Intraocular Lens Insertion Tool Mountain Fold Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional intraocular lens insertion tools face challenges in securely placing the front and back sides of the lens within the capsule due to flipping issues during the insertion process, requiring skilled manipulation to avoid damage and ensure correct positioning.

Innovation Solution

The tool employs a novel structure with central and lateral protrusions that deform the intraocular lens into a mountain fold, allowing it to be rolled up and pushed out in a compact state, ensuring simultaneous deployment of the optical zone and haptics, thereby reducing the risk of counterturn and facilitating secure placement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional insertion tools are used to push out the intraocular lens, then the lens can be inserted through the incision, but the front and back sides of the lens tend to flip within the capsule, requiring skilled rotational manipulation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of lens insertionVSAvoidcorrect positioning of lens
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The insertion tool pre-deforms the intraocular lens into a specific folded configuration (with the optical zone folded toward the front surface and haptics extending rearward) before insertion. This preliminary deformation ensures that when the lens is pushed through the incision, it unfolds in a controlled manner with the optical zone leading, preventing flipping and eliminating the need for rotational manipulation during insertion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the operator turns the insertion tool to correct lens orientation after unfolding, then the lens can be positioned correctly, but this manipulation increases the risk of damaging the incision and requires skilled hands

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecorrect positioning of lensVSAvoiddamage to incision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The tool pre-configures the lens with a specific fold pattern that guarantees correct orientation upon insertion. The optical zone is folded toward the front surface and the haptics extend toward the rear surface, so when the lens is pushed through the incision, it unfolds with the optical zone leading and haptics trailing, ensuring correct positioning without requiring any rotational manipulation that could damage the incision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the intraocular lens is deformed compactly for insertion, then the incision can be minimized and operation time reduced, but the lens requires complex unfolding maneuvers to achieve correct orientation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation efficiencyVSAvoidease of lens insertion
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The insertion tool deforms the intraocular lens into a specific compact folded configuration before insertion, with the optical zone folded toward the front surface and haptics extending toward the rear surface. This pre-configured deformation allows the lens to be inserted through a minimal incision and then unfold automatically in the correct orientation as it enters the capsule, eliminating the need for complex rotational maneuvers and improving both productivity and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This approach stabilizes the intraocular lens placement, reducing the risk of counterturn and making the insertion process easier and more secure, eliminating the need for complex rotational maneuvers and minimizing the risk of damage.

Implementation Method 1

a central protrusion... to get in contact with a center portion of a rear surface of an optical zone of the intraocular lens... a pair of lateral protrusions... to get in contact with both ends of a front surface of the optical zone

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

pushing out the intraocular lens in a compactly deformed condition from the tip opening of the insertion cylinder, which unfolds out within the lens capsule with its own restoring force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic restoring force: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2368526B1Intraocular lens insertion tool
Publication Date: 2019.02.06 KOWA CO LTD
  • EP2368526B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2368526B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2368526B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

This aims to provide an intraocular lens insertion tool (10). An introductory part (80) in an insertion cylinder (66) is provided, at a widthwise central portion of a bottom surface (84), with a central protrusion (90) which extends in an axial direction of a tool body (12) and protrudes toward an upper surface (86) to get in contact with a center portion of a rear surface of an optical zone (24) of an intraocular lens (16). The upper surface (86) is provided, at its both widthwise ends, with a pair of lateral protrusions (92), which extend in the axial direction of the tool body (12) and protrude toward the bottom surface (84) to get in contact with both ends of a front surface of the optical zone (22) of the intraocular lens (16) A lens pressing face (112) of a plunging member (14) is formed with a dimension spanning from the bottom surface (84) to the upper surface (86) at a tip end section (78) of the insertion cylinder (66).