Side-Exit Needle Probe for Posterior Eye Segment Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current techniques for delivering agents to the posterior segment of the eye, such as the suprachoroidal or subretinal spaces, are either invasive, requiring ocular incisions and subretinal injections, or untargeted, leading to risks of complications like damage to the eye and compromised vision.
Innovation Solution
A device and method for delivering agents to the posterior segment of the eye via direct external scleral penetration, using a probe with a needle that extends and retracts from a side surface of the distal end portion, allowing for accurate localization and precise needle depth penetration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional scleral cutdown techniques are used for suprachoroidal delivery, then the agent can be delivered to the posterior segment, but the procedure becomes more invasive with greater risk of hemorrhage and complications
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the conventional approach by delivering the agent through the anterior segment of the eye (via corneal or scleral penetration at the front) rather than through the posterior segment. This allows suprachoroidal space access and agent delivery to the posterior segment without requiring direct posterior access, thereby reducing invasiveness and complication risks while maintaining delivery accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses the anterior chamber and aqueous humor as intermediary pathways to transport the agent from the anterior segment to the posterior segment. Instead of directly accessing the posterior suprachoroidal space, the agent is injected into the anterior chamber and allowed to flow through the eye's internal fluid pathways to reach the target location, reducing the invasiveness of the procedure.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If intravitreal injections are used for therapeutic agent delivery, then the procedure is minimally invasive, but the delivery becomes untargeted resulting in dilution of therapeutic effect and potential damage to the eye
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses the vitreous humor and internal fluid pathways as intermediaries to transport the agent from the injection site to the target location in the posterior segment. By injecting through the cornea or anterior sclera and allowing the agent to flow through the eye's internal pathways, the procedure remains minimally invasive while achieving targeted delivery to the suprachoroidal or subretinal spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs localized injection sites and controlled flow pathways to ensure the agent reaches specific regions of the posterior segment. By controlling the injection parameters and utilizing the eye's natural fluid dynamics, the agent is concentrated at the target location rather than being diffusely distributed, thereby maintaining therapeutic efficacy while minimizing invasiveness.
3Measurement precision
If direct posterior segment access is attempted, then targeted delivery can be achieved, but the procedure requires ocular incisions increasing complexity and risk
Solution Approach 1:
The invention achieves targeted posterior segment delivery by approaching from the anterior segment rather than making direct posterior access. This inversion of the access route simplifies the procedure by using the naturally thinner and more accessible cornea or anterior sclera, eliminating the need for complex posterior ocular incisions while maintaining precise localization capability.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and devices are described herein for a) injecting/delivering fluid to and/or draining/removing fluid from the eye. One of the devices may comprise a probe including a main body having a distal end portion; a needle that extends and retracts from an exit location on a side surface of the distal end portion, the needle having a needle conduit; and one or more probe conduits for moving the fluid through the probe, the one or more probe conduits being fluidically coupled to the needle conduit. During use, a portion of the side surface having the exit location is placed adjacent to a surface of the eye and the needle is extended to penetrate into the eye, and the fluid is injected or drained through the needle conduit.