Intraocular Drug Delivery Device with One-Handed Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current intravitreal injection devices lack features for safe and accurate delivery of pharmaceutical formulations into the eye, often leading to complications due to user error and increased risk of infections like endophthalmitis, and they are cumbersome to use.
Innovation Solution
Integrated devices with a housing for one-handed manipulation, featuring a conduit, actuation mechanism, and ocular contact surface that stabilize the device on the eye, control intraocular pressure, and minimize trauma, allowing for precise and atraumatic delivery of pharmaceutical formulations into the intraocular space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If intravitreal injection devices are designed with multiple components for stabilization and positioning, then injection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases and procedure time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the stabilization element, positioning features, and injection mechanism into a single unified device structure. The stabilization element is incorporated as part of the device housing rather than a separate component, eliminating the need for multiple discrete parts while maintaining injection accuracy and reducing setup complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The device housing serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, incorporates stabilization elements to prevent movement, includes positioning features for accurate placement, and houses the injection mechanism. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated components for each function.
2Measurement precision
If intravitreal injection devices use multiple components for stabilization and positioning, then injection accuracy is improved, but procedure time increases
Solution Approach 1:
By combining stabilization and positioning features into the integrated device structure, the patent eliminates the time required to assemble multiple separate components during the procedure. The device is ready for immediate use upon application to the eye, reducing setup time while maintaining injection accuracy.
3Device complexity
If conventional injection devices are used without stabilization features, then device simplicity is maintained, but user error increases and injection accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilization element automatically engages when the device is applied to the eye, providing self-stabilization without requiring manual adjustment or additional components. This self-service feature reduces user error by ensuring proper stabilization is achieved through the device design itself rather than user technique.
4Ease of operation
If intravitreal injections are performed without proper positioning control, then procedure simplicity is maintained, but injection accuracy and safety decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning features are pre-integrated into the device structure, establishing the correct injection angle and depth control before the injection procedure begins. This preliminary configuration ensures accurate drug delivery without requiring complex real-time adjustments during the procedure.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices for delivering pharmaceutical formulations into the eye are described. The devices may be integrated to include features that allow safe and atraumatic manipulation of the devices with one hand. For example, accurate placement, including proper angulation, of the device on the eye and injection of a pharmaceutical formulation into the eye can be performed using one hand. The devices may also include improved safety features. For example, the devices may include an actuation mechanism that controls the rate and depth of injection into the eye. Some devices include a dynamic resistance component capable of adjusting the amount of pressure applied to the eye surface. Related methods and systems comprising the devices are also described.