Soft High Refractive Index Ophthalmic Materials

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Soft acrylic intraocular lens materials lack the necessary combination of strength, flexibility, and non-tacky surface properties to be inserted through small incisions required for modern cataract surgery, and conventional fillers like silica reduce optical clarity while improving mechanical properties.

Innovation Solution

Development of self-reinforced polymeric materials through polymerization of specific monofunctional acrylate or methacrylate monomers, difunctional cross-linkers, and acrylate or methacrylate terminated polystyrene, which create microphase-separated domains enhancing strength and surface properties without the need for additional fillers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If soft acrylic materials are used for IOLs, then flexibility and foldability are improved, but tensile strength and tear resistance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidtensile strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses block copolymer composite materials consisting of hydrophobic and hydrophilic segments. The hydrophobic domains provide strength and structural integrity, while the hydrophilic continuous phase provides flexibility and softness. This composite structure allows the material to be both soft and foldable while maintaining adequate tensile strength and tear resistance for surgical application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If conventional fillers like silica are added to improve mechanical properties, then tensile strength is improved, but optical clarity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetensile strengthVSAvoidoptical clarity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the need for conventional inorganic fillers like silica by using the block copolymer's inherent microphase-separated structure. The hydrophobic domains naturally provide reinforcement without requiring external filler particles, thereby maintaining optical clarity while achieving the necessary mechanical strength through the polymer's own molecular architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental approach from adding external fillers to modifying the polymer's molecular structure. By controlling the block copolymer composition, molecular weight, and phase separation morphology, the material achieves enhanced mechanical properties through intrinsic molecular parameters rather than extrinsic filler additions, preserving optical transparency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If the material is made softer to increase deformability, then ease of insertion through small incisions is improved, but surface strength and toughness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedeformabilityVSAvoidsurface strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating microphase-separated domains where hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions are distributed throughout the material. The hydrophobic domains provide localized strength and toughness, while the hydrophilic continuous phase provides overall softness and deformability. This spatial differentiation of properties allows the material to be soft for insertion while maintaining surface strength where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 materials exhibit improved tensile strength, flexibility, and optical clarity, allowing for easy folding and insertion through small incisions without fracturing, while maintaining a high refractive index suitable for smaller incision surgeries.

Implementation Method 1

polymerization of a) a monofunctional acrylate or methacrylate monomer, b) a difunctional acrylate or methacrylate cross-linker, and c) an acrylate or methacrylate terminated polystyrene

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPolymerization: Photopolymerisation

Implementation Method 2

The materials of this invention contain microphase-separated domains similar to that found in conventional block copolymers. The presence of the microphase-separated domains improves the strength and influences the surface properties of the polymeric materials

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMicrophase separation: