Intraocular Irrigating Solution with Active Sulfur Molecules

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Solution Overview

Problem

In ophthalmic surgery, intraocular irrigating solutions can cause oxidative stress leading to issues like corneal opacity, lens opacity, and retinal cell death due to direct contact with intraocular tissues, resulting in decreased vision post-surgery.

Innovation Solution

An intraocular irrigating solution containing active sulfur molecules such as cysteine persulfide and glutathione persulfide, which exhibit high antioxidant activity, is used to protect intraocular tissues during surgery, reducing oxidative stress and enhancing safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional intraocular irrigating solutions are used, then basic surgical irrigation is achieved, but oxidative stress causes tissue damage including corneal opacity, lens opacity, and retinal cell death

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoxidative stress damageVSAvoidsurgical safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful oxidative stress into a beneficial effect by introducing active sulfur molecules (cysteine persulfide and glutathione persulfide) that generate controlled sulfur radicals. These radicals scavenge harmful reactive oxygen species while protecting intraocular tissues, effectively transforming the harmful oxidative environment into a protective antioxidant system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the irrigating solution by incorporating specific concentrations of active sulfur molecules (0.01-1000 μM cysteine persulfide and/or 0.01-1000 μM glutathione persulfide). This parameter change fundamentally alters the redox properties of the solution, enabling it to actively neutralize oxidative stress rather than merely providing passive irrigation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If stable antioxidants like glutathione derivatives are used, then calcium precipitation is suppressed, but antioxidant activity against oxidative stress is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesolution stabilityVSAvoidoxidative stress
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite antioxidant system by combining stable glutathione derivatives with active sulfur molecules (cysteine persulfide and glutathione persulfide). This composite formulation integrates the stability of glutathione with the high antioxidant activity of active sulfur, achieving both solution stability and potent protection against oxidative stress

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The active sulfur molecules act as intermediaries that bridge the gap between stable but weak antioxidants and the need for strong antioxidant activity. The sulfur radicals generated from cysteine persulfide and glutathione persulfide serve as reactive intermediaries that efficiently scavenge reactive oxygen species while the parent compounds maintain solution stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

The solution effectively suppresses oxidative stress and minimizes tissue damage during and after surgery, improving surgical outcomes by providing high antioxidant activity and affinity with intraocular tissues.

Implementation Method 1

an active sulfur molecule such as CysSSH in vivo exhibits high antioxidant activity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAntioxidant activity: Oxidation

Data Source

PatentEP3357493B1Novel antioxidizing intraocular perfusion solution
Publication Date: 2023.01.04 TOHOKU UNIV
  • EP3357493B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3357493B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3357493B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention addresses the problem of providing an intraocular irrigating solution that allows the intraocular tissue to be sufficiently protected during ophthalmic surgery and further has high safety. The problem is solved by an intraocular irrigating solution containing at least one of active sulfur molecules of which examples include cysteine persulfide and glutathione persulfide.