Induced Aperture Lens Geometry and Power Profile Verification

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional lenses for myopia and presbyopia treatment, particularly those with induced apertures, face challenges in maintaining proper positioning on the eye, leading to reduced clinical visual performance due to movement and decentration, and existing standards are inadequate for predicting clinical performance and producing single power profiles for a wide range of presbyopia corrections.

Innovation Solution

The development of lenses with specific geometric parameters, including base curve radii between 7.9 mm and 8.5 mm, sagittal depths between 3.7 mm and 4.75 mm, diameters between 14.0 mm and 14.5 mm, and thickness profiles that minimize movement and decentration, along with a power distribution creating a clear central zone and a blur region to enhance depth of focus without physical pinholes, and a method for verifying optical power profiles to ensure accurate correction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If lenses with induced apertures are used to treat presbyopia and myopia, then depth of focus is increased and accommodative stress is reduced, but lens movement and decentration occur leading to reduced clinical visual performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclinical visual performanceVSAvoidlens positioning stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing specific geometric parameters of the lens including base curve radius (7.8mm to 8.4mm), sagittal depth (3.6mm to 4.6mm), and diameter (13.8mm to 14.2mm). These parameter adjustments are designed to improve lens stability and reduce movement while maintaining the induced aperture optical design that increases depth of focus and reduces accommodative stress.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If traditional ANSI methods are used to characterize soft contact lens power profiles, then manufacturing is simplified, but clinical performance prediction is inadequate and single power profiles cannot serve a wide range of presbyopia corrections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplicability across presbyopia rangeVSAvoidclinical performance prediction accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by establishing a standardized methodology for characterizing induced aperture lens power profiles before clinical use. This includes defining specific measurement zones (central aperture zone, intermediate zone, peripheral zone) and power distribution criteria that predict clinical performance. This preliminary characterization enables accurate prediction of clinical outcomes and allows a single power profile to be appropriately matched to a wide range of presbyopic corrections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If physical pinholes are used to create induced aperture, then depth of focus is increased, but light loss and increased diffraction occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedepth of focusVSAvoidlight loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies mechanics substitution by replacing the mechanical pinhole aperture with an optical power distribution system. Instead of using a physical opening that blocks light, the invention uses a gradient power distribution in the lens material that creates an induced aperture effect through refraction. This substitution maintains the depth of focus benefits while eliminating light loss and diffraction problems associated with physical pinholes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

These lenses maintain centered positioning on the eye, reduce accommodative stress, and provide improved vision and comfort by increasing depth of focus, effectively addressing myopia progression and presbyopia, while ensuring accurate power verification for precise correction.

Implementation Method 1

a power distribution creating a clear central zone and a blur region to enhance depth of focus without physical pinholes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP3206077B1Induced aperture lens and method
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 VISIONEERING TECHNOLOGIES INC
  • EP3206077B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3206077B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3206077B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed are lenses and methods for verifying a lens with an induced aperture. The lenses can have a geometry that, among other things, maintains a centered position about a wearer's eye to prevent more than a permissible amount of movement of the lens relative to the eye. Further disclosed is a method for verifying the power profiles used with the lens, and a lens that can have a single power profile for a wide range of presbyopia.