Scleral Depressor with 90-Degree Extension for Surgical Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing scleral depressors hinder the assistant's ability to apply depression force at various locations around the eye during surgery due to their design, which interferes with the surgeon's field of view and surgical instruments, making it difficult to access the nasal, superior, and inferior sides of the eye.
Innovation Solution
A scleral depressor with an elongated handle and a 90° extension member featuring a bulbous or cylindrical blade with rounded surfaces extending out of the plane, allowing for manipulation and depression at any desired location without interfering with surgical instruments or the surgeon's view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a straight scleral depressor is used, then the structure is simple, but the assistant cannot access the nasal, superior, and inferior sides of the eye without interfering with the surgeon's field of view and instruments
Solution Approach 1:
The extension member extends laterally from the handle at substantially right angles, adding a dimensional aspect to the depressor. This allows the blade to reach nasal, superior, and inferior regions of the eye that are inaccessible to traditional straight depressors, while the handle remains outside the surgical field of view
2Adaptability or versatility
If the extension member extends at 90 degrees from the handle, then the blade can reach various locations around the eye, but the device becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The extension member is configured to allow the handle to be manipulated in multiple directions, enabling dynamic access to different regions of the eye. The right-angle configuration provides a stable yet flexible platform for the blade to reach various locations including nasal, superior, and inferior aspects of the sclera
3Force
If the blade is positioned to depress the sclera effectively, then the depression force is sufficient, but the handle interferes with the surgeon's optical system
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is positioned and oriented such that it extends away from the surgical field, extracting the potential source of interference from the critical viewing area. The extension member acts as a connector that transmits force from the handle (positioned outside the optical path) to the blade (positioned at the eye), effectively separating the control mechanism from the interference zone
Data Source
AI summary
A scleral depressor includes an elongated handle defining a first axis. An extension member has one end attached to the proximal end of the handle and includes a blade at the remote end thereof. The extension member defines a second axis and extends from the handle at approximately 90° thereby defining a plane. A bulbous or cylindrically shaped blade located at the remote end of the extension member has its rounded surface extending out of the plane. By properly manipulating the handle, such as by rotating the same, the rounded surface of the blade is used to depress the sclera.