Hydrophilic Eye Model Surface for Clearer Surgical Instrument Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical eye models using hydrophobic materials fail to accurately simulate the response of a real eye to irrigation fluids, leading to obstructed views and high friction during instrument insertion, which compromises training effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
Treat or fabricate the eye model's surface with hydrophilic materials or coatings, such as hydrogels and plasma treatment, to create a lubricious surface that mimics the natural eye's response to fluids, reducing friction and maintaining clear visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If hydrophobic materials are used to form the eye model surface, then the structural integrity and ease of manufacture are improved, but the simulation accuracy and surgical visibility deteriorate due to fluid obstruction and high friction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining a base material (such as silicone or other biocompatible polymer) with a hydrophilic coating layer. The base material provides structural integrity, transparency, and ease of manufacture, while the hydrophilic coating (such as plasma-treated surface, hydrogel layer, or surfactant coating) provides the desired fluid interaction properties. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by integrating materials with complementary properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the surface parameter of the eye model from hydrophobic to hydrophilic through various treatments including plasma treatment, chemical coating, or physical modification. This parameter change transforms the surface properties to reduce friction and prevent fluid obstruction while maintaining the bulk material properties for structural integrity and manufacturability.
2Ease of manufacture
If hydrophobic materials are used for the eye model surface, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but surgical visibility and instrument insertion ease worsen due to fluid beading and high friction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials where the base material remains simple to manufacture while the surface layer provides hydrophilic properties. The hydrophilic coating reduces friction between surgical instruments and the eye model surface, enabling smooth instrument insertion and manipulation, thus improving ease of operation without complicating the manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by modifying only the surface layer of the eye model while leaving the bulk material unchanged. The surface treatment creates a localized hydrophilic zone that reduces friction and improves instrument insertion ease, while the underlying material maintains its original manufacturing simplicity and structural properties.
3Stability of the object's composition
If hydrophobic materials are used for the eye model surface, then material stability is improved, but surgical visibility and training effectiveness deteriorate due to fluid obstruction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials where the stable base material (such as cross-linked silicone or biocompatible polymer) provides material stability and structural integrity, while the hydrophilic surface coating (such as plasma-treated layer, hydrogel, or surfactant) ensures proper fluid interaction. This composite structure prevents fluid beading and obstruction, maintaining clear surgical visibility throughout the training procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the surface parameter from hydrophobic to hydrophilic through plasma treatment, chemical coating, or physical modification. This parameter change allows the surface to interact properly with irrigation fluids, preventing fluid obstruction and maintaining clear visibility, while the bulk material stability remains unchanged.
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 hydrophilic surface allows for smoother instrument insertion and clearer surgical views, enhancing the realism and training efficacy of surgical simulations.
Implementation Method 1
a surface including a material that has hydrophilic properties corresponding to the hydrophilic properties of the natural eye; whereby the surface becomes lubricious when water is introduced to the surface, due to the hydrophilic properties
Implementation Method 2
the surface of the anterior portion of the model is treated to deposit the material that has hydrophilic properties by one or more of dipping, spray coating, and plasma coating
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical model is formed from a hydrophilic material, or is treated to have an exterior surface that is hydrophilic. Treatment can include dipping into or coating with a hydrophobic material, or the surface can have a texture formed by physical or chemical abrasion, or by plasma spraying, where the surface becomes hydrophilic. The hydrophilic surface is formed on the cornea portion of the model in a manner which maintains transparency and flexibility, and can be extended over other areas of the eye model, such as the sclera. When the eye model is coated with a hydrophilic material, the material can be allowed to dry for storing and transport, and can be rehydrated by the addition of water when the model is to be used to simulate a surgical procedure. The hydrophilicity renders the model lubricious, so that the model exhibits lifelike friction when penetrated by a surgical instrument.