Retinal Instrument With Angled Micro-Rod Array for Scar Tissue Peeling

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The removal of scar tissue from the retina during vitreoretinal surgery is technically demanding due to the thin and friable nature of the epiretinal membrane and the internal limiting membrane, posing a risk of damaging the retina and resulting in complications such as cystoid macular edema and vision-threatening injuries.

Innovation Solution

A medical device featuring an array of glass micro-rods with angled sharp features that engage and remove scar tissue in a smooth, en bloc fashion, allowing for precise peeling without penetrating the underlying retina, utilizing a cannula and sharp features that hook into the scar tissue to facilitate removal while gliding over non-targeted structures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual peeling is performed with fine forceps, then the epiretinal membrane can be removed, but the risk of damaging the retina increases due to the thin and friable nature of the tissue

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety of retinal tissueVSAvoiddifficulty of manual peeling

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The device segments the peeling function into multiple micro-rods arranged in an array, each micro-rod independently engaging the membrane to distribute mechanical stress across multiple contact points, reducing the risk of concentrated force damaging the retina while maintaining effective peeling capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The micro-rod array acts as an intermediary between the surgeon's manual control and the delicate retinal tissue, providing a controlled interface that translates gross manual movements into precise, distributed micro-forces on the membrane, improving both safety and ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If a sharp microvitreoretinal blade is used to create a slit in the epiretinal membrane, then the membrane edge can be identified, but significant bleeding may occur when an underlying vessel is damaged

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of membrane edgeVSAvoidbleeding from vessel damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the sharp mechanical blade cutting mechanism with a controlled mechanical separation process using micro-rods that lift and separate the membrane from the underlying tissue, eliminating the cutting action that causes vessel damage while still achieving membrane identification and removal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The device converts the potential harm of mechanical contact with the membrane into a beneficial lifting and separating action, where the micro-rods engage the membrane surface to create separation planes without penetrating or cutting into the underlying vascular tissue, thus preventing bleeding

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Productivity

If the peeling instrument tip is positioned precisely to engage the membrane, then effective peeling can be achieved, but misalignment may result in vision-threatening injury to the retina

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness of peelingVSAvoidrisk of retinal injury

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The segmented array of micro-rods provides multiple engagement points across the membrane surface, so that even if individual micro-rods are not perfectly aligned, the collective array maintains effective peeling while distributing any misalignment errors across multiple contacts, preventing concentrated force on the retina

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the spatial parameters of the peeling interface by using an extended array of micro-rods rather than a single point contact, creating a zone of engagement that increases tolerance to positioning errors and maintains effective peeling across a broader area, reducing the precision requirement and associated risks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8425596B2Retinal instrument

Publication Date: 2013.04.23 UT BATTELLE LLC

AI summary

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of removing scar tissue from an eye that includes inserting a device including an array of micro-rods into an eye, wherein at least one glass micro-rod of the array of glass micro-rods includes a sharp feature; contacting a scar tissue with the array of micro-rods; and removing the array of micro-rods and the scar tissue from the eye. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a medical device for engaging a tissue including and an array of glass micro-rods, wherein at least one glass micro-rod of the array of glass micro-rods includes a sharp feature opposite a base of the array of glass micro-rods that is connected to the cannula, wherein the sharp feature of the at least one micro-rod is angled from a plane that is normal to a face of the base of the array of glass micro-rods.