Soft Tissue-Compliant Shunt Self-Guided by Pre-Bent Shaft

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current glaucoma treatment methods involving shunt implantation in the suprachoroidal space often result in cyclodialysis clefts and hypotony due to the use of rigid shunts that can cause uncontrolled escape of aqueous humor, and anchoring issues that lead to conjunctival damage.

Innovation Solution

Development of soft, tissue-compliant intraocular shunts that are self-guided into the suprachoroidal space using a flexible hollow shaft with a pre-bent configuration, avoiding direct contact with the conjunctiva and utilizing a deployment mechanism to ensure accurate placement without damaging surrounding tissues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If rigid shunts are used in suprachoroidal space implantation, then the shunt can provide structural support, but it causes cyclodialysis clefts and hypotony due to uncontrolled aqueous humor escape

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshunt structural supportVSAvoidcyclodialysis cleft and hypotony

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from rigid to soft and tissue-compliant, allowing the shunt to adapt to the suprachoroidal space anatomy without creating cyclodialysis clefts while maintaining sufficient structural support for aqueous humor drainage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The shunt is constructed using composite materials including soft tissue-compliant polymers combined with flexible hollow shafts, achieving both the required mechanical strength for drainage and the compliance needed to avoid tissue damage and cyclodialysis

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If rigid shunts are anchored to tissue adjacent to suprachoroidal space, then the shunt can be secured in place, but it damages the conjunctiva and creates infection risk

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshunt anchoring stabilityVSAvoidconjunctival damage and infection

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the shunt material from rigid to soft and tissue-compliant, enabling the shunt to be positioned and secured without damaging the conjunctiva, thereby eliminating the infection risk associated with conjunctival injury while maintaining anchoring stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The device employs a disposable flexible hollow shaft that is discarded after single use, eliminating the need for permanent anchoring structures that could damage the conjunctiva and create long-term infection risks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of operation

If a flexible hollow shaft with pre-bent configuration is used, then the shunt can be self-guided along the scleral spur, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveself-guided shunt placementVSAvoiddeployment mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hollow shaft is pre-bent to match the curvature of the scleral spur before implantation, enabling the shunt to be self-guided along the natural anatomy of the eye without requiring complex real-time adjustment mechanisms during deployment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The shaft is designed with dynamic flexibility, allowing it to bend and flex in response to the anatomy as it advances from the device, adapting to individual patient variations while maintaining the self-guided pathway along the scleral spur

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 solution effectively reduces the risk of cyclodialysis clefts and hypotony, maintaining the integrity of the conjunctiva and improving the safety and efficacy of glaucoma treatment by allowing controlled fluid flow while minimizing side effects.

Implementation Method 1

Upon its exposure from the device, the hollow shaft reverts to its pre-bent configuration. Such a pre-bend allows the hollow shaft to follow the scleral spur down along the sclera in a self-guided manner

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

Implanting shunts made of soft, tissue compliant material avoid the creation of a cyclodialysis cleft and reduces or eliminates the risk of hypotony and related side effects

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTissue compliance:

Data Source

PatentUS8758290B2Devices and methods for implanting a shunt in the suprachoroidal space

Publication Date: 2014.06.24 AQUESYS INC

AI summary

The invention generally relates to devices and methods for implanting a shunt in the suprachoroidal space of an eye. In certain aspects, devices of the invention include a housing, a deployment mechanism at least partially disposed within the housing, and a flexible hollow shaft coupled to the deployment mechanism, in which the shaft holds an intraocular shunt, and is configured to self-guide the shunt along a scleral spur of an eye as the shunt is deployed from the shaft. Such a device may be inserted into an eye and used to deploy a shunt within the eye such that a proximal portion of the shunt receives fluid from an anterior chamber of an eye and a distal portion of the shunt directs the fluid to the suprachoroidal space.