Intraocular Expansion Retention Device for Small Pupil Surgery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current intraocular surgical procedures face challenges in adequately dilating the pupil, especially for patients with small pupils, which limits access to advanced cataract surgery techniques and can lead to reduced visualization and increased trauma during surgery.

Innovation Solution

The intraocular expansion and retention device (IERD) uses a circular body with stepped blades and a top band to gently expand and maintain the pupillary opening, providing multiple points of fixation to create a larger, circular viewing area without damaging the iris or cornea, and can be easily removed post-procedure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If traditional pupil dilation methods are used, then the surgical field can be visualized, but patients with small pupils still experience limited access to advanced cataract surgery techniques and reduced visualization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical field visualizationVSAvoidaccess to advanced cataract surgery techniques

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The device divides the pupil dilation function into multiple stepped blades, each contributing to the overall expansion. The stepped configuration allows progressive dilation in stages, enabling advanced surgery techniques to be accessed by patients with originally small pupils while maintaining adequate visualization throughout the procedure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device transitions from a two-dimensional planar structure to a three-dimensional expanded configuration. When deployed, the stepped blades expand radially outward from the central opening, creating a significantly larger pupillary opening that enables both improved visualization and access to advanced surgical techniques.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Illumination intensity

If aggressive pupil dilation methods are used, then adequate visualization is achieved, but trauma to the iris and cornea increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical field visualizationVSAvoidtrauma to iris and cornea

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device applies localized expansion force through individually designed stepped blades, each with specific curvature and height. The top band provides gentle circumferential support while the stepped blades apply controlled radial expansion. This localized quality distribution allows adequate visualization without concentrating excessive trauma on any single area of the iris or cornea.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The device incorporates a top band that provides preemptive circumferential support to the iris during expansion. This cushioning structure prevents sudden or excessive expansion forces from damaging the iris and cornea, while still achieving adequate pupil dilation for visualization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Length of stationary object

If a rigid expansion structure is used, then the pupil can be dilated to the required size, but the device becomes difficult to remove and may cause additional trauma

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepupillary opening sizeVSAvoiddevice removal

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The device transitions from a rigid expansion structure to a collapsible configuration for removal. The stepped blades can be compressed back toward the central opening, reducing the device size for easy extraction through the corneal incision. This dynamic capability allows the device to provide rigid expansion during surgery while enabling easy, atraumatic removal afterward.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The device folds into a nested configuration during removal, with the stepped blades collapsing toward the central opening. This nested structure reduces the overall dimensions, allowing the device to be easily withdrawn through the surgical incision without causing additional trauma, while maintaining the expanded pupillary opening size during the procedure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

4Illumination intensity

If the device expands the pupil significantly, then surgical visualization is enhanced, but the natural shape of the pupil may be altered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurgical field visualizationVSAvoidpupil shape

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The device uses symmetric stepped blades arranged circumferentially around the central opening, with each blade having identical geometry. This symmetric design ensures uniform expansion forces applied in all directions, maintaining the natural circular shape of the pupil while achieving significant dilation for enhanced surgical visualization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentUS11147544B2Intraocular expansion and retention methods

Publication Date: 2021.10.19 DIKES RONALD

AI summary

An exemplary method for expanding and maintaining an intraocular opening includes compressing along an axis a circular body comprising a first pocket, a second pocket, a third pocket and a fourth pocket positioned vertically below a top band section. Inserting intraocular tissue of an eye in the first pocket of the compressed circular body, thereby elongating the intraocular opening, and inserting the intraocular tissue in the second pocket and the third pocket as the body decompresses. Decompressing the body and inserting the intraocular tissue in the fourth pocket thereby expanding the intraocular opening.