Variable Tube Intraocular Lens Exchanger Dynamics

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing intraocular lens exchange methods cause significant damage to peripheral eyeball tissue due to the difficulty in folding and withdrawing unfolded intraocular lenses through small incisions, necessitating wider incisions for replacement or correction.

Innovation Solution

An intraocular lens exchanger comprising an outer tube, an inner tube, and a variable tube with an extension part that increases in width in the unconstrained state, allowing for elastic deformation to fold and retract the intraocular lens without requiring a larger incision, utilizing a friction-reducing coating and pleated portions for efficient deployment and withdrawal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a small incision (1.8 mm to 3 mm) is made in the cornea for foldable IOL insertion, then the damage to peripheral eyeball tissue is minimized, but it becomes exceedingly difficult to withdraw the unfolded intraocular lens through the same small incision

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedamage to peripheral eyeball tissueVSAvoiddifficulty to withdraw intraocular lens

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The variable tube dynamically changes its width from a compressed state (passing through the small incision) to an expanded state (withdrawing the IOL). The tube's width is adjustable along the longitudinal direction, allowing it to be narrow during insertion and wide during IOL withdrawal, thus resolving the contradiction between small incision size and large IOL withdrawal capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The variable tube can be inserted into the outer tube in a compressed state, similar to nested dolls. The variable tube is stored within the outer tube during insertion, and then expanded to its full width for IOL withdrawal. This nesting mechanism allows the system to pass through a small incision while maintaining the capability to handle a larger IOL

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If a larger incision is made to facilitate IOL withdrawal, then the ease of operation for lens replacement is improved, but the damage to peripheral eyeball tissue increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of IOL withdrawalVSAvoiddamage to peripheral eyeball tissue

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The variable tube provides dynamic width adjustment, being narrow (1.8-3 mm) during insertion to minimize tissue damage, and expanding to a wider configuration during IOL withdrawal to facilitate easy operation. This dynamic transformation eliminates the need to choose between small incision and easy withdrawal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Volume of moving object

If the variable tube is constrained within the outer tube, then the device maintains a compact profile for small incision insertion, but the extension part cannot assume its functional width for IOL folding

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompact profile of deviceVSAvoidcapability to fold IOL

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The variable tube is nested within the outer tube in a compressed state, allowing the entire device to maintain a compact profile that can pass through small incisions. The variable tube is stored inside the outer tube during insertion, minimizing the overall device volume

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The variable tube transitions from a constrained compressed state within the outer tube to an unconstrained expanded state for IOL folding. The tube's width increases in the radial direction when unconstrained, providing the necessary space and surface area to fold the IOL effectively

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

Minimizes tissue damage by enabling easy folding and withdrawal of intraocular lenses through small incisions, reducing the need for wider incisions and thus minimizing trauma to the eyeball.

Implementation Method 1

the extension part is provided to be elastically deformed when the unconstrained state changes to a constrained state

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11903821B2Intraocular lens exchanger

Publication Date: 2024.02.20 THE CATHOLIC UNIV OF KOREA IND ACADEMIC COOP FOUND

AI summary

Provided is an intraocular lens exchanger for moving a foldable intraocular lens (IOL), the intraocular lens exchanger including: an outer tube having a first passage formed in a forward/rearward direction; an inner tube disposed to be movable along the first passage and having a second passage formed in the forward/rearward direction; and a variable tube extending from a front end of the inner tube to form a variable passage connected to the second passage, in which the variable tube has an extension part having a width that increases forward in an unconstrained state in which the variable tube is not positioned in the first passage, and the extension part is provided to be elastically deformed when the unconstrained state changes to a constrained state in which at least a part of the extension part is received in the first passage.