Intraocular Lens Injection Instrument with Segmented Passage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing intraocular lens injection instruments face challenges in properly folding and injecting intraocular lenses (IOLs) due to issues with the support parts failing to store correctly during the injection process.

Innovation Solution

The intraocular lens injection instrument features a cylindrical injection part with a passage that narrows towards the tip, equipped with inclined inner walls and protrusions to guide the plunger and IOL, ensuring the support parts are effectively folded and oriented for smooth injection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If the hollow portion has a gradually decreasing inner diameter toward the leading end to fold the IOL, then the IOL can be folded into a tiny piece for injection, but the support part on the leading end side fails to store correctly during injection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefoldability of IOLVSAvoidstorage reliability of support part
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The injection part is divided into multiple functional sections: a first hollow portion with gradually decreasing inner diameter for folding the IOL, and a second hollow portion with constant inner diameter for storing the support part. This segmentation allows each section to perform its specific function optimally without interfering with the other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the injection part have different structural characteristics tailored to their specific functions. The first hollow portion has a tapered structure optimized for folding the optical part, while the second hollow portion has a cylindrical structure optimized for storing the support part. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by providing appropriate structural qualities in different locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If the passage narrows towards the tip to guide and fold the IOL, then appropriate deformation is achieved, but the support part may misalign during injection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeformation precision of IOLVSAvoidalignment ease of support part
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The passage is segmented into a first passage with narrowing walls for precise deformation of the IOL and a second passage with parallel walls for easy alignment and movement of the support part. This segmentation allows each section to optimize for its specific operational requirement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first passage performs the preliminary action of folding and deforming the IOL optical part before the support part needs to be aligned and moved. By completing the deformation action first in a dedicated section, the subsequent alignment and movement of the support part in the second passage becomes easier and more reliable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3590469B1Intraocular lens injection instrument
Publication Date: 2024.06.05 NIDEK CO LTD
  • EP3590469B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3590469B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3590469B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An intraocular lens injection instrument (1) for injecting an intraocular lens (100) into an eye, the intraocular lens (100) comprising an optical part (110) of a disk-like shape and a first support part (112A) extending outwardly from an outer circumferential part (110a) of the optical part (110a). The intraocular lens injection instrument (1) comprises: a passage (20b) having a passage area gradually decreasing toward a tip end (20a) of the intraocular lens injection instrument (1); inner wall surfaces (20c) formed on both sides in a direction orthogonal to an axial direction of the passage (20b), the direction being parallel to a radial direction of the optical part (110) when the intraocular lens (100) is placed in the passage (20b); a push member (12) configured to push out the intraocular lens (100), the push member including a contact portion (12a) to be placed in contact with the intraocular lens (100); and a lens control mechanism to control an orientation of the intraocular lens (100) in a circumferential direction of the optical part (110). The lens control mechanism is configured to direct movement of the contact portion (12a) of the push member (12) toward one of the inner wall surfaces (20c) when or after the intraocular lens (100) with the first support part (112A) positioned ahead of the optical part (110) toward the tip end (20a) in the passage (20b) is pushed toward the tip end (20a) by the push member (12) and then the first support part (112A) is folded so that a distal end portion (118A) of the first support part (112A) is disposed more inward than the outer circumferential part (110a) of the optical part (110).