Motorized IOL Delivery Device Single-Handed Precision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current IOL delivery devices face challenges in minimizing incision size during cataract surgery, leading to increased friction and resistance, which requires high force and controlled delivery to prevent eye trauma, and often result in mechanical complexity, excess weight, and high expense, while also being difficult to operate with one hand and prone to human error in lens handling.
Innovation Solution
The development of an IOL delivery device featuring a macro movement actuator for positioning the lens and a micro movement actuator for precise delivery, utilizing a plunger button with a revolving spring clutch and micro movement actuator to control the force and speed of lens delivery, allowing for single-handed operation and integration with various proprietary cartridges and folders.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the incision size is minimized to reduce corneal astigmatism and infection risk, then the IOL must be folded into a smaller size, but this increases friction between the lens and folder resulting in increased resistance to plunger advancement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical plunger systems with an electrically driven motorized delivery mechanism. The motor provides controlled force to overcome the increased friction resistance without requiring manual pressure, thereby maintaining the ability to deliver folded IOLs through small incisions without risking eye trauma from uncontrolled force application.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the delivery mechanism from manual mechanical operation to electrically driven operation, fundamentally altering the force application parameters. The motorized system can precisely control delivery speed and force magnitude, enabling navigation through high-friction small incisions while preventing tissue damage through programmable force limits.
2Device complexity
If manual syringe-like delivery devices are used to push the lens out, then the device is simple in structure, but it is hard for users to control particularly when the force drops from high to zero and may cause tearing or injury to the eye
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the simple manual syringe mechanism with an electrically driven motorized system. Although this increases structural complexity, it provides programmable control over delivery force and speed, eliminating the abrupt force transitions that cause manual devices to lose control and potentially injure the eye.
Solution Approach 2:
The motorized delivery system incorporates feedback control mechanisms that continuously monitor delivery progress and adjust force application accordingly. This feedback loop prevents the sudden force drops experienced with manual devices, maintaining steady controlled delivery throughout the entire lens ejection process to avoid tissue trauma.
3Reliability
If manually operated screw based IOL delivery devices are used, then the delivery can be controlled, but they deliver lenses very slowly and require two hands to operate which risks tearing the tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the slow manual screw mechanism with an electrically driven motorized delivery system. The motor provides both the controlled precision of screw mechanisms and the high speed capability needed for efficient surgery, delivering lenses quickly while maintaining programmable force control to prevent tissue damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from static manual operation to dynamic motorized control, allowing the delivery system to adapt its speed and force in real-time. The motorized system can rapidly deliver the lens when needed while automatically slowing down near the end of delivery to ensure precise placement without tissue trauma, eliminating the speed-control tradeoff of manual screw devices.
4Ease of operation
If electrically driven, hydraulically controlled, or spring driven delivery mechanisms are used to free the surgeon's second hand, then one hand is freed to assist in the procedure, but they suffer from excess weight, poor balance, mechanical complexity and high expense
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an electrically driven motorized delivery mechanism that provides automated lens ejection, completely freeing the surgeon's hands during the critical delivery phase. The motorized system's compact design and efficient power requirements enable single-handed operation without the excessive weight penalties of earlier hydraulic or spring-driven systems.
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 device enables efficient, controlled, and precise delivery of IOLs with reduced mechanical complexity and weight, allowing for single-handed operation, minimizing eye trauma, and reducing the risk of human error in lens handling, while being adaptable to different lens designs.
Implementation Method 1
a plunger button with a revolving spring clutch and micro movement actuator to control the force and speed of lens delivery
Data Source
AI summary
An IOL delivery device which has a macro movement actuator which is actuatable to move an IOL into position in the device for the IOL to be delivered, and a micro movement actuator which is actuatable to deliver the IOL to the eye.