Anterior-Segment Ocular Drug Delivery With Ridge-Anchored Micro-Inserts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for delivering medication to the eye, such as intravitreal injections and topical eye drops, are associated with patient anxiety, potential side effects, inconsistent drug delivery, and reliance on patient compliance, and can interfere with the natural drainage of aqueous from the eye.

Innovation Solution

Ocular drug delivery devices are securely implantable into the anterior segment of the eye, featuring a micro-insert and a reservoir that are configured to be positioned under the anterior leaflet of the capsular wall, with a ridge to secure the device in place, allowing for controlled release of medication without interfering with vision or natural drainage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If intravitreal injections are used to deliver medication to the eye, then medication can be delivered to treat conditions such as AMD and glaucoma, but patients experience anxiety and potential side effects such as irritation and infections

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedication delivery reliabilityVSAvoidpatient anxiety and side effects

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device segments the medication delivery system into a reservoir component and a micro-insert component that can be separately implanted. The micro-insert is inserted under the anterior leaflet of the capsular wall while the reservoir is positioned separately, allowing for controlled medication release without requiring repeated intravitreal injections

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device performs preliminary action by implanting the micro-insert and reservoir in advance to establish a controlled medication delivery system. This eliminates the need for repeated invasive injections by pre-positioning the delivery mechanism within the eye's anterior segment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Duration of action of moving object

If topical eye drops are used for constant medication administration, then continuous treatment is possible, but drug delivery is inconsistent and relies on patient compliance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous medication deliveryVSAvoiddrug delivery consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device implements self-service by providing autonomous medication delivery through the implanted reservoir and micro-insert system. The device automatically releases medication at controlled rates without requiring patient intervention or compliance, eliminating the reliability issues associated with manual eye drop administration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The device ensures continuity of useful action by maintaining constant medication delivery through the implanted system. The reservoir continuously releases medication through the micro-insert into the anterior chamber, providing uninterrupted treatment without the gaps that occur with intermittent patient-compliance-dependent eye drop use

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Reliability

If devices are implanted in the posterior segment of the eye, then medication can be delivered to the retina, but the implantation becomes risky and complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedication delivery to retinaVSAvoidimplantation risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device applies inversion by reversing the traditional approach of posterior segment implantation. Instead of implanting devices in the vitreous cavity near the retina, the micro-insert is implanted in the anterior segment under the capsular wall, allowing medication to flow forward into the anterior chamber and provide retinal treatment through a safer, more accessible location

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Reliability

If micro-insert is inserted under the anterior leaflet of capsular wall, then secure positioning is achieved, but device stability must be maintained without interfering with vision

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice positioning stabilityVSAvoidvision quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The device applies local quality by concentrating the anchoring function in the micro-insert portion that is inserted under the anterior leaflet of the capsular wall. This localized anchoring provides secure positioning while keeping the optical path clear, as only the minimal necessary portion of the micro-insert contacts the capsular wall tissue and the reservoir is positioned to avoid visual interference

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS20250268749A1Ocular drug delivery devices securely implantable into anterior segment of eye

Publication Date: 2025.08.28 ONPOINT VISION INC

AI summary

An apparatus includes an ocular drug delivery device having a micro-insert configured to be inserted under an anterior leaflet of a capsular wall in an eye and a reservoir configured to be secured to the micro-insert. The reservoir includes or is configured to release at least one medication for the eye. An anterior surface of the micro-insert is configured to contact an inner capsular wall surface of the anterior leaflet. A posterior surface of the micro-insert includes a ridge configured to contact an edge of an artificial intraocular lens.