Ring-and-Arm Scleral Depression for Hands-Free Vitreoretinal Surgery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current scleral depression techniques require a skilled assistant, impede surgical visualization, and increase the risk of tortional rotation during ophthalmic procedures, particularly in bimanual vitreoretinal surgeries.

Innovation Solution

A scleral depression device with a ring and arms configured for controllable depression of the sclera, allowing 360° rotation and posterior-to-anterior sliding, which can be applied hands-free without impeding other surgical instruments or visualization, and includes features for illumination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a skilled assistant performs scleral depression during bimanual vitreoretinal surgery, then effective scleral depression is achieved, but surgical efficiency decreases and the risk of tortional rotation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness of scleral depressionVSAvoidsurgical efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The surgical system performs scleral depression autonomously through the scleral depression device integrated into the foot pedal mechanism, eliminating the need for assistant intervention while maintaining effective scleral depression throughout the surgical procedure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If chandelier-based lighting port is used for scleral depression with one hand, then bimanual surgery is enabled, but lighting effectiveness decreases and tortional rotation risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to perform bimanual surgeryVSAvoidlighting effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The illumination device is merged with the scleral depression device, combining lighting and depression functions into a single integrated instrument that provides both effective illumination and scleral depression simultaneously during bimanual surgery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If conventional scleral depression instruments are used, then scleral depression is achieved, but surgical microscope movement and intraoperative visualization are impeded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescleral depression capabilityVSAvoidsurgical microscope movement and visualization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The scleral depression function is extracted from traditional handheld instruments and relocated to a foot-operated device, removing the obstruction caused by hand-held depressors from the surgical field and allowing unrestricted microscope movement and optimal visualization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS20250221698A1Devices for scleral depression

Publication Date: 2025.07.10 ALCON INC

AI summary

Described herein is a device for performing scleral depression. The device can include a ring and one or more arms protruding from the ring. The ring can define an opening over an eye and include a handle protruding away from the one or more arms. The opening can have a diameter that is at least 6 to 8 millimeters (mm) long. The one or more arms can be configured to be disposed over a globe of the eye for controllable depression of a sclera of the eye. Uniform pressure can be applied to the sclera by depression features at a distal end of each of the one or more arms.