Subthreshold Micropulsed Laser Retinal Phototherapy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional retinal photocoagulation treatments cause visible tissue damage and complications, such as pain, inflammation, and visual loss, and are limited in treating sensitive areas like the fovea, requiring laborious point-by-point laser applications.

Innovation Solution

A system and process for subthreshold photocoagulation using a micropulsed laser with specific parameters (wavelength, duty cycle, and power) that creates a therapeutic effect without visible tissue damage, allowing treatment of the entire retina, including the fovea, with minimal side effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional threshold or suprathreshold photocoagulation is used to treat retinal disease, then therapeutic effect is achieved, but visible tissue damage and complications occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetherapeutic effectVSAvoidtissue damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting laser intensity to subthreshold levels (below the threshold for visible tissue damage) while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness through prolonged exposure duration. The laser intensity is reduced from conventional threshold/suprathreshold levels to subthreshold levels, but compensation is achieved through extended treatment time, resulting in therapeutic effects without visible retinal burns or tissue damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs periodic action through micropulsed laser delivery with repeated applications to the same retinal site. The laser is applied in a series of micropulses at subthreshold intensity levels, with repeated exposures to the same location accumulating therapeutic effect over time. This periodic application pattern enables treatment without causing tissue damage from any single exposure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If conventional photocoagulation is used to treat sensitive areas like the fovea, then disease is treated, but visual loss and complications occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisease treatmentVSAvoidvisual loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the laser intensity parameter to subthreshold levels that are safe for sensitive retinal areas including the fovea. By operating below the threshold for visible tissue damage, the treatment can be applied to the fovea and other sensitive regions without causing photocoagulation burns or visual loss, while still achieving therapeutic effects through prolonged exposure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Area of stationary object

If point-by-point laser application is used for conventional photocoagulation, then treatment coverage is achieved, but treatment time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment coverageVSAvoidtreatment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses periodic action with repeated micropulse applications to the same retinal site, allowing treatment of larger areas more efficiently. The micropulsed delivery system can rapidly sequence through multiple treatment locations, applying subthreshold laser energy to each site repeatedly over time, thereby covering extensive retinal areas without the prolonged treatment times associated with conventional point-by-point approaches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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

Achieves therapeutic benefits similar to conventional photocoagulation without tissue damage, reducing treatment time and complications, and improving retinal function and vision, while preventing adverse effects like inflammation and visual loss.

Implementation Method 1

a laser light beam that creates a therapeutic effect to retinal and/or foveal tissue exposed to the laser light without destroying or permanently damaging the retinal or foveal tissue

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser heating: Laser

Implementation Method 2

laser light absorption heats pigmented tissues at the laser site

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS10363171B2System and process for retina phototherapy

Publication Date: 2019.07.30 OJAI RETINAL TECHNOLOGY LLC

AI summary

A process for performing retinal phototherapy or photostimulation includes generating a laser light that creates a therapeutic effect to retinal and/or foveal tissues exposed to the laser light without destroying or permanently damaging the retinal or foveal tissue. The laser light is applied to a first treatment area of the retina. After a predetermined interval of time, within a single treatment session, the laser light is reapplied to the first treatment area of the retina. During the interval of time between the laser light applications to the first treatment area, the laser light is applied to one or more additional areas of the retina that is spaced apart from the first treatment area and one another. The laser light is repeatedly applied to each of the areas to be treated until a predetermined number of laser light applications to each area to be treated has been achieved.