Selective RPE Heating for Drusen Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for drusen-related macular degeneration, such as antiangiogenic therapy, only suppress the growth of new blood vessels without removing existing drusen between the retinal pigment epithelium cell and Bruch's membrane, requiring continuous treatment and not addressing the root cause of the disease.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the identification of drusen positions in the fundus, determination of a treatment area, and the transfer of energy, specifically light with a wavelength of 510 nm to 590 nm, to selectively increase the temperature of the retinal pigment epithelium cell, inducing thermal damage and regeneration, thereby promoting the discharge of drusen to the choroid, while minimizing damage to adjacent photoreceptor cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If antiangiogenic therapy is used to suppress new blood vessel growth, then the formation of additional vessels is prevented, but existing drusen remain between the RPE cell and Bruch's membrane requiring continuous treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful drusen substance from between the RPE cell and Bruch's membrane using enzymatic degradation. The enzyme is delivered to the target site where it specifically breaks down drusen components, extracting the pathological material for removal while leaving healthy tissues intact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the biochemical parameters of the treatment by introducing enzymatic activity to degrade drusen. This involves altering the chemical environment at the treatment site through enzyme-catalyzed reactions that break down drusen proteins and lipids into removable fragments.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If continuous antiangiogenic treatment is administered, then new vessel formation is continuously suppressed, but the root cause (drusen accumulation) is not addressed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by removing the root cause (drusen accumulation) before new blood vessels can form. By degrading and removing drusen first, the treatment prevents the inflammatory cascade that would otherwise trigger VEGF production and subsequent neovascularization, eliminating the need for continuous antiangiogenic therapy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables self-service by using the body's own enzymatic systems to degrade drusen. The introduced enzyme works with endogenous processes to clear drusen, allowing the biological system to perform the cleanup function without requiring ongoing external intervention or continuous drug administration.
3Manufacturing precision
If energy is transferred to the treatment area to remove drusen, then drusen discharge function is improved, but selective heating of RPE cell must be achieved without damaging photoreceptor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by delivering energy selectively to the RPE cell layer with specific optical properties. The treatment parameters are optimized so that the RPE cell absorbs the energy while adjacent photoreceptors remain unaffected, creating a localized thermal effect precisely where needed without damaging surrounding tissues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses partial action by applying thermal energy only to the extent necessary to stimulate RPE cell function and drusen discharge. The heating is controlled to achieve the minimum effective temperature increase needed to enhance phagocytic activity and drusen removal, avoiding excessive heating that would damage photoreceptors.
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
This approach allows for the complete removal of drusen, restricting lesion progression, enabling restoration of the affected area and minimizing patient discomfort through non-invasive means, effectively addressing the root cause of drusen-related macular degeneration.
Implementation Method 1
the amount of the radiated light absorbed by the choroid in the treatment area may be smaller than the amount of the radiated light absorbed by the RPE cell and larger than the amount of the radiated light absorbed by the photoreceptor
Implementation Method 2
the radiated light may selectively increase a temperature of the RPE cell in the treatment area
Implementation Method 3
the laser may have a pulse width of 5 microseconds or less
Data Source
AI summary
A drusen treatment method includes confirming a location of drusen in a fundus of a patient; determining a treatment area by including a location on which the drusen exists; and removing the drusen by transferring energy to the treatment area.