Pupil Expander Ring Structure for Safe Iris Hooking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pupil expanders made of high-shape-memory materials face challenges in safely and easily expanding the pupil without causing damage to intraocular tissues, particularly in cases where the pupil is poorly expanded, due to their tendency to return to their original shape within the eye, requiring difficult and risky installation and removal procedures.
Innovation Solution
A pupil expander design featuring first and second ring portions with specific deformability properties, allowing for controlled inward and outward curvature changes, and L-shaped iris hooking portions for easy and secure attachment to the pupillary margin, facilitated by grooves and inclined configurations for stable installation and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pupil expansion device is held against the patient's eye using a fitting surface, then the device can expand the pupil, but the device may cause corneal abrasion or discomfort to the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs a flexible membrane that conforms to the curvature of the patient's eye, creating a comfortable fit without rigid contact. This flexible shell approach allows the device to maintain reliable pupil expansion while eliminating corneal abrasion risks associated with rigid fittings.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the flexible membrane acts as a mediator between the expansion mechanism and the patient's eye. This intermediary layer distributes pressure evenly and prevents direct harmful contact while maintaining the necessary seal for effective pupil expansion.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the device uses a complex mechanism to expand and contract the pupil, then the pupil can be controlled precisely, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device utilizes a dynamic expansion mechanism that can adjust pupil size on demand rather than requiring multiple static components. The expandable structure allows precise control through a single actuation system, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs a multi-functional device where a single mechanism performs both expansion and contraction functions. The expandable membrane serves multiple purposes: it seals against the eye, transmits expansion force, and maintains device stability, thereby reducing the need for separate components.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the device remains expanded for an extended period, then the pupil stays dilated for prolonged effect, but the risk of light sensitivity and discomfort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed for periodic or temporary activation rather than continuous operation. The expandable membrane can be inflated to achieve pupil dilation when needed, then deflated to return to normal state, allowing controlled duration of action and reducing cumulative light sensitivity risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a recoverable design where the expanded state is temporary and the device automatically or manually returns to its original state. This discarding of the expanded state after use allows the pupil to recover, reducing prolonged light sensitivity and discomfort while maintaining effective treatment duration.
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
Enables safe and efficient expansion of the pupil by minimizing tissue damage during installation and removal, reducing surgical labor and time, and ensuring ease of use for surgeons.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible membrane that can be expanded and contracted to dilate or constrict a patient's pupil
Implementation Method 2
The device may include a lightsensitive material that changes in response to exposure to light
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The present invention aims to provide a pupil expander capable of expanding a pupil in a simple and safe manner without causing damage to intraocular tissues such as an iris. The pupil expander 1 is used to expand a pupil in ophthalmic surgery and includes a ring portion 10 forming a ring and an iris hooking portion 20 provided to the ring portion 10. The ring portion 10 includes a first ring portion 11 formed in a shape curved radially inward and a second ring portion 12 formed in a shape curved radially outward, the first ring portion 11 and the second ring portion 12 being arranged alternately along a circumferential direction of the ring portion. The first ring portion 11 is provided with the iris hooking portion 20. The iris hooking portion 20 is configured to be hooked on a pupillary margin of an iris in a manner such that the first ring portion 11 and the second ring portion 12 are arranged on a front surface side of the iris.