Ocular Electroporation Device with Spherical Electrode

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current injection devices for ocular electroporation lack precision and stability in positioning, making it difficult to efficiently deliver pharmaceutical compositions, such as plasmid DNA, into the eye.

Innovation Solution

An electroporation device with a first part having a circular rim and a second part with invasive and spherical electrodes, designed to fit the eye's anatomy, allowing precise positioning and electrical connection for effective electroporation, featuring a mechanism for guiding the electrodes and needles to ensure stable contact and efficient delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional injection devices are used for ocular electroporation, then the device structure is simple, but the positioning precision and stability are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoiddevice structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device employs a spherical electrode contact surface with a radius of curvature between 11-18 mm that matches the curvature of the eye's outer surface. This spherical design enables precise conformal contact with the ocular surface, significantly improving positioning precision while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure through geometric compatibility rather than complex mechanical adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention specifies precise parameter ranges for the spherical electrode contact surface (radius of curvature 11-18 mm, preferably 12.5 mm) and the rim radius (5-8 mm) to optimize positioning on the eye. These parameter specifications allow the device to achieve high positioning precision without requiring complex adaptive mechanisms, as the geometric parameters are designed to naturally conform to ocular anatomy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If conventional injection devices are used for ocular electroporation, then the device is easy to manufacture, but the delivery efficiency and distribution uniformity are poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedelivery efficiencyVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The spherical electrode contact surface design enables uniform distribution of the pharmaceutical composition across the treatment area by conforming to the eye's curvature. This geometric approach improves delivery efficiency and distribution uniformity without requiring complex manufacturing processes, as spherical components can be manufactured using standard precision machining or molding techniques.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The device features a rim with radius 5-8 mm that contacts the limbus to define the treatment boundary, while the spherical electrode contact surface (radius 11-18 mm) provides the active electroporation interface. This local differentiation of functional zones enables efficient and uniform drug delivery to the ciliary muscle while maintaining manufacturability through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the electrode contact surface does not match the eye curvature, then the device structure is simple, but the contact stability and electroporation effectiveness are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontact stabilityVSAvoidelectrode design
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode contact surface is designed as a sphere with radius of curvature 11-18 mm (preferably 12.5 mm) to match the eye's outer surface curvature. This geometric matching ensures stable and uniform contact across the treatment area, significantly improving contact stability and electroporation effectiveness. The spherical design achieves this reliability without complex mechanisms, relying instead on geometric compatibility with ocular anatomy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention specifies precise geometric parameters for the spherical electrode contact surface and the rim structure to optimize both contact stability and electroporation effectiveness. These parameter specifications enable the device to achieve reliable performance through carefully controlled geometric properties rather than complex adaptive mechanisms, maintaining relatively simple device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 precise and stable electroporation of pharmaceutical compositions into the eye, particularly the ciliary muscle, ensuring a uniform distribution and enhanced delivery efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

an electroporation device for injecting a product into an eye... The first and second electrodes being designed to be connected electrically to first and second terminals, respectively, of an electrical generator... generating an electrical field between said first and second electrodes with said electrical generator, the electrical field being adapted to promote electroporation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectroporation:

Data Source

PatentEP2956211B1Device for the treatment of an ocular disease
Publication Date: 2018.04.18 EYEVENSYS
  • EP2956211B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3

AI summary

The present invention relates to an device comprising: a first part (10) comprising a rim (12) having the shape of a circle or of an arc of a circle, said circle having an axis X and a radius of greater than 5 mm and of less than 8 mm, so as to substantially correspond to the radius of the limbus (L) of the eye (O), a second part (30) mobile relative to the first part and guided by said first part, said second part comprising an invasive first electrode (40) and/or a second electrode (50) having a spherical electrode contact surface (52) born by a virtual sphere, the radius of curvature of said electrode contact surface ranging between 11 mm and 14 mm, and being preferably about 12.5 mm, so as to substantially correspond to the radius of curvature of the outside surface of said eye, the first and second electrodes being designed to be connected electrically to first and second terminals, respectively, of an electrical generator.