Ocular Prosthesis Shape and Color Fusion for Accurate Fit

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Solution Overview

Problem

The current process for creating ocular prostheses is labor-intensive, uncomfortable for patients, and prone to inaccuracies, leading to poor fit and discomfort.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for determining shape and appearance information of ocular prostheses using scanning and imaging technologies, generating shape information from eye socket scans, and fusing it with appearance information from patient eye images to create a precise and comfortable prosthesis.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If manual impression taking is used to create ocular prosthesis, then the process can be completed with basic tools, but the process becomes uncomfortable for patients and prone to inaccuracies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing process simplicityVSAvoidimpression accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical impression-taking process with optical scanning technology. A scanner captures three-dimensional images of the eye socket, eliminating the need for physical impression materials and manual molding. This substitution maintains manufacturing simplicity while dramatically improving measurement precision and patient comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a digital copy (3D model) of the eye socket instead of using physical impression materials. The scanner generates accurate digital representations of the socket geometry, which can be stored, reproduced, and used for prosthesis design without requiring repeated physical impressions, thereby improving both accuracy and patient comfort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Ease of manufacture

If manual sculpting and painting processes are used, then basic tools and materials suffice, but the process becomes labor-intensive and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocess accessibilityVSAvoidprosthesis manufacturing speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual sculpting with computer-aided design (CAD) software that automatically generates prosthesis models from the 3D socket scan. The manual painting process is replaced with digital color matching systems that analyze the patient's natural eye color and generate matching pigments, dramatically reducing production time while maintaining accessibility through software tools.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-calculating the optimal prosthesis shape, size, and color based on the scanned socket geometry and the patient's natural eye characteristics. This preliminary design phase eliminates the need for time-consuming manual adjustments and allows for rapid prototyping and manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If traditional impression-based methods are used, then the process can be performed in basic clinics, but the fitting accuracy and patient comfort are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveequipment simplicityVSAvoidprosthesis fit accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces simple but inaccurate physical impression materials with advanced optical scanning devices. The scanner uses light reflection and digital imaging to capture precise three-dimensional geometry of the eye socket, providing manufacturing precision that far exceeds traditional methods while maintaining relatively simple device architecture suitable for clinic environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20250152333A1Method and a system for determining shape and appearance information of an ocular prosthesis for a patient, a computer program product, and a conformer

Publication Date: 2025.05.15 FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV

AI summary

A method and a system for determining shape and appearance information of an ocular prosthesis for a patient, a computer program product and a conformer are provided. The method includes generating shape information for the ocular prosthesis, determining the shape of the ocular prosthesis depending on said shape information, generating appearance information for the ocular prosthesis by capturing an image of a patient's eye, and fusing the shape and the appearance information. Determining the shape of the ocular prosthesis includes determining the shape based on a shape model or determining the shape by generating shape information of an existing patient-specific prosthesis and transforming it into a uniform shape representation, and/or generating appearance information includes performing at least one of an inhomogeneous illumination correction and a color characterization being performed with same or similar viewing conditions as a color characterization of a device used for the manufacturing of the ocular prosthesis.