LED Contact Lens and Hyaluronic Acid-Dye Conjugate for Corneal Cross-Linking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for keratoconus, such as corrective glasses and surgical methods, provide temporary relief and can be burdensome or invasive, necessitating a safer and more effective solution for vision correction and corneal strengthening.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a hyaluronic acid-dye conjugate and an LED contact lens for corneal crosslinking, where the dye is activated by the LED light source to form covalent bonds between collagen fibers, enhancing corneal stability and shape deformation for vision correction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If surgical methods such as corneal transplantation or intracorneal ring insertion are used, then vision correction effectiveness is improved, but patient burden and invasiveness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical surgical interventions (intracorneal ring insertion, corneal transplantation) with a photochemical system. The contact lens with LED light source activates dye molecules embedded in the cornea, inducing crosslinking through light energy rather than mechanical insertion of foreign bodies. This substitution eliminates surgical invasiveness while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The cornea performs self-strengthening through endogenous crosslinking. The dye molecules are incorporated into corneal collagen, and upon LED activation, they catalyze covalent bond formation between collagen fibers within the cornea itself, without requiring external surgical materials or procedures. The cornea repairs and strengthens itself through this photoactivated chemical process.
2Reliability
If hard lenses are worn for vision correction, then correction effect is achieved, but the effect is only temporary and requires regular wearing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the physical-chemical parameters of the cornea by inducing covalent crosslinks between collagen molecules. This alters the corneal stroma's mechanical properties, increasing rigidity and stability permanently. Unlike temporary optical correction by contact lenses, this modifies the cornea's inherent structural parameters to maintain corrected shape without continuous external intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure within the cornea by forming covalent bonds between collagen fibers through dye-mediated crosslinking. This composite network of crosslinked collagen provides enhanced structural integrity and permanent shape maintenance, replacing the need for continuous mechanical support from hard contact lenses.
3Reliability
If UV exposure is used for corneal crosslinking, then crosslinking effect is achieved, but safety concerns arise from UV damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the wavelength parameter of activating light from harmful UV (100-400 nm) to safe visible light (400-700 nm) emitted by LEDs. The dye molecules are specifically selected and configured to absorb visible light wavelengths, enabling the same crosslinking chemical reaction to occur with non-ionizing, biologically safer light energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful UV crosslinking approach into a beneficial visible light approach. By using dye molecules that absorb visible light and transfer energy to collagen, the system achieves the desired crosslinking effect while eliminating UV's harmful ionizing radiation, thereby protecting corneal cells from damage.
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 effectively strengthens the cornea by increasing collagen bonding, providing durable vision correction without surgery or regular wear, with enhanced dye permeability and corneal shaping capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a contact lens including an LED light source
Implementation Method 2
the dye can be activated by receiving light applied from an LED light source of a contact lens, thereby generating radicals, and therefore, a covalent bond between amino acid radicals can be made between corneal collagen
Implementation Method 3
since the contact lens has a structure that presses the center of the cornea, it can deform the shape of the cornea, thereby having a vision correction effect
Implementation Method 4
the hyaluronic acid-dye conjugate in which hyaluronic acid is bonded to the dye can be used to enhance the permeability of a dye into the cornea
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a system for corneal crosslinking of injured corneas, treating keratoconus, or correcting vision, the system comprising: a hyaluronic acid-dye conjugate; and a contact lens including an LED light source.In the present invention, a dye is activated by receiving light irradiated from the LED light source of the contact lens so as to generate radicals, thereby generating a covalent bond between amino acid radicals of corneal collagen, and strengthening a collagen layer. In the present invention, the hyaluronic acid-dye conjugate, in which hyaluronic acid is bound to the dye, is used to improve penetration of the dye in the cornea, and the contact lens is used together with the hyaluronic acid-dye conjugate to further improve the penetration of the dye. In addition, the structure of the lens which presses the center of the cornea deforms the shape of the cornea, thereby having a vision correction effect.