Intravitreal Injection Device with Conjunctival Compression Pad
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Solution Overview
Problem
Intravitreal injection procedures often result in conjunctival hemorrhaging due to needle insertion, which can lead to cosmetic concerns and increased intraocular pressure, complicating eye treatments like glaucoma management and vitreous sampling.
Innovation Solution
An intravitreal injection device equipped with a compression pad that applies pressure to the conjunctiva post-injection to minimize bleeding and can also absorb refluxed vitreous fluid for analysis, integrating a therapeutic agent reservoir and a hollow eye penetration member for drug delivery and sampling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If intravitreal injection is performed to deliver therapeutic agents, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but conjunctival hemorrhaging increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compression pad is pre-positioned at the injection site before needle insertion. This preliminary placement ensures immediate compression capability is available the moment injection is complete, allowing for instant tamponade of bleeding vessels without requiring separate manual compression steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression pad acts as an intermediary element between the injection procedure and the conjunctival tissue. It provides a controlled compression interface that applies pressure to止血 bleeding vessels while protecting the underlying tissue, mediating the harmful effect of needle insertion.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If compression pressure is applied to minimize bleeding, then conjunctival hemorrhaging is reduced, but intraocular pressure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compression pad applies pressure locally only to the conjunctival tissue at the injection site, rather than applying diffuse pressure across the entire eye. This localized compression targets bleeding vessels specifically while minimizing transmission of pressure to the intraocular space, thus reducing hemorrhaging without significantly elevating IOP.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression pad utilizes a flexible, thin compressible structure that conforms to the eye surface. This flexibility allows the pad to apply controlled compression force to the conjunctiva while the thin film design prevents excessive pressure buildup that could transmit to the intraocular space.
3Reliability
If needle insertion depth is increased to reach vitreous humor, then drug delivery effectiveness is improved, but risk of conjunctival damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compression pad is positioned and ready before needle insertion occurs. This preliminary preparation ensures that compression is immediately available upon needle withdrawal, providing continuous protection throughout the entire procedure and minimizing the window of vulnerability for conjunctival damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression pad, while primarily designed to stop bleeding, also serves as a protective barrier during needle insertion and withdrawal. The presence of the pad converts a potential harm (needle trauma to conjunctiva) into a protected state, where the pad absorbs and distributes mechanical stresses that would otherwise damage the conjunctival tissue.
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 device effectively reduces conjunctival hemorrhaging, maintains pressure to prevent bleeding, and allows for efficient drug delivery and vitreous sampling, improving patient satisfaction and treatment outcomes by minimizing iatrogenic glaucoma risks.
Implementation Method 1
A tamponade pad can be configured to contact and apply pressure to a conjunctiva of a patient's eye
Implementation Method 2
The contact surface may also be adapted to absorb refluxed vitreous fluid in order to acquire a sample for analysis
Data Source
AI summary
An intravitreal injection device is provided that includes a therapeutic agent reservoir and a hollow eye penetration member sized and dimensioned to be inserted into the vitreous humor of a patient's eye and in fluid communication with the therapeutic agent reservoir. A tamponade pad configured to contact and apply pressure to a conjunctiva of the patient's eye is translationally coupled to the hollow eye penetration member. The translational coupling between the tamponade pad and the hollow eye penetration member allows the withdrawal of the hollow eye penetration member while maintaining pressure between the tamponade pad and the conjunctiva.