Retinal Bioadhesive Cannula for Precise Ocular Surface Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for treating retinal and ocular discontinuities, such as macular holes and eye wall leaks, face challenges including complications from perfluorocarbon migration, retinal scar tissue formation, patient limitations, bioadhesive toxicity, and difficulty in applying adhesives to non-dependent ocular surfaces due to gravity and irregular shapes.
Innovation Solution
Devices and methods for applying a substance, such as a bioadhesive, using a cannula with a distal tip and expansion fluid passageway to form a bubble that can be accurately applied to retinal or ocular surfaces, including a handle, substance supply channel, and optional activator chambers, allowing for precise application and adherence to irregular tissue shapes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If perfluorocarbon liquid is used for displacement of fluid out of the subretinal space, then fluid displacement is achieved, but inadvertent migration into the subretinal space can result in vision loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful perfluorocarbon liquid from the treatment process and replaces it with a bioadhesive substance that achieves the same therapeutic goal (sealing retinal discontinuities) without the harmful migration effects. The bioadhesive is applied directly to the retinal tear or hole to seal it, eliminating the need for perfluorocarbon liquid displacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a bioadhesive as an intermediary substance that mediates between the need for fluid displacement and the need to avoid harmful migration. The bioadhesive acts as a sealing agent that can be precisely applied to retinal discontinuities without the risk of perfluorocarbon liquid migration into the subretinal space.
2Reliability
If laser and cryotherapy are used for fixing retinal discontinuities, then retinal attachment is achieved, but permanent retinal scar tissue formation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the treatment approach from thermal/chemical injury (laser and cryotherapy) to mechanical adhesion (bioadhesive). Instead of using heat or cold to create scar tissue for attachment, the invention uses a bioadhesive substance that physically bonds the retina to the underlying tissue without causing scar formation.
3Reliability
If gas bubble injection is used for fixing retinal detachments, then retinal reattachment is achieved, but patient activities are limited and complications such as elevated intraocular pressure and cataracts occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes gas bubble injection from the treatment protocol and replaces it with bioadhesive application. The bioadhesive provides immediate sealing of retinal discontinuities without creating intraocular pressure elevation or cataract formation risks associated with gas bubbles.
4Reliability
If silicone oil is used for fixing retinal detachments, then retinal reattachment is achieved, but intraocular pressure elevation occurs and residual oil bubbles remain after removal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts silicone oil from the treatment process and substitutes it with a bioadhesive that achieves retinal sealing without leaving residual bubbles or causing sustained intraocular pressure elevation. The bioadhesive is fully resorbable or removable without trace.
5Reliability
If sutures are used for fixing leaking eye wall discontinuities, then discontinuity sealing is achieved, but ocular irritation, pain, tearing, and local tissue reactions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical suture system with a chemical/bioadhesive bonding system. Instead of physically stitching the eye wall discontinuity with sutures that cause irritation and inflammation, the bioadhesive chemically bonds the tissue edges together, achieving sealing without mechanical trauma.
6Reliability
If bioadhesive is applied to non-dependent ocular surfaces, then adhesion is achieved, but gravity causes dripping or drooping preventing accurate application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a catheter-based delivery system that can navigate and position the bioadhesive precisely on curved or non-dependent ocular surfaces. The catheter allows the bioadhesive to be delivered in a controlled manner that overcomes gravity's effect, enabling accurate application to superior, lateral, or inferior retinal surfaces regardless of their orientation.
7Area of stationary object
If bioadhesive is applied to large discontinuities or irregularly shaped margins, then coverage is attempted, but difficult application occurs due to gravity and irregular shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The catheter delivery system allows precise navigation and positioning of bioadhesive along irregularly shaped retinal discontinuities, whether large or small. The flexible catheter can conform to the curved ocular surface and deliver bioadhesive along complex geometries that would be difficult to reach with traditional applicators.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, systems and methods for applying a bioadhesive substance to an internal surface of the eye, such as the retina, can include an outer sleeve having a proximal end, a distal end, a passageway extending along a length of the elongate body and an opening at the distal end of the elongate body, an applicator tip including an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end, an applicator portion coupled with the distal end of the elongate body, and a substance supply lumen extending along a length of the device through which a bioadhesive substance can pass so that the bioadhesive substance can be applied to at least the applicator portion of the applicator tip. Some embodiments of the device can also have a source of the bioadhesive substance in fluid communication with at least the substance supply lumen.