Suprachoroidal Shunt Device for Glaucoma Surgery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current glaucoma treatments, including medical therapies and surgeries, often come with significant side effects and require additional medication post-surgery, and there is a need for a faster, safer, and less expensive method to reduce intraocular pressure effectively.
Innovation Solution
A bent surgical device with a beveled end and notch is used to create a channel in the eye, allowing aqueous humor to flow from the anterior chamber into the suprachoroidal space, facilitating a new surgical procedure that forms a channel using a cannula with a bend and notch for directing aqueous humor flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional trabeculectomy or aqueous shunt surgery is performed, then intraocular pressure is reduced, but the surgery is time-consuming, complex, and requires additional post-surgery medication
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical procedure is divided into distinct steps: creating a scleral flap, forming a suprachoroidal pocket, inserting the suprachoroidal shunt device, and closing the incision. This segmentation allows for systematic execution of the surgery, making the complex procedure more manageable and potentially faster while ensuring proper placement and function of the shunt device
Solution Approach 2:
The suprachoroidal shunt device acts as an intermediary element between the anterior chamber and suprachoroidal space, providing a controlled pathway for aqueous humor flow. This intermediary device simplifies the surgical process compared to traditional trabeculectomy by providing a pre-formed shunt structure that requires less complex tissue manipulation and healing management
2Reliability
If traditional glaucoma surgeries are performed, then intraocular pressure is reduced, but the surgical complexity and post-surgery medication requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the filtering function from the complex trabeculectomy procedure and concentrates it into a single suprachoroidal shunt device. By taking out the essential function of aqueous humor drainage and implementing it through a dedicated shunt device placed in the suprachoroidal space, the surgery becomes less complex and requires fewer post-surgery medications to maintain function
Solution Approach 2:
The suprachoroidal shunt device serves multiple functions: it provides a drainage pathway for aqueous humor, maintains appropriate intraocular pressure, and eliminates the need for complex conjunctival flap creation and management. This multi-functionality reduces overall surgical complexity while achieving the primary therapeutic goal
3Reliability
If traditional glaucoma treatments are used, then intraocular pressure is reduced, but ongoing medication is required which increases cost and reduces safety
Solution Approach 1:
The suprachoroidal shunt device is designed to be self-functional, providing continuous aqueous humor drainage without requiring external medication to maintain its effect. The device's passive mechanical structure ensures ongoing pressure reduction through its inherent drainage capability, eliminating the need for post-surgery medication that could cause harmful side effects
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
This method provides a faster, safer, and less expensive approach to reducing intraocular pressure, potentially reducing the need for ongoing medication and improving surgical outcomes by enhancing aqueous humor outflow.
Implementation Method 1
A bent surgical device with a beveled end and notch is used to create a channel in the eye, allowing aqueous humor to flow from the anterior chamber into the suprachoroidal space
Data Source
AI summary
A medical device and surgical procedure for the treatment of glaucoma in patients with primary open angle glaucoma, secondary open angle glaucoma, closed angle glaucoma, and refractory glaucoma. The device is inserted between two scleral flaps, cutting the trabecular meshwork and the sclera. When the device is removed, a proximal-facing cutting edge forms a tunnel allowing the aqueous humor to flow out of the anterior chamber into the suprachoroidal space.