Spectacle Lens Beam Expander for Robust Eye Implant Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power supply systems for active ocular implants, such as retinal implants, face challenges in reliability due to anatomical variations and physiological processes like eye rotation and pupil size changes, requiring a robust and efficient method to ensure consistent energy delivery across a wide angle range.
Innovation Solution
A spectacle lens-based device with a beam expander system comprising multiple expansion elements and optical elements like volume holograms and gratings, which effectively focuses infrared light to ensure reliable power supply to active ocular implants, even with positioning inaccuracies and physiological variations, by steering light to an imaginary focal surface smaller than the emission surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple optical system is used for power supply, then the device complexity is reduced, but the robustness against positioning inaccuracies and physiological variations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested optical system where a beam expander is integrated within the spectacle lens structure. The beam expander contains multiple optical elements (first and second expansion elements, focusing elements) that are nested within the lens housing, creating a compact integrated system that maintains reliability while controlling overall complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary optical system (beam expander with multiple elements) between the light source and the ocular implant. This intermediary system acts as a mediator that compensates for positioning errors and physiological variations, ensuring reliable power transfer without requiring direct precise alignment
2Productivity
If the light beam is highly concentrated to improve power transfer efficiency, then the energy delivery is improved, but the safety of the human eye deteriorates due to excessive light concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different optical zones within the beam path. The optical system is designed to concentrate light locally at the implant location while maintaining lower intensity in other regions, particularly along the path through the eye. This ensures high power transfer efficiency to the implant while preventing excessive light concentration that could harm the eye
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from concentrating light in a single point to distributing it across an imaginary focal surface. By changing the dimensionality of the focal region from 0D (point) to 2D (surface), the system maintains sufficient energy density for power transfer while reducing peak intensity, thereby improving both productivity and safety
3Loss of energy
If the optical system is designed for narrow angle illumination, then the illumination efficiency is improved, but the adaptability to different eye positions and rotations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic optical system where the beam expander can adapt to different eye positions and rotations. The optical elements are arranged to provide a range of illumination angles, allowing the system to dynamically adjust to physiological variations such as eye rotation and pupil size changes while maintaining reasonable illumination efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-expanding the light beam before it reaches the eye. The beam expander prepares the light distribution in advance to cover a range of possible eye positions, so that when the eye moves or rotates, the illumination remains effective without requiring real-time adjustment
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 provides robust and efficient power supply to active ocular implants over a large angle range, ensuring consistent illumination and reducing power requirements, while maintaining safety by preventing excessive light concentration, thus adhering to safety limits for the human eye.
Implementation Method 1
a beam expander which is arranged in or on the spectacle lens and comprises a first expansion element and a second expansion element. The first expansion element is set up to receive the light, expand said light along a first direction and guide at least some of the light as expanded light in a second direction to the second expansion element
Implementation Method 2
The second expansion element is further set up to effectively focus the twice expanded light
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for supplying energy to an active eye implant can include a beam expander that includes a first expansion element and a second expansion element. The second expansion element can be configured to provide light that has been expanded twice and is effectively focused. A processes for manufacturing apparatuses for supplying energy to an active eye implant can be based on head geometry data of a user.