Hinged Shuttle Intraocular Lens Injector for Smaller Incisions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intraocular lens (IOL) injectors lack consistency in loading and often damage IOLs during insertion, particularly when using smaller incisions, due to the delicate nature of the lenses and the need for precise orientation and handling.
Innovation Solution
An intraocular lens injector assembly featuring a shuttle with hinged wings that can transition from an open state to a closed state, folding the IOL within the injector body, utilizing interference features and a handle for precise alignment and locking, ensuring the IOL is folded and oriented correctly for ejection through a smaller incision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If an IOL is inserted through a smaller incision, then post-surgical healing time is reduced and complications are reduced, but the IOL must be folded and compressed which increases the risk of damage to the delicate lens
Solution Approach 1:
The IOL is nested within the shuttle lumen during the loading process. The shuttle acts as a protective container that holds the folded IOL in a controlled manner, allowing it to be inserted through a small incision while maintaining its integrity. The IOL is placed inside the shuttle in a folded state, and the shuttle's structure protects it from damage during insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The IOL is folded and prepared in advance within the shuttle before insertion. The shuttle is designed to accommodate the pre-folded IOL, and the folding action is performed beforehand rather than during insertion. This preliminary folding within the protective shuttle structure reduces the risk of damage compared to folding during the insertion process.
2Ease of operation
If surgical forceps are used to grasp and insert the IOL, then the technique is simple and still practiced, but the surgeon has less control and cannot permit insertion through smaller incisions
Solution Approach 1:
The shuttle acts as an intermediary device between the surgeon's control and the IOL. Instead of directly grasping the delicate IOL with forceps, the surgeon controls the shuttle which in turn holds and delivers the IOL. This intermediary structure provides both control and the capability to insert through smaller incisions, as the shuttle can be manipulated with precision while protecting the IOL.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is segmented into distinct components: the injector body, the shuttle, and the IOL. This segmentation allows each component to have a specific function - the injector body provides control, the shuttle provides protection and folding, and the IOL is the payload. This division of functions enables both ease of operation and small incision capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the IOL is handled extensively during loading into the injector, then loading flexibility is increased, but the likelihood of damaging the delicate IOL increases
Solution Approach 1:
The IOL is nested within the shuttle lumen, which provides a protected environment during the entire loading process. The shuttle acts as a container that reduces direct handling of the IOL itself. The wings of the shuttle can be opened to allow loading, then closed to protect the IOL, providing flexibility in the loading process while maintaining IOL integrity through minimal direct exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The shuttle wings are designed to be flexible enough to open for loading and close for protection. This flexibility allows the shuttle to adapt to the loading process while providing a protective enclosure for the IOL. The wings can be manually or mechanically actuated to open and close, providing loading flexibility without requiring extensive direct handling of the IOL.
4Reliability
If the IOL is expelled from the injector in an incorrect orientation or damaged condition, then surgical intervention is required, but this results in trauma to the surrounding tissues of the eye
Solution Approach 1:
The IOL is folded and oriented correctly within the shuttle during the loading process, before insertion into the eye. The shuttle structure maintains the predetermined fold and orientation of the IOL throughout the insertion process. By preparing the IOL in advance within the protective shuttle, the system ensures that the IOL is delivered in the correct orientation without requiring additional manipulation inside the eye, thereby preventing tissue trauma.
Solution Approach 2:
The shuttle structure itself provides the functionality to maintain and deliver the IOL in the correct orientation. The geometry of the shuttle lumen and the folding mechanism are designed to automatically maintain the proper IOL orientation during insertion. The system is self-contained, with the shuttle providing both protection and orientation control without requiring external intervention during the critical delivery phase.
Data Source
AI summary
An intraocular lens (IOL) injector assembly comprising an injector body having a shuttle reception opening defined at least in part by a first sidewall and a second sidewall, and a shuttle comprising a first wing including a first portion of a shuttle lumen wall and a second wing including a second portion of a shuttle lumen wall. The first wing and the second wing are coupled together by a hinge. When in a closed state, the first portion of the shuttle lumen wall and the second portion of the shuttle lumen wall define at least a portion of an operative shuttle lumen. The shuttle and sidewalls are configured such that the first wing and the second wing interfere with the first sidewall and the second sidewall, respectively, as the shuttle passes through the shuttle reception opening, such that the closed state of the shuttle is attained.