Intraocular Lens Delivery System Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current intraocular lens delivery systems lack precise temperature control, which is crucial for maintaining the integrity and shape of temperature-sensitive polymers used in artificial lenses, leading to potential brittleness or loss of shape during implantation.
Innovation Solution
A temperature-controlled intraocular lens delivery system incorporating a heater integrated with the injector device, which maintains the lens within a specific temperature range using a resistive type heater and a controller to regulate temperature, ensuring the lens remains compressible and retains its shape during delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If manual heating methods (autoclaves or warmers) are used to heat the IOL, then the lens becomes more compressible and can fit through smaller incisions, but the temperature control is uncontrolled and imprecise, risking polymer brittleness or shape loss
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is integrated directly into the injector device, combining the delivery function and temperature control function into a single unified system. This ensures the IOL is heated precisely at the point of delivery, eliminating the need for separate manual heating steps and providing reliable temperature control throughout the process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the temperature parameter of the IOL using a controlled heating element, maintaining the polymer within its optimal temperature range to achieve desired compressibility while preventing brittleness or shape loss during the delivery process.
2Ease of operation
If the IOL is heated to increase compressibility for smaller incisions, then easier implantation is achieved, but excessive or uncontrolled heating causes the polymer to become gooey and lose shape retaining ability
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates temperature sensing and control mechanisms that provide feedback to regulate the heating process, ensuring the IOL reaches the optimal temperature for compressibility without exceeding the threshold that would cause shape loss, thereby maintaining shape retention during delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The system precisely controls the temperature parameter of the IOL, adjusting it to the optimal range that enhances compressibility for easier delivery through smaller incisions while preventing excessive heating that would cause the polymer to become gooey and lose shape retaining ability.
3Device complexity
If no temperature control is applied, then the device structure remains simple, but the polymer becomes brittle at colder temperatures and breaks when folded
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element and temperature control system are integrated into the injector device, combining multiple functions into a single unit. This approach manages polymer strength through temperature control without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
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 system allows for precise temperature management of the intraocular lens, enhancing its compressibility and maintaining its shape characteristics, facilitating smoother and more effective implantation through smaller incisions, thereby improving surgical outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
The heater is integrated with the intraocular lens delivery system and is adapted to heat the intraocular lens
Data Source
AI summary
An intraocular lens delivery system has an injector body, a plunger, a nozzle portion, and a heater. The plunger is slidably movable within the injector body. The nozzle portion is located on a distal end of the injector body and has a hollow interior adapted for receiving the intraocular lens. The heater is integrated with the intraocular lens delivery system and is adapted to heat the intraocular lens.