Inflatable Ocular Mask for Hygienic Eye Exams

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Solution Overview

Problem

In healthcare settings, particularly during eye exams, cross-contamination is a growing concern due to reduced personnel availability for cleaning equipment, especially during flu seasons, highlighting the need for improved hygiene measures in automated diagnostic services.

Innovation Solution

An inflatable mask with optically transparent sections and a concaved surface that conforms to the patient's face, forming air-tight ocular cavities to prevent fluid flow and interface with medical devices like OCT systems, ensuring cleanliness and comfort while stabilizing the patient's position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an inflatable mask with ocular cavities is used to seal around the patient's eyes, then cross-contamination prevention is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecross-contamination preventionVSAvoidmask structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mask is divided into distinct functional segments: an inflatable portion that creates the seal around the eyes, optically transparent portions that allow imaging, and cavities that maintain separation between patient and device. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function while collectively preventing cross-contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inflatable mask acts as an intermediary barrier between the patient's eyes and the medical device. The mask's sealed cavities create a physical separation that prevents direct contact and fluid flow, while still allowing the device to perform diagnostic functions through the transparent portions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the inflatable member is inflated to conform to the patient's face, then seal effectiveness is improved, but patient comfort may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseal effectivenessVSAvoidpatient comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mask transitions from a deflated state during donning to an inflated state during use. This dynamic behavior allows the mask to be easily placed on the patient's face and then inflated to create the seal, providing both ease of operation and effective sealing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The mask is constructed from flexible materials that can be inflated to conform to the unique contours of different patients' faces. This flexibility allows the mask to adapt to various facial shapes while maintaining a reliable seal, and the material properties help distribute pressure to maintain patient comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If the mask is designed to be disposable, then hygiene is improved, but loss of substance increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovehygieneVSAvoidmask material consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The mask is designed as a disposable component that can be discarded after a single use, eliminating the need for cleaning and sterilization between patients. This ensures hygienic conditions for each patient while the mask itself is designed to be cost-effective for single-use applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 mask effectively prevents cross-contamination by creating a sealed environment for eye exams, maintaining hygiene and patient comfort, and enhancing the accuracy of diagnostic measurements through stable ocular cavity pressure control.

Implementation Method 1

The inflatable member may be underinflated and the rear concaved surface may be configured to conform to the contours of the first patient's face with inflation of the underinflated inflatable member via the inflation port

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInflation:

Implementation Method 2

The rear concave surface may be configured to seal against the first patient's face such that the first patient's eyes align with the two cavities, so that the rear concave surface forms seals around a peripheral region of the first patient's eye sockets that inhibit flow of fluid into and out of the cavities

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure control:

Data Source

PatentUS20230301508A1Medical devices, systems, and methods for performing eye exams using displays comprising MEMS scanning mirrors

Publication Date: 2023.09.28 ENVISION DIAGNOSTICS

AI summary

An instrument for imaging the eye and performing ophthalmic diagnostic tests is disclosed that obtain images of the structures of the eye using imaging technology such as optical coherence tomography (OCT). To assist with such imaging and/or provide additional diagnostics, the ophthalmic diagnostic instrument may additionally include a display for presenting images to the subject whose eyes and vision are being evaluated. This display system may comprise a MEMS (microelectromechanical system) scanning mirror.