Single-Operator Ocular Implant Delivery for Schlemm’s Canal Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing glaucoma treatments face challenges in effectively managing intraocular pressure by facilitating the outflow of aqueous humor, particularly through Schlemm's canal, due to the complexity of surgical procedures and the need for precise alignment and deployment of ocular implants.
Innovation Solution
A single-operator ocular implant delivery system with a cannula, delivery mechanism, and orientation mechanism allows for precise advancement, retraction, and rotation of ocular implants within the eye, enabling one-handed operation and automatic disengagement of the implant from the delivery system upon deployment, ensuring proper alignment with Schlemm's canal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a traditional multi-operator delivery system is used for ocular implant, then the implantation can be performed with basic controls, but the procedure requires multiple operators and has lower precision in aligning with Schlemm's canal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple delivery system components (cannula, ocular implant, delivery mechanism, and orientation mechanism) into a single integrated device that can be controlled by one operator. This merging of functions allows precise alignment with Schlemm's canal while maintaining manageable device complexity through unified design.
Solution Approach 2:
The delivery system introduces an intermediary orientation mechanism that mediates between the operator's control inputs and the final implant position. This intermediary component enables precise rotational control and alignment with Schlemm's canal, improving measurement precision without requiring multiple operators.
2Ease of operation
If manual advancement and rotation controls are used, then the delivery system requires multiple operators, but the implantation precision is sufficient for basic procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the advancement control and rotation control into a single operable unit that can be manipulated by one operator. The delivery mechanism and orientation mechanism are integrated such that a single operator can simultaneously control both linear advancement of the implant and rotational orientation, improving ease of operation while managing complexity through unified control.
Solution Approach 2:
The delivery system is designed with multi-functional controls that perform multiple operations. The control mechanism serves both to advance the implant linearly and to rotate the cannula for proper orientation, making the system universal enough to be operated by a single provider while maintaining precise control over multiple degrees of freedom.
3Reliability
If the implant remains connected to the delivery system during insertion, then control is maintained, but the implant cannot be deployed once positioned
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery system is designed to maintain connection during insertion for reliable control, then automatically disengage upon reaching the target position. The preliminary controlled insertion phase ensures proper positioning, followed by automatic deployment that simplifies the transition from controlled insertion to implanted state without requiring additional manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs automatic disengagement mechanisms that allow the implant to self-release from the delivery system once properly positioned within Schlemm's canal. This self-service deployment feature maintains reliability during controlled insertion while simplifying the deployment phase, as the implant automatically separates from the delivery catheter without requiring additional operator actions.
Data Source
AI summary
An ocular implant delivery system is provided with a number of features. In some embodiments, the delivery system comprises a rotation mechanism configured to rotate and orient a cannula of the system, and an advancement mechanism configured to advance and retract an ocular implant through the delivery system and into an eye of a patient. In some embodiments, the cannula is sized and configured to be inserted into Schlemm's canal of the eye. The ocular implant is configured to maintain its orientation within the delivery system as the cannula is rotated. In some embodiments, the ocular implant automatically disengages the delivery system when it is advanced beyond a distal tip of the delivery system. Methods of implanting an ocular implant are also provided.