Lens Injector Tip With Canopy And Depth Stop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intraocular lens (IOL) injection systems rely heavily on surgical skill for wound-assisted delivery through small incisions, lacking features to prevent wound damage and ensure proper insertion depth, which can lead to tearing and incomplete insertion.
Innovation Solution
The development of an IOL injector cartridge with an extended canopy at the distal tip to open and support the wound, and a peripheral protrusion or flange to limit insertion depth and prevent full cartridge tip insertion, reducing wound damage and ensuring controlled lens delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a small incision is used for wound-assisted IOL delivery, then the surgical trauma is reduced and recovery is improved, but the cartridge tip cannot be fully inserted into the wound, requiring techniques highly reliant on surgeon skill and confidence
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge tip is segmented into a distal portion with an extended canopy that remains outside the wound, and a proximal portion that can be inserted. The peripheral protrusion acts as a stop feature to prevent full insertion. This segmentation allows the cartridge to function with a small incision while maintaining control over the IOL delivery process.
Solution Approach 2:
The extended canopy acts as an intermediary structure that interfaces with the wound opening. It provides a platform for guiding the IOL through the small incision without requiring the entire cartridge tip to be inserted, thereby mediating between the cartridge mechanism and the constrained wound access.
2Productivity
If the cartridge tip is fully inserted into the wound, then complete IOL delivery is achieved, but wound tearing and damage can occur
Solution Approach 1:
The peripheral protrusion or flange is designed as a preliminary stop feature that prevents the cartridge tip from being inserted too deeply into the wound. This anti-action counteracts the tendency to over-insert, which could cause wound tearing, while still allowing sufficient insertion for complete IOL delivery through the small incision.
3Productivity
If no insertion depth limitation is provided, then the cartridge can be fully inserted for complete IOL delivery, but the surgeon has no control over insertion depth, leading to potential wound damage
Solution Approach 1:
The cartridge incorporates a self-limiting insertion mechanism through the peripheral protrusion or flange that acts as an automatic stop feature. This self-service design provides built-in insertion depth control without requiring external guidance or complex control systems, ensuring reliable depth limitation while maintaining efficient IOL delivery.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the incision is made small to reduce trauma, then patient recovery is improved, but the wound cannot naturally support IOL passage without additional structural support
Solution Approach 1:
The extended canopy serves as a structural intermediary that distributes forces around the small incision site. By providing a larger surface area at the wound opening, it reinforces the weak point created by the small incision, allowing the wound to support IOL passage without requiring a larger opening that would increase surgical trauma.
Data Source
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AI summary
A cartridge (10) for an intraocular lens (IOL) delivery system is provided that is specifically designed to aid in wound assisted IOL delivery. The distal tip (16) of the nozzle (14) has an extended canopy (20) which serves to open the incision and support the IOL. Peripheral protrusions (22), flanges, or stops extending laterally from the side of the distal tip provide a positive depth limitation, and prevent the full insertion of the nozzle into the incision. In addition, the protrusion (22) provides support to the incision to reduce the tendency of wound damage through tearing.