One-Piece Patient Interface for Ophthalmic Laser Therapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multi-part patient interfaces for ophthalmological laser therapy systems are difficult to assemble sterily and reproducibly, leading to contamination risks and inaccurate positioning, which compromises the mechanical and optical precision required for effective laser surgery.
Innovation Solution
A one-piece liquid patient interface with a permanently connected lens and cone element, where the lens element is designed to have a step for easy placement and a conical jacket area for precise alignment, allowing direct connection to the laser applicator without additional assembly, ensuring high manufacturing precision and user-friendly operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multi-part patient interfaces are assembled during surgery, then flexibility and adaptability are improved, but sterility is compromised and positioning precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple components (lens element, cone element, connection elements) into a pre-assembled one-piece patient interface that maintains sterility. The lens element is permanently connected to the cone element through injection molding or adhesive bonding, creating a sterile unit that can be directly applied during surgery without additional assembly steps that would compromise sterility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multi-part patient interfaces are assembled during surgery, then adaptability is improved, but positioning precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-assembly of the lens element and cone element into a single integrated unit ensures consistent positioning of the patient interface lens. The permanent connection through injection molding or adhesive bonding eliminates the positioning variability that occurs with mechanical assembly methods during surgery, achieving reproducible optical alignment.
3Manufacturing precision
If patient interface lens is precisely positioned, then optical quality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the lens element and cone element into a single pre-assembled unit, eliminating the need for complex mechanical connection mechanisms during surgery. The permanent connection through injection molding or adhesive bonding simplifies the device structure while maintaining precise lens positioning, reducing both assembly complexity and mechanical component count.
4Manufacturing precision
If one-piece liquid patient interface is manufactured with high precision, then positioning precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs injection molding technology to manufacture the lens element and cone element as a single integrated piece. This hydraulic molding process allows for high-precision positioning of the lens within the cone structure while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing procedures. The injection molding technique can incorporate alignment features and connection structures in a single manufacturing step.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a patient interface (1) for fixing the relative geometric position of a patient's eye (50) to a laser applicator (220) of an ophthalmic laser therapy system (100), comprising a lens element (2) and a cone element (3), wherein the lens element (2) is inserted into the cone element (3) and permanently connected to the cone element (3) such that the patient interface (1) is manufactured as a single piece. The invention further relates to a corresponding manufacturing method for such a patient interface (1). Its objective is to describe a patient interface (1) that is conceptually simple, user-friendly, and efficient for daily use in the clinic, while at the same time being easy to manufacture so that the high requirements for technical precision are reliably met.This task is solved by a patient interface (1) whose lens element (2) is formed in one piece, and an optical zone (4) which has a lens function, a defined non-zero height and a perimeter region with an upper edge (6), wherein the upper edge (6) of the lens element allows a direct connection to the laser applicator (220).