Intraocular Lens Polymers Resolving Foldability and Rigidity Trade-offs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current intraocular lenses face challenges with mechanical and optical properties, particularly in foldability, refractive index, and biocompatibility, leading to difficulties in positioning and maintaining optical integrity during and after surgery.
Innovation Solution
Development of polymers comprising alkoxyalkyl methacrylate and hydroxyalkyl methacrylate monomers, with specific ratios and crosslinking agents, to create intraocular lenses with improved mechanical and optical properties, including a high refractive index and low water content, enabling better foldability and biocompatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional hydrophobic materials like p-MMA are used for intraocular lenses, then optical clarity and rigidity are maintained, but foldability is compromised requiring larger incisions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite polymer materials combining hydrophobic monomers (for rigidity and optical clarity) with hydrophilic monomers (for foldability). This composite approach allows the lens to exhibit both rigid structural properties for maintaining optical integrity and flexible characteristics for easy folding during surgical implantation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the physical and chemical parameters of the polymer material by adjusting monomer composition ratios, crosslinking density, and molecular weight distribution. These parameter changes enable the material to achieve an optimal balance between rigidity for optical stability and flexibility for foldability, resolving the contradiction between these opposing requirements.
2Ease of operation
If silicone derivatives are added to rigid polymer matrices to improve foldability, then softness is achieved, but lens rigidity and optical integrity are compromised after insertion
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding silicone derivatives, the patent changes the chemical composition parameters by incorporating specific hydrophilic monomers in controlled amounts. This approach achieves the desired softness and foldability while maintaining adequate rigidity through optimized crosslinking and monomer selection, avoiding the optical degradation associated with silicone-containing materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating regions of different polymer composition within the lens structure. The bulk material maintains higher rigidity for optical integrity, while specific regions with higher hydrophilic monomer content provide enhanced foldability, allowing different parts of the lens to fulfill different functional requirements.
3Ease of operation
If p-HEMA is used as a foldable material, then ease of folding is achieved, but refractive index is reduced compromising optical design
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite polymer system combining p-HEMA (providing foldability) with high refractive index monomers. This composite material achieves both the desired folding characteristics and improved refractive index, allowing for better optical design flexibility without sacrificing ease of insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the beneficial properties of p-HEMA (foldability, biocompatibility) with those of high refractive index monomers. By combining these materials in a copolymer system, the resulting lens exhibits both easy folding characteristics and enhanced optical properties, resolving the contradiction between foldability and refractive index.
4Reliability
If composite lenses with rigid haptics and soft optics are created, then positioning stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the intraocular lens into distinct functional zones: a rigid haptic portion for stable positioning and a soft optic portion for optical functionality. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall system reliability and manageable complexity through modular design.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides optic portions, intraocular lenses, and polymers for use in manufacturing optic portions and intraocular lenses. The optic portions include a polymer that comprises (a) one or more alkoxyalkyl methacrylate monomers and/or one or more alkoxyalkyl acrylate monomers that are incorporated in the polymer; (b) one or more hydroxyalkyl methacrylate monomers and/or one or more hydroxyalkyl acrylate monomers that are incorporated in the polymer; and (c) optionally, one or more crosslinking agents that are incorporated in the polymer.