Ophthalmosurgical Injector Locking for Stable Lens Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ophthalmosurgical injector systems face challenges in safely and efficiently inserting intraocular lenses due to their low inherent stability, leading to uncontrollable yawing and rotation movements during implantation, which can result in suboptimal vision outcomes.

Innovation Solution

An ophthalmosurgical injector system with a locking mechanism that allows the intraocular lens to be pretensioned and compressed within a cartridge, using a plunger and actuation element to control the movement, ensuring the haptic arms are compressed for a predetermined path length, thereby maintaining stability and preventing plastic deformation, and allowing for easy and safe insertion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the intraocular lens is folded in the cartridge by pivoting wing elements, then the intraocular lens can be inserted through the dispensing device, but the intraocular lens has low inherent stability and unfolds uncontrollably in the capsular bag

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsertion capabilityVSAvoidlens stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-compressing the intraocular lens between the plunger and the base of the cartridge before insertion. This pre-compression maintains the haptic arms in a controlled compressed state during the entire insertion process through the dispensing device, preventing premature unfolding and ensuring stable, controlled deployment only after the lens reaches the capsular bag.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state parameter of the intraocular lens by maintaining it in a compressed state with a reduced outer distance between haptic arms (less than 11 mm) during insertion. The locking element and plunger system control the compression parameter throughout the insertion process, ensuring the lens remains in this stable compressed configuration until deployment is required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Volume of moving object

If the intraocular lens is compressed strongly to reduce outer distance between haptic arms, then the lens becomes more compact for insertion, but plastic deformation of the haptic arms may occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelens compactnessVSAvoidhaptic arm integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-compressing the intraocular lens to a controlled extent (outer distance less than 11 mm) before insertion. This pre-compression is maintained throughout the insertion process through the locking element and plunger system, allowing the lens to be delivered in a compact form without requiring strong compression that would cause plastic deformation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a dynamic compression system where the plunger can be moved to adjust the compression level of the intraocular lens. The locking element provides a fixed locked position maintaining controlled compression, while the plunger can be advanced further if needed. This dynamic system allows adjustment to achieve optimal compression without exceeding the threshold for plastic deformation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3829489B1Ophthalmosurgical injector system
Publication Date: 2025.10.01 CARL ZEISS MEDITEC AG
  • EP3829489B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3829489B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3829489B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

An ophthalmosurgical injector system (100) includes an injector (1), which has a handpiece (2), a plunger (3) and a dispensing device (4); an intraocular lens (5), which has an optic body (6), a c-shaped first haptic arm (71) protruding from the optic body (6) and a c-shaped second haptic arm (72) protruding from the optic body (6); a cartridge (8), in which the intraocular lens (5) is received, wherein the cartridge (8) is inserted in the injector (1); and an actuation element (11), which has a contact surface (12), and a locking element, with which a position of the plunger (3) relative to the handpiece (2) or to the cartridge (8) can be locked. The plunger (3) can be locked in a first position, in which the intraocular lens (5) is held in the cartridge (8) in a compressed and pretensioned state in which an outer distance from the first haptic arm (71) to the second haptic arm (72) is greater than 8 mm and less than 11 mm.