Intraocular Lens Fluorescent Marking for Surgical Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Intraocular lenses are difficult to detect and position accurately during surgical procedures due to their high transparency and similar refractive indices to the surrounding eye tissues, leading to impaired visual sensation and reduced contrast under conventional illumination methods.

Innovation Solution

An ophthalmologic implant with marks made from fluorescent dyes or absorbing dyes that emit or absorb outside the visible human light spectrum, allowing for reliable detection and identification without affecting light transmission in the visual range, using dyes like indocyanine green or other structural classes that are biocompatible and resistant to washout.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If permanently visible marks are used on the intraocular lens, then the posture and position of the implant can be detected, but the effective pupil aperture and light transmission in the visual spectral range are considerably restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection of implant posture and positionVSAvoidlight transmission in visual spectral range

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The mark is segmented into multiple fluorescent dye particles distributed on the haptics or lens body, rather than using a continuous opaque material. This segmentation allows light to pass through the spaces between particles while still providing detectable fluorescent signals for position determination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Fluorescent dyes act as intermediaries that convert invisible or weakly visible mark structures into brightly visible fluorescent signals under specific illumination. The dyes absorb light at one wavelength and emit at a longer wavelength, enabling detection without requiring the mark material itself to be highly visible in normal light.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If dyes fluorescing in the light spectrum visible to the human are used, then the implant can be detected, but considerable impairment of the visual sensation of view arises due to fluorescence under solar irradiation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection of implant posture and positionVSAvoidimpairment of visual sensation of view

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The spectral parameters of the fluorescent dyes are specifically selected so that their emission maxima fall in the near-infrared range (700-1100 nm), which is outside or at the boundary of human visual perception. This parameter change allows the dyes to fluoresce brightly under surgical illumination while remaining invisible or barely visible to the patient during normal viewing conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If conventional illumination techniques are used to detect the intraocular lens, then the contrast between the implant and surrounding eye regions can be achieved, but the illumination means are relatively expensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrast between implant and surrounding eye regionsVSAvoidcost and complexity of illumination means

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The complex mechanical illumination and detection systems are replaced by a simpler fluorescent detection system. Instead of requiring sophisticated lighting arrangements to create contrast, the system uses fluorescent dyes that naturally emit light when excited by standard surgical lights, eliminating the need for expensive specialized illumination equipment.

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

Enables secure and reliable detection and identification of the implant's posture and position without impairing the visual sensation of the wearer, using suitable illumination to induce fluorescence or absorption outside the visible spectrum, reducing the need for expensive illumination and minimizing photic phenomena.

Implementation Method 1

the dye is a fluorescent dye with an emission maximum outside of the light spectrum visible to the human

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluorescence: Fluorescence

Implementation Method 2

or an absorbing dye with an absorption maximum outside of the light spectrum visible to the human

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption (EM radiation): Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS9517126B2Ophthalmologic implant

Publication Date: 2016.12.13 CARL ZEISS MEDITEC AG

AI summary

The invention relates to an ophthalmologic implant, in particular an intraocular lens. The implant includes at least one marker produced with at least one dye which is a fluorescent dye having a maximum emission outside of the light spectrum visible to humans or an absorbing dye having a maximum absorption outside the light spectrum visible to humans. The said fluorescent or absorbing dye does not substantially influence light transmission of the ophthalmologic implant within the visual spectral range. The invention further relates to a microscopy system and an optical detection process for detecting and/or identifying the disclosed ophthalmologic implant.