Swelling Membrane Lens Safety Test Method
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for testing the safety of contact lenses and other lenses that come into contact with the human body are inadequate due to limited contact area with cells, leading to invalid results and a need for improved testing methods that simulate real-world conditions.
Innovation Solution
A test method using a membrane member with a water-swelling membrane and an annular supporting base to bring cells into close contact with the lens, allowing the membrane to deform and increase the contact area, thereby enhancing the validity of safety tests.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a membrane of a cell culture insert is used to bring cells into contact with a contact lens, then the test can be performed with cells contacting the lens, but the contact area is extremely small leading to inadequate validity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the membrane by utilizing its swelling property when immersed in liquid. The membrane transitions from a non-swollen state to a swollen state, increasing its area and enabling it to conform to the lens surface, thereby significantly expanding the contact area between cells and lens while maintaining test validity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a dynamic approach where the membrane is allowed to swell and deform in response to the lens shape during the test. The membrane dynamically adjusts its configuration to maximize contact with the lens surface, transforming from a static, limited-contact setup to a dynamic, adaptive contact system that covers the entire lens surface
2Reliability
If an extract of a contact lens is added to a medium for cell culture, then the test can be performed, but the test conditions are significantly different from real wear conditions leading to inadequate validity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-seeding cells onto the membrane before introducing the lens. This ensures that cells are already attached and positioned on the membrane surface before the actual contact test begins, creating a more realistic simulation of cells being present on the eye during lens wear
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane serves as an intermediary between the cells and the lens. Instead of directly adding lens extract to cell culture medium, the membrane acts as a physical mediator that allows cells to be in direct contact with the lens surface while remaining in a controlled culture environment, thereby simulating real wear conditions more accurately
3Area of stationary object
If cells are cultured directly on a contact lens, then the contact area is maximized, but the test setup becomes complex and difficult to implement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the test system into distinct functional components: a membrane member with supporting base that can be separately prepared with cells, and a lens that is introduced separately. This segmentation allows for simplified preparation of each component independently while achieving maximum contact area when assembled, reducing overall test setup complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane acts as an intermediary carrier that simplifies the test setup. Instead of attempting to culture cells directly on the lens surface (which would be complex), the membrane serves as a removable, pre-preparable substrate that can be easily seeded with cells and then brought into contact with the lens, reducing operational complexity while maintaining maximum contact area
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 ensures a larger contact area with cells, increasing the sensitivity and validity of safety tests for lenses, allowing them to be tested under conditions similar to those in real-world use.
Implementation Method 1
providing a membrane member including a membrane swellable upon absorbing water
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a test method performed using a lens which comes into contact with a human body during use, the test method including the steps of: providing a membrane member including a membrane swellable upon absorbing water and a supporting base having an annular shape to support an outer periphery of the membrane; allowing cells to adhere on the membrane of the membrane member; and bringing the membrane to which the cells are adhered into close contact with the surface of the lens, by immersing the membrane member and the lens into a liquid and deforming the membrane in a swollen state along the surface of the lens.