Posterior Chamber Phakic Intraocular Lens with Flexible Haptics

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Solution Overview

Problem

Phakic intraocular lenses, particularly posterior chamber phakic intraocular lenses, face challenges in stability and adaptation to varying eye anatomies, leading to potential complications such as vision impairment, cataract, inflammation, and glaucoma due to improper sizing and positioning.

Innovation Solution

A posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens design featuring a central optical part and a peripheral haptic part forming a rigid dome with support elements and flexible haptics, allowing for axial, radial, and rotational stabilization, and adaptability to different ciliary sulcus sizes through a combination of support elements and flexible haptics that hook into the sulcus.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed-size posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens is used, then the device is simple to manufacture and implant, but it cannot adapt to varying ciliary sulcus sizes across different patients, leading to improper positioning and medical complications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to varying ciliary sulcus sizesVSAvoiddevice structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The haptic part is designed with flexible elements that can dynamically adjust their configuration based on the ciliary sulcus size. The haptics include flexible arms with articulation points that allow the device to adapt its shape and size to match different anatomical variations, transforming a static device into a dynamic one that self-adjusts post-implantation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The haptic part is segmented into multiple flexible elements including first and second haptics with distinct functional zones. Each segment can independently move and adjust, allowing the overall structure to adapt to varying sulcus dimensions while maintaining structural integrity. The segmentation enables localized adaptation without requiring complete redesign of the entire device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the phakic intraocular lens is positioned to contact the iris or lens, then it may correct vision defects, but it risks causing complications such as cataract, vision impairment, or inflammation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafe positioning stabilityVSAvoidimplantation precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible haptics provide continuous mechanical feedback to the optical assembly, sensing the position and dimensions of the ciliary sulcus. This feedback mechanism allows the device to self-adjust its position within the sulcus, ensuring proper placement that maintains safe distances from the iris and lens while achieving stable fixation. The feedback loop occurs passively through the mechanical properties of the flexible elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The device incorporates a safety margin design where the haptic structure is dimensioned and configured to inherently maintain adequate spacing between the optical assembly and surrounding structures like the iris and lens. This prior cushioning approach built into the device geometry prevents harmful contact before complications can occur, rather than relying solely on precise surgical placement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Area of stationary object

If the phakic intraocular lens is made larger to ensure coverage, then it provides adequate optical coverage, but it may cause pupillary blockage, glaucoma, or inflammation due to contact with surrounding structures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical assembly coverage areaVSAvoidrisk of inflammation and glaucoma

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The haptic part utilizes flexible, thin-walled structures that can conform to the ciliary sulcus geometry without requiring excessive size. These flexible elements provide the necessary coverage and support while maintaining a slender profile that reduces the risk of blocking fluid flow pathways and contacting sensitive structures like the iris and pupil, thereby preventing inflammation and glaucoma.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Object-affected harmful factors

If the phakic intraocular lens is made smaller to reduce complications, then it reduces contact with surrounding structures, but it may lose corrective power or contact the lens causing cataract

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereduction of contact complicationsVSAvoidcorrective power stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device compensates for reduced optical assembly size by utilizing the third dimension through the flexible haptic structure. The haptics extend radially and can be configured to provide adequate support and spacing from surrounding structures even when the optical portion is smaller. This dimensional extension allows the optical core to be minimized for safety while the haptic framework ensures proper positioning and prevents contact-related complications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3806777B1Posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens

Publication Date: 2021.09.08 PHYSIOL

Figure 1A
Figure 1B
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AI summary

The invention relates to a posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens (1) comprising a central optical part (2), a peripheral haptic part (3) comprising a plurality of support elements (4A-D) arranged to lie on a ciliary zonule of an eye, and a plurality of flexible elongated haptics (5A-D) arranged to hook into a ciliary sulcus of the eye.