Ocular Drug Delivery Valve for Sustained Retinal Therapy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current drug delivery methods for treating retinal disorders require frequent, painful intravitreal injections, which can lead to infections and are cumbersome, expensive, and have a high patient dropout rate due to their invasive nature.

Innovation Solution

A minimally invasive ocular drug delivery device that is implanted on the eye's surface, allowing drug delivery without repeated piercing, using a valve and porous material for sustained release, reducing the need for frequent injections.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If repeated intravitreal injections are performed to maintain therapeutic effect, then drug efficacy is maintained, but patient compliance deteriorates and infection risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrug efficacy maintenanceVSAvoidpatient compliance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The device segments the drug delivery process into two distinct phases: an initial loading phase where drug is injected through the needle into the reservoir, and a subsequent sustained release phase where the valve automatically delivers drug through the wall opening without needle penetration. This segmentation eliminates repeated piercings while maintaining therapeutic effect.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device performs preliminary action by pre-positioning the needle through the wall before drug injection. The needle remains in place as part of the device structure, allowing subsequent drug deliveries to occur without re-piercing. The valve mechanism is pre-configured to release drug automatically after loading.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Duration of action of moving object

If implantable devices with drug reservoirs are used for sustained release, then injection frequency is reduced, but device complexity and failure risk increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrug release durationVSAvoiddevice structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device employs a flexible wall membrane with a precisely positioned opening that acts as both structural component and drug delivery interface. The valve mechanism utilizes the flexibility of the wall material to control drug release, eliminating the need for complex mechanical valve assemblies while achieving sustained release functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the essential function of sustained release from complex mechanical reservoir systems and implements it through a simplified structure: a wall with opening and a valve that utilizes the wall's own material properties. This extraction reduces device complexity while maintaining the duration of action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If frequent injections are performed to maintain therapeutic concentration, then drug efficacy is maintained, but infection risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetherapeutic concentration maintenanceVSAvoidinfection risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device segments the invasive and non-invasive aspects of drug delivery. The needle penetration occurs only once during loading, while all subsequent drug deliveries occur through the pre-existing wall opening without additional piercings. This segmentation maintains therapeutic concentration while minimizing infection risk from repeated needle insertions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The wall opening is created preliminarily during the initial procedure, establishing a controlled access point that eliminates the need for repeated needle piercings. This preliminary action reduces infection risk while maintaining the ability to deliver drug at therapeutic concentrations over extended periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 provides painless and sustained drug delivery, enhancing patient compliance and reducing the risk of infections, while maintaining therapeutic concentration over time.

Implementation Method 1

The device incorporates a gel which results in sustained release of the drug to maintain therapeutic concentration

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 2

The device incorporates a gel which results in sustained release of the drug to maintain therapeutic concentration

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGel: Gel

Data Source

PatentUS12539234B2Ocular drug delivery devices

Publication Date: 2026.02.03 INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

AI summary

An ocular drug delivery device is disclosed. The ocular drug delivery device includes a top portion having an opening adapted to receive an injection needle to deliver drug into an eye. Further, the ocular drug delivery device includes a bottom portion extending from the top portion. The bottom portion includes a cavity to accommodate a valve. The valve is adapted to be pushed by the injection needle. Further, the ocular drug delivery device includes a securing portion attached to the top portion. The securing portion is adapted to secure the ocular drug delivery to the eye.