Retinal Irradiance Modification Devices for Vision Restoration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional devices and methods for improving or restoring vision in patients with retinal diseases and disorders, such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, offer suboptimal solutions, including limited vision restoration, significant complications, and inadequate long-term benefits, as they primarily focus on symptom amelioration rather than addressing the underlying retinal cell damage or dysfunction.
Innovation Solution
The development of retinal irradiance distribution modification (IDM) devices and methods that optically redirect light from dysfunctional retinal areas to functional areas, using techniques like retinal IDM lasers, corneal crosslinking, and intraocular lenses, to improve vision by modifying retinal irradiance distribution patterns, thereby promoting neural adaptation and potentially repairing or regenerating retinal cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional devices and methods (telescopes, prisms, retinal prostheses) are used to improve vision, then some vision restoration or compensation is achieved, but they produce severe complications, adverse events, or require extensive training with minimal long-term benefits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical/optical devices (telescopes, prisms, intraocular implants) with photobiomodulation therapy using specific wavelength laser light to directly stimulate and repair retinal cells. This substitution eliminates the need for external optical devices and their associated complications, while providing direct cellular-level treatment to restore retinal function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces photobiomodulation therapy as an intermediary mechanism between the external environment and retinal cells. Instead of using telescopes or prisms to indirectly affect vision, the laser therapy directly mediates cellular repair and regeneration processes, reducing the need for complex optical systems and their associated risks.
2Ease of operation
If telescopes or prisms are used to magnify or deviate images, then some visual field compensation is achieved, but they require visual training over weeks to months and produce tunnel vision or double vision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical image magnification and deviation devices with photobiomodulation therapy that directly enhances retinal cell function. This eliminates the need for telescopes and prisms that require extensive visual training, as the therapy works at the cellular level to restore natural visual processing without requiring patients to adapt to optical distortions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the retinal cells to self-repair and self-optimize through photobiomodulation stimulation. Instead of requiring patients to undergo lengthy visual training with external devices, the therapy triggers the retina's inherent regenerative capabilities, allowing the visual system to naturally adapt and improve without external mechanical assistance or prolonged training periods.
3Reliability
If intraocular implants with telescopes or microelectrode arrays are used, then vision improvement is achieved, but surgery involves risks of severe intraoperative and postoperative complications including death, loss of the eye, and complete loss of sight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces invasive intraocular surgical implants with non-invasive photobiomodulation therapy. Instead of inserting telescopes or microelectrode arrays through surgery, the treatment uses external laser light to penetrate the eye and stimulate retinal cells, completely eliminating surgical risks while maintaining the ability to restore and improve vision through cellular repair and regeneration.
4Reliability
If retinal laser photocoagulation or photodynamic laser therapy is used, then some retinal treatment is achieved, but they produce retinal inflammation and require repeated procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the wavelength and energy parameters of laser therapy from the high-energy, damaging ranges used in photocoagulation and photodynamic therapy to specific low-energy wavelengths that trigger photobiomodulation effects. This parameter change transforms the laser's interaction with retinal tissue from destructive (causing inflammation) to constructive (promoting repair and regeneration), eliminating the need for repeated procedures while maintaining treatment effectiveness.
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
These IDM devices and methods provide significant vision improvements, reduce vision loss, and offer fewer adverse effects compared to conventional treatments, enabling rapid and sustained vision restoration without the need for extensive training or frequent procedures, while also potentially repairing retinal cells and reducing oxidative stress.
Implementation Method 1
devices and methods to optically modify permanently, temporarily or with variable modifications over time in at least three retinal regions... by means of simultaneous light redirections from a retinal fixation region to at least two other spatially separated retinal regions
Implementation Method 2
retinal IDM lasers... configured to produce retinal IDM... modifications of corneal radii of curvature... to change the directions of light rays to irradiate locations outside the fovea
Implementation Method 3
simultaneous light redirections from a retinal fixation region to at least two other spatially separated retinal regions... to increase the relative irradiance difference on nearby photoreceptors
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus to improve or restore vision by causing a rebooting of the visual system of an eye with modification of visual search, sampling and stimulation away from the preferred retinal locus of fixation of an eye to enhance neural integration and perception of visual information from within the field of view are described herein. Some embodiments cause transient, reversible or repeatable redirection of environmental light away from the preferred retinal locus of fixation of an eye to multiple retinal locations that are not the preferred retinal locus of fixation. Some embodiments reduce exposure of environmental light at the preferred retinal locus of fixation of an eye for a determinable interval at a determinable rate. Some embodiments cause a defocusing of environmental light at the preferred retinal locus of fixation in an eye with a visual impairment or loss.