Intraocular Shunt Deployment Device With Biased Distal Portion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical procedures for deploying intraocular shunts in glaucoma treatment require an optical apparatus that contacts the eye, which can be cumbersome and may not ensure proper placement without visualization.
Innovation Solution
A device with a biased distal portion that fits within the anterior chamber angle of the eye, providing resistance feedback for proper positioning and a two-stage deployment mechanism for shunt placement, allowing for deployment without an optical apparatus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an optical apparatus (goniolens) is used to visualize the delivery device within the eye, then proper placement of the shunt can be ensured, but the procedure becomes more complex and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery device is designed with a biased distal portion that automatically positions itself within the anterior chamber angle through resistance feedback, eliminating the need for external optical apparatus to guide placement. The device serves its own positioning function through its inherent mechanical design.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention removes the optical apparatus (goniolens) from the procedure by integrating the visualization and positioning function directly into the delivery device itself. The resistance feedback mechanism provides tactile information that replaces the visual information previously obtained through external optical instruments.
2Reliability
If a delivery device with optical apparatus is used, then shunt deployment can be visualized, but the procedure requires additional equipment and time
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery device incorporates a resistance feedback mechanism that provides tactile information to the surgeon during insertion, indicating when the distal portion has reached the correct position within the anterior chamber angle. This feedback loop eliminates the need for continuous visual monitoring through optical apparatus, reducing procedural time while maintaining placement reliability.
3Manufacturing precision
If an optical apparatus contacts the eye for visualization, then placement accuracy is improved, but the procedure becomes more invasive and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery device performs its own positioning and visualization function through the biased distal portion and resistance feedback mechanism, eliminating the need for separate optical apparatus. The device is self-sufficient, providing both the mechanical delivery function and the positioning feedback function through its integrated design.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention generally relates to devices for deploying intraocular shunts without the use of an optical apparatus that contacts an eye, such as a goniolens. In certain embodiments, devices of the invention include a housing, in which a distal end of the housing includes a protrusion, a deployment mechanism at least partially disposed within the housing, and a hollow shaft coupled to the deployment mechanism, in which the shaft is configured to hold an intraocular shunt.