Modular Glaucoma Implant with Adjustable Flow Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current glaucoma treatment devices, such as trabeculectomies and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) devices, face challenges including invasive procedures, low flow rates, inflexible flow rate control, and instability, leading to potential reoperation and scarring, which can result in inconsistent IOP management and vision loss.
Innovation Solution
A modular glaucoma implant featuring a curved fixation stent implanted in the Schlemm's Canal with multiple drainage tubes that can be inserted to create additional flow paths, allowing aqueous humor to drain into both the Schlemm's Canal and the suprachoroidal space, enabling adjustable flow rates and redundancy to prevent blockages, thus minimizing invasive procedures and stabilizing IOP.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single flow path is used for aqueous humor drainage, then the device structure is simple, but the flow rate is insufficient and blockages occur frequently
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the single drainage function into multiple independent flow paths: a first flow path through the fixation stent and a second flow path through the drainage tube. This segmentation allows each path to contribute to total flow while reducing the risk that a single blockage will stop all drainage, thereby increasing productivity without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a transverse dimension to the flow paths by positioning the drainage tube to create a second flow path that is transverse to the first flow path. This dimensional addition enables multi-directional drainage, increasing the effective flow capacity of the device.
2Productivity
If a larger stent is used to increase flow capacity, then the flow rate increases, but the invasiveness of the procedure increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single large stent, the invention segments the drainage function across multiple smaller components: a fixation stent and a separate drainage tube. This allows the use of smaller, less invasive components while achieving the same or greater total flow capacity through multiple pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage tube is inserted through the fixation stent, creating a nested configuration where one component is positioned within another. This nesting allows the device to achieve multi-pathway flow capacity without requiring a larger overall implant size, thereby reducing invasiveness while maintaining productivity.
3Reliability
If additional drainage tubes are added to create redundant flow paths, then blockage prevention improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the drainage function into distinct flow paths (first through the stent, second through the tube), providing redundancy. If one path becomes blocked, the other can maintain drainage function, improving reliability without requiring multiple complex independent devices.
Solution Approach 2:
By creating a second flow path that is transverse to the first, the invention adds dimensional redundancy to the system. This transverse arrangement provides alternative drainage routes that are geometrically distinct, improving blockage prevention while maintaining relatively simple device structure.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the fixation stent is made larger to stabilize the implant, then the implant stability improves, but the invasiveness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage tube is nested within the fixation stent, allowing the stent to provide structural stability and fixation while the nested tube adds functional capacity. This nesting configuration enables the stent to be smaller and less invasive than it would need to be if it had to provide both structural support and full drainage capacity alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention segments the functions of structural support and drainage into separate components: the fixation stent provides stability and anchoring, while the drainage tube provides additional flow pathways. This functional segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific purpose, enabling the stent to be smaller and less invasive while maintaining stability.
Data Source
AI summary
A modular glaucoma implant for the treatment of glaucoma is described. Embodiments disclosed describe a glaucoma treatment device including an elongated fixation stent that allows aqueous humor to flow from the anterior chamber of the eye to the Schlemm's Canal when implanted. One or more drainage tubes can be inserted into the fixation stent such that the drainage tubes allow aqueous humor to flow from the anterior chamber of the eye to the suprachoroidal space. Surgeons can opt to add as many drainage tubes as desired based on the needed aqueous humor outflow rate.