Intraocular Lens Insertion Guide Wall for Needle Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional intraocular lens insertion apparatuses have a barely visible hole for needle insertion, making it difficult for users to skillfully advance the needle due to reliance on experience and sense of touch.

Innovation Solution

An intraocular lens insertion apparatus with a guide wall member adjacent to the needle hole, guiding the needle and preventing contact with the lens body, and a configuration allowing the needle to move within a range that avoids contact with the lens, facilitating easier lubricant injection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a hole is provided for needle insertion, then lubricant can be injected into the accommodating member, but the hole is barely visible making it difficult to skillfully advance the needle

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of needle insertionVSAvoidvisibility of hole
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The guide wall member is formed with a color different from the accommodating member to enhance visibility of the hole location. This color contrast allows the user to easily detect the hole position without relying solely on tactile sense, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and difficulty of detecting the hole.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

2Ease of operation

If the needle is advanced through the hole, then lubricant can be supplied to the intraocular lens, but there is risk of needle contact with the lens body

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of lubricant injectionVSAvoidrisk of needle contact with lens
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The guide wall member acts as an intermediary structure between the hole and the intraocular lens. It provides a guided path for the needle to follow, ensuring the needle advances along a controlled trajectory that delivers lubricant to the lens while preventing direct contact between the needle and the lens body, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and harmful factors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide wall member's geometry is designed to automatically guide the needle along the correct path without requiring additional control mechanisms. The needle naturally follows the guide wall structure, which self-regulates the insertion trajectory to avoid the lens body while ensuring proper lubricant delivery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If the hole is made larger for better visibility, then the hole becomes easier to detect, but the needle may contact the lens body more easily

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility of holeVSAvoidrisk of needle contact with lens
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The guide wall member is segmented into multiple surfaces including a guide surface and a side surface. This segmentation creates a structured pathway that guides the needle through the hole while constraining its movement to prevent contact with the lens body, allowing the hole to be sufficiently large for visibility without increasing the risk of harmful contact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

Enhances the ease of lubricant injection into the intraocular lens, ensuring more certain lubrication and reducing the risk of needle contact with the lens body during the insertion process.

Implementation Method 1

the guide wall member is configured to guide the needle of the syringe to the hole

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

viscoelastic material such as hyaluronic acid is injected into the inside of the insertion apparatus as a lubricant for the intraocular lens

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLubrication: Lubrication

Implementation Method 3

viscoelastic material such as hyaluronic acid is injected into the inside of the insertion apparatus

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectViscoelasticity: Viscoelasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3072476B1Intraocular lens insertion instrument
Publication Date: 2019.03.27 KOWA CO LTD
  • EP3072476B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3072476B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3072476B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

An intraocular lens insertion apparatus includes an accommodating member integrally or independently formed on an apparatus body which is inserted into an eyeball, allowing arrangement of the intraocular lens in the apparatus body by accommodating the intraocular lens therein, and having a hole through which a needle of a syringe which supplies a lubricant to the intraocular lens passes. Further, the intraocular lens insertion apparatus includes a guide wall member formed on the accommodating member at a position adjacent to the hole, and being configured to guide the needle of the syringe to the hole.