delivery structure that contains the inner shunt component. This nested configuration allows the shunt to be transported and positioned precisely through the needle to the target location in the eye.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If existing surgical methods are used to place shunts, then fluid communication can be established, but the effectiveness of drainage is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrainage effectivenessVSAvoidrisk of optic nerve damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces traditional mechanical surgical techniques with a more precise delivery system that uses a controlled needle insertion mechanism combined with a pre-configured shunt device. This substitution allows for more reliable drainage establishment while minimizing tissue trauma and reducing the risk of harmful effects to the optic nerve.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If precise control of puncturing depth is required, then accurate needle placement can be achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepuncturing depth controlVSAvoidneedle assembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The needle assembly merges multiple functions into a single integrated structure: the needle itself serves as both the puncturing instrument and the delivery mechanism for the shunt. The shunt is positioned within the needle, combining the puncture function and implant delivery function into one unified assembly, thereby achieving precise depth control without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20240358547A1Medical penetration and drainage for glaucoma treatment

Publication Date: 2024.10.31 BEIJING SIGHTNOVO MEDICAL TECH CO LTD

AI summary

A method and system for treating glaucoma can include positioning an intraocular shunt in eye tissue such that the shunt conducts fluid from the anterior chamber to a target outflow region in the eye, such as the suprachoroidal space and/or the subconjunctival space (or outside the conjunctiva).