Intraocular Lens Sharp Ridge and Haptic Teeth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current intraocular lenses often fail to prevent posterior capsule opacification due to the migration of epithelial cells, leading to a high incidence of secondary cataract formation, especially with one-piece lenses lacking a continuous sharp edge at the junction of the optic and haptic elements.
Innovation Solution
An intraocular lens design featuring a sharp ridge on the peripheral edge of the optic portion and a network of teeth on the posterior face of the haptic elements, creating multiple barriers to prevent epithelial cell migration, with the teeth extending over the width of each haptic element and having a sharp edge to indent into the posterior capsule.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a one-piece intraocular lens is used, then the manufacturing is simplified and the structure is more compact, but the sharp edge continuity at the junction of optic and haptic elements is disrupted, leading to increased epithelial cell migration and posterior capsule opacification
Solution Approach 1:
The lens is divided into two functional parts: an optic portion with a sharp peripheral edge and haptic elements with posterior teeth. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function - the optic sharp edge creates a discontinuity in the posterior capsule to prevent cell migration, while the haptic teeth provide additional mechanical barriers, together achieving effective PCO prevention while maintaining manufacturing simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the lens have different structural characteristics optimized for their specific functions. The optic portion has a sharp peripheral edge for creating capsule discontinuity, while the haptic elements have posterior teeth for mechanical interlocking and additional barrier function. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing each region to address specific aspects of PCO prevention
2Ease of operation
If the haptic elements are angled anteriorly to ensure proper positioning, then the optic axis alignment is improved, but the posterior face of the optic contacts the posterior capsule, creating a pathway for epithelial cell migration
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-PCO function is segmented between the optic sharp edge and the haptic posterior teeth. The optic sharp edge creates the primary discontinuity barrier, while the haptic teeth provide secondary mechanical barriers at the haptic-optic junction, preventing cell migration pathways even when the optic contacts the capsule due to anterior angulation
Solution Approach 2:
The haptic elements act as intermediary structures that provide mechanical support and additional barriers (posterior teeth) between the optic and the capsule. They prevent direct cell migration pathways while maintaining the necessary anterior angle for proper positioning
3Strength
If a rounded edge on the posterior face of the optic is used, then the contact with the posterior capsule is improved, but epithelial cells can invade behind the optic, causing opacification
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of rounding the edge to improve contact (which allows cell invasion), the invention uses a sharp edge that creates a discontinuity in the posterior capsule. The sharp edge inverts the expected approach by using mechanical disruption rather than smooth contact to prevent cell migration, achieving both contact stability and PCO prevention
Data Source
AI summary
An intraocular lens to be implanted into the capsular bag after ablation of the crystalline lens includes a central optical portion and a haptic portion including haptic members arranged on the periphery of the optical part and for positioning the intraocular lens in the capsular bag. On the one hand, the posterior surface of the optical portion includes a sharp ridge at the peripheral edge and, on the other hand, the posterior surface of the haptic members includes a proximal area in the vicinity of the peripheral edge of the optical portion, each proximal area including at least one tooth extending substantially along the entire width of each haptic member, the tooth or teeth having a sharp edge that becomes serrated in the posterior capsule in order to limit the migration of the epithelial cells of the haptic members towards the optical portion.