Modular Hand-Held Pump for Ocular Surgery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current ocular surgery techniques face challenges in maintaining stable intraocular pressure and reducing fluid turbulence during lens replacement procedures, which can lead to complications such as posterior capsule rupture and endothelial cell loss.

Innovation Solution

A modular hand-held pump system with a helical scroll rotor that separates fluid into multiple compressible channels, allowing for peristaltic pumping and reduced backflow turbulence, is designed to improve fluid aspiration and stability during ocular surgery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single-channel aspiration system is used, then the device complexity is low, but fluid turbulence and pulsations increase causing posterior capsule rupture and endothelial cell loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepump system structureVSAvoidfluid turbulence
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The single aspiration channel is divided into multiple parallel compressible channels (first compressible channel, second compressible channel, etc.). Each channel receives fluid from a different aperture, allowing simultaneous aspiration through multiple pathways. This segmentation reduces turbulence and pulsations in each individual channel while maintaining overall aspiration effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If multiple compressible channels are used, then fluid turbulence is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid turbulenceVSAvoidpump system structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple compressible channels are merged into a single common channel that leads to the aspiration port. Each compressible channel connects to this common channel, which then delivers all aspirated fluid through one outlet. This merging approach maintains the turbulence-reducing benefits of multiple channels while simplifying the overall structure by consolidating the fluid pathways.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The pump system is designed with modular components that can be adapted for different surgical applications. The helical scroll rotor and compressible channel arrangement can handle various fluid viscosities and flow rates, making the system versatile for different aspiration needs while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Stability of the object's composition

If a helical scroll rotor is used, then intraocular pressure stability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintraocular pressure stabilityVSAvoidhelical scroll geometry
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The helical scroll rotor features varying channel geometries at different locations. The compressible channels have different cross-sectional areas, wall thicknesses, and flexibility characteristics optimized for their specific positions in the aspiration pathway. This local quality optimization allows the system to achieve pressure stability without requiring uniform high precision throughout the entire rotor structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 enhances intraocular pressure stability and reduces fluid turbulence, making it easier to aspirate materials from the eye by minimizing pulsations and improving the overall clinical outcomes of ocular surgery.

Implementation Method 1

The helical scroll is adapted to compress the compressible channels in a peristaltic manner to capture and move fluid along the channels

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPeristalsis: Peristalsis

Data Source

PatentEP3312422B1A modular hand-held pump system for ocular surgery
Publication Date: 2019.05.15 NOVARTIS AG
  • EP3312422B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3312422B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3312422B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4B

AI summary

A modular hand-held pump system (400) for ocular surgery, comprises a pumping portion (420) which comprises a housing (110); a cylindrical cavity formed within the housing; and compressible conduits (115a, 115b, 426), each of the compressible conduits adapted to create a separate fluid flow; and a drive portion (410) which comprises a body (412); and a rotor (118, 247, 416) disposed in the body, the rotor receivable into the cylindrical cavity upon coupling of the drive system to the pumping portion.