Ophthalmic Device Predictive Maintenance for Uptime and Failure Forecasting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ophthalmic medical devices face unpredictable downtime due to component failures, as current maintenance techniques lack the ability to accurately predict when issues will occur, leading to inefficient and time-consuming maintenance processes.

Innovation Solution

Implement predictive modeling using machine learning models trained on operational parameters, usage patterns, and anatomical measurements to forecast component failures, enabling proactive preventative maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If preventative maintenance is performed based on fixed schedules or reactive repairs, then device availability is reduced due to unexpected downtime, but performing maintenance more frequently increases maintenance time and reduces productivity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice availabilityVSAvoidmaintenance time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by predicting component failures before they occur using machine learning models trained on operational data. The predictive maintenance system identifies degradation trends and schedules maintenance proactively, preventing unexpected breakdowns and optimizing maintenance timing to minimize downtime while maintaining high device availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If maintenance is performed reactively after component failure, then device availability is improved by minimizing unnecessary maintenance, but unpredictable downtime increases and productivity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice uptimeVSAvoidpredictability of availability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements continuous feedback loops by monitoring operational parameters in real-time, comparing actual performance against predicted degradation patterns, and dynamically adjusting maintenance schedules. This feedback mechanism enables the system to predict failures accurately and communicate upcoming maintenance needs, allowing facilities to plan downtime in advance and maintain predictable device availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If existing monitoring techniques are used to detect component issues, then maintenance can be performed, but the inability to accurately predict failure timing leads to inefficient maintenance scheduling and increased downtime

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefailure prediction accuracyVSAvoiddowntime
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces traditional mechanical monitoring approaches with data-driven machine learning models that analyze operational parameters, usage patterns, and environmental factors. This substitution enables accurate prediction of failure timing by identifying complex patterns in operational data that precede component failures, allowing maintenance to be scheduled precisely when needed rather than relying on fixed intervals or reactive repairs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP4268033B1Methods and systems for maximizing ophthalmic medical device uptime via predictive health monitoring and proactive preventative maintenance
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 ALCON INC
  • EP4268033B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4268033B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4268033B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for predicting a likelihood of future failure of components in an ophthalmic medical device and performing preventative maintenance on the ophthalmic medical device. An example method generally includes receiving, from an ophthalmic medical device, measurements of one or more operational parameters associated with the ophthalmic medical device. Using one or more models, a future failure of the ophthalmic medical is predicted. The predictions are generated based, at least in part, on the received measurements of the one or more operational parameters. One or more actions are taken to perform preventative maintenance on the ophthalmic medical device based on the predicted future failure of the ophthalmic medical device.