Intraocular Lens Injector With Slider-Driven Haptic Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing injector arrangements for intraocular lenses often result in errors during folding and insertion into the capsular bag, leading to incomplete unfolding or damage of the lens.

Innovation Solution

An injector arrangement featuring a folding chamber with a holder, folding wedge, and sliders that position haptics onto the optical body, ensuring precise folding and deployment of the intraocular lens, minimizing errors through controlled slider movement and pivoting mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the intraocular lens is folded within the injector for insertion through a small incision, then the lens can be inserted through the cannula, but errors occur during folding or insertion leading to incomplete unfolding or lens damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsertion through small incisionVSAvoidfolding and insertion accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The haptics are positioned onto the optical body in advance using sliders before the folding wedge is inserted. This preliminary positioning ensures that the haptics are correctly placed within the optical body before folding begins, preventing errors during the folding and insertion process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The folding process is divided into distinct sequential steps: first positioning the haptics using sliders, then inserting the folding wedge to fold the lens. This segmentation allows each step to be controlled independently, ensuring proper haptic positioning before folding occurs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Shape

If the folding wedge is inserted into the folding chamber, then the intraocular lens can be folded, but the haptics may not be properly positioned on the optical body

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefolding of intraocular lensVSAvoidhaptic positioning accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The sliders position the haptics onto the optical body before the folding wedge is inserted into the folding chamber. This preliminary action ensures that haptic positioning is completed and secured before the folding process begins, preventing positioning errors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The sliders act as intermediary components that mediate between the holder and the haptics. They provide a controlled mechanism for positioning the haptics onto the optical body, ensuring precise placement before the folding wedge acts on the lens

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If the holder allows free movement of sliders, then the mechanism is simple, but the folding wedge may be inserted before sliders reach final position causing errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveholder mechanismVSAvoidinsertion sequence control
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The holder is designed to dynamically control the movement of sliders, driving them from a starting position to an end position through the pivoting motion. This dynamic control ensures sliders reach their final position before the folding wedge can be inserted, maintaining reliability without excessive complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The holder mechanism provides inherent feedback through its mechanical design, where the pivoting motion that drives the sliders also controls the timing of folding wedge insertion. The sequence is automatically regulated by the mechanical coupling between slider positioning and wedge insertion

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4164549B1Injector assembly for inserting an intraocular lens and injector
Publication Date: 2023.12.20 CARL ZEISS MEDITEC AG
  • EP4164549B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4164549B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4164549B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to an injector assembly (1) having: a folding chamber (8) which is designed to receive an intraocular lens (9) which has an optical body (10) and two haptic elements (11); a holder (12); a folding wedge (2) which is attached to the holder (12) and is designed to be introduced into the folding chamber (8) via a folding chamber opening (18), thereby folding the intraocular lens (9); and a first slider (3) and a second slider (4) which are each designed to push one of the two haptic elements (11) onto the optical body (10) by means of a displacement of the respective slider (3, 4) from a starting position to an end position, the holder (12) being designed to drive the first slider (3) and/or the second slider (4) from the starting position to the end position by means of a movement of the holder (12) towards the folding chamber (8).