Segmented Lens Implant with Swelling Fasteners for Rotational Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current artificial lenses used in cataract or clear lens exchange surgeries fail to accurately align and provide rotational stability to compensate for higher-order aberrations of the cornea, particularly in severe non-rotationally symmetrical irregularities such as those found in keratoconus, leading to issues like coma via irregular astigmatism.
Innovation Solution
A lens implant system featuring a base member with optically effective lens elements that utilize fastening elements, such as pins or eyelet-shaped holding elements, to securely attach the lens to the base member, ensuring precise positioning and rotational stability within the eye, with materials that can swell for enhanced frictional connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional artificial lenses are used without fastening elements, then the lens can be implanted, but precise alignment and rotational stability cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The lens implant is divided into separate components: a base element and a lens element that can be attached together. This segmentation allows the lens to be implanted in a simplified manner while achieving precise alignment through the attachment mechanism with fastening elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening elements are pre-configured on the base element and lens element before implantation. This preliminary preparation enables precise alignment to be achieved when the components are attached, without requiring complex alignment procedures during the implantation surgery itself.
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional artificial lenses are used without fastening elements, then the lens can be implanted, but rotational stability cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the lens into a base element and an attachable lens element with fastening mechanisms, the design enables rotational stability through the secure connection, while keeping the overall implantation process relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening elements are prepared in advance on both the base element and lens element, allowing rotational stability to be achieved through their connection without requiring complex stabilization mechanisms during the implantation procedure.
3Ease of operation
If the lens is made foldable for easy insertion, then implantation is simplified, but precise positioning after implantation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The lens system is segmented into a base element that remains in the eye and a separate lens element that can be folded for insertion and then attached to the base. This allows easy implantation through folding while achieving precise positioning through the attachment mechanism with fastening elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening elements are pre-configured to enable precise positioning when the lens element is attached to the base element, eliminating the need for complex positioning procedures after implantation.
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
The system allows for precise alignment and improved rotational stability of the lens implant, effectively compensating for corneal irregularities and enhancing light transmission to the retina, thereby improving vision by minimizing postoperative complications.
Implementation Method 1
The fastening element can be configured to swell after insertion of the fastening element into the opening already implanted in the eye to be treated, in order to increase a frictional connection between the fastening element and the opening
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
Lens implant for implantation into an eye to be treated, comprising: a base element (2, 3); and an optically active lens element (8, 9), both having at least one fastening element for attaching the lens element to the base element, which interact with each other, e.g., eyelet-shaped retention element (7) and projection (11), opening (6) and pin (10). The base element has the shape of a ring segment.