Modular Intraocular Implant with Fenestrated Flange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ophthalmic surgical systems and procedures for treating retinal detachment, traction retinal detachment, and trauma lack effective solutions for preventing silicone oil migration into the anterior chamber during vitrectomy, which can lead to complications such as emulsification glaucoma and corneal endothelial damage.
Innovation Solution
A modular intraocular implant with a receptacle, a flange circumscribing the receptacle, and fenestrations through the flange is designed for placement between the iris and the vitreous chamber. The implant provides a barrier to prevent silicone oil from migrating into the anterior chamber while allowing aqueous humor to pass through the fenestrations, and it is configured to retain interchangeable optics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a barrier is introduced to prevent silicone oil migration into the anterior chamber, then the risk of complications such as emulsification glaucoma and corneal endothelial damage is reduced, but the device complexity increases due to the modular implant structure with receptacle, flange, and fenestrations
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is divided into distinct functional components: a receptacle for containing silicone oil, a flange for positioning and sealing, and fenestrations for controlled fluid exchange. This segmentation allows each component to address specific aspects of the problem independently, preventing silicone oil migration while managing aqueous humor flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular implant acts as an intermediary device between the vitreous chamber and anterior chamber, providing a controlled interface that prevents harmful silicone oil migration while allowing necessary aqueous humor flow through the fenestrations.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the implant provides a complete barrier to prevent silicone oil migration, then complications are reduced, but aqueous humor flow from the ciliary body to the anterior chamber may be obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The implant provides different properties in different regions: the flange and receptacle walls provide complete barriers to silicone oil migration, while the fenestrations provide localized openings that allow selective passage of aqueous humor. This local differentiation of properties resolves the contradiction between complete barrier function and selective fluid permeability.
Solution Approach 2:
The fenestrations create a porous structure in the flange that allows selective fluid passage. The porous design enables aqueous humor to pass through while the overall structure maintains its barrier function against silicone oil migration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If interchangeable optics are retained in the receptacle, then optical compensation during healing is enabled, but the device complexity and difficulty of optic replacement increase
Solution Approach 1:
The optic retention mechanism is designed to be dynamically adjustable, allowing the optic to be easily inserted and removed from the receptacle. This dynamic design enables optical compensation during healing while maintaining simplicity in the retention mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The receptacle serves multiple functions: containing silicone oil, providing structural support, and retaining interchangeable optics for optical compensation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby managing device complexity while enhancing adaptability.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the flange is placed in the ciliary sulcus to prevent silicone oil migration, then the barrier function is improved, but the incision size requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flange is designed as a thin, flexible structure that can be folded for insertion through small incisions and then expanded to its functional shape in the ciliary sulcus. This flexible design allows the large-surface-area flange to be inserted through small incisions, resolving the contradiction between barrier function and incision size requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant components are designed to nest within each other during insertion, with the receptacle containing the optic and the entire assembly being folded or compressed for insertion through a small incision. After insertion, the components unfold or expand to their functional configurations.
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 implant effectively prevents silicone oil migration into the anterior chamber, reducing the risk of complications, and allows for temporary optical compensation during the healing process, restoring vision quickly and facilitating the removal of silicone oil once the retina is healed.
Implementation Method 1
Some embodiments may comprise an olcophobic coating and may be foldable to reduce requirements for incision size
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for implant into an eye. The apparatus may comprise a receptacle configured to receive an optic; a flange circumscribing the receptacle, the flange configured to be disposed in the ciliary sulcus of the eye; and a fenestration through the flange, the fenestration configured to allow aqueous humor to pass anteriorly from the ciliary body to the trabecular meshwork of the eye. Some or all of the apparatus may have an oleophobic coating. For example, some embodiments of the flange may have an oleophobic coating. In some embodiments, the fenestration may be inferior to the receptacle. Additionally, or alternatively, the apparatus may further comprise at least two haptics coupled to the flange.