Eyelid Speculum With Integrated Needle Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing eyelid speculums lack effective mechanisms for securely holding eyelids open during medical procedures, potentially leading to blinking and infection risks, and often require additional tools for accurate needle placement, which can complicate procedures and increase contamination risks.
Innovation Solution
A ring-shaped eyelid speculum with retractors and needle guide recesses that fits on the conjunctiva and sclera, providing a central opening for corneal viewing and accommodating depressions for counter-pressure and recesses for needle insertion, allowing for secure eyelid retraction and precise needle placement without additional instruments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional retractors or wire loops are used to hold eyelids open, then the eyelids can be retracted, but the device lacks integrated features for secure holding and accurate needle placement requiring additional tools
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated speculum device: eyelid retraction blades, needle guide recesses, and counter-pressure depression features are all incorporated into one device structure, eliminating the need for separate retractors and positioning tools
Solution Approach 2:
The speculum serves multiple purposes simultaneously: it retracts eyelids to maintain open position, provides guided needle insertion paths, and creates counter-pressure through depression features, making it a universal tool for the medical procedure
2Measurement precision
If additional tools are used for accurate needle placement, then positioning precision can be improved, but the procedure becomes more complex and contamination risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The needle guide recesses are integrated directly into the speculum body, combining the positioning function with the holding device, eliminating the need for separate positioning tools that would require additional handling and increase contamination risk
3Reliability
If traditional speculums are used without integrated retraction mechanisms, then the device structure remains simple, but eyelid security is insufficient leading to blinking during procedure
Solution Approach 1:
The retractors are integrated as permanent components of the speculum body rather than separate movable parts, providing secure eyelid holding while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure without complex mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
An eyelid speculum used to hold the eyelids of a patient's eye open during a medical procedure includes two retractors which are configured to engage the edge of a patient's eyelid and a central opening between the retractors which permits the medical practitioner to view the cornea of a patient's eye during a medical procedure. The eyelid speculum can be provided in a sterile medical kit.