Reprogrammable Liquid Crystal Lens Intraocular Implant
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vision correction methods, such as surgical interventions and light-adjustable lenses, are limited in their ability to adapt to post-surgical or age-related changes in the eye's geometry and dynamics, often requiring repeated surgeries or having limited reprogramming capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A reprogrammable intraocular implant system featuring a tunable liquid crystal lens with a segmented hole patterned electrode, encapsulating material, and integrated drive signal generator, controller, and sensor components, allowing for dynamic adaptation and aberration adjustment without removing the implant.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a light-adjustable lens is used for vision correction, then the lens can be adjusted after implantation, but the reprogramming capacity is limited in time and the process is difficult and not user friendly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/chemical adjustment mechanism of light-adjustable lenses with an electrical control system. The intraocular lens uses liquid crystal technology that can be reprogrammed electrically through a wireless communication interface, allowing multiple reprogramming operations without time limitations and making the process user-friendly and remotely controllable.
2Reliability
If repeated surgical intervention is performed to correct vision changes, then vision errors can be corrected, but further complications may be created and the process becomes increasingly complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic intraocular lens system that can adapt to changing vision requirements through electrical reprogramming without requiring surgical intervention. The lens includes a liquid crystal element that can change its optical properties in response to electrical signals, allowing vision correction to be adjusted multiple times through simple wireless programming rather than repeated surgeries.
Solution Approach 2:
The intraocular lens system provides self-service capability through wireless reprogramming functionality. The lens can be reprogrammed remotely without requiring removal or surgical intervention, allowing the optical properties to be adjusted in response to changing vision needs while the implant remains in place.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the eye geometry changes over time due to aging or surgery, then vision requirements change, but existing lenses cannot adapt to these changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic intraocular lens system using liquid crystal technology that can change its optical properties in response to electrical signals. This allows the lens to adapt to changing eye geometry and vision requirements over time, contrasting with traditional static lenses that have fixed optical properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in the liquid crystal material's optical properties through electrical field application. By changing the electrical parameters applied to the liquid crystal element, the lens can dynamically adjust its refractive index and optical power to compensate for age-related or surgery-induced changes in eye geometry.
Data Source
AI summary
A reprogrammable intraocular adaptive lens prosthesis apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a tunable liquid crystal lens (TLCL) encapsulated in the intraocular prosthesis with control electronics and a power source or in the intraocular prosthesis with a control signal receiver while an external control electronics package transmits the control signal. The TLCL is driven in response to a stimulus signal to provide accommodation. The TLCL corrects other visual shortcomings of the natural eye. The intraocular prosthesis has a remote programmable TLCL controller configured to recalibrate the TLCL to compensate for dynamic adaptation of the eye over time.