Surgical Correction of Ptosis By Polymeric Artificial Muscles

A surgical procedure has been developed for the restoration of eyelid function in individuals suffering from ptosis or upper eyelid droop syndrome that makes a patient unable to voluntarily fully raise an eyelid. The surgical procedure includes implantation and suturing of eye drop (pH) activated and actuated fibrous contractile and expansive artificial muscles such as pH active hydrogels of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) artificial muscles that are surgically implanted and sutured under the superior palpebral conjunctiva in a serpentine parallel configuration with respect to the tarsal (meibomian) glands of the upper eyelid and anchored to the tissues of superior fornix according to inventors University of Maine Professor Mohsen Shahinpoor (Bangor, ME) and Ophthalmology  Dr. David Soltanpour (New York, NY) in U.S.  Patent Application 20100042146.

A surgical method for restoring eyelid function in a ptosis patient comprises suture anchoring an artificial muscle network to the superior palpebral conjunctiva tissues in a serpentine configuration with respect to tarsal glands of the eyelid, and suture anchoring the artificial muscle network to the tissues of the upper orbital septum. The artificial muscle network can be sutured such that the orbicularis muscle can bias the eyelid to closed position. The artificial muscle network can be responsive to one or more biasing forces. The artificial muscle network can be configured to contract, and therefore open the eyelid, in response to a first biasing force. The artificial muscle network can be configured to relax, and therefore close the eyelid, in response to a second biasing force. The first and second biasing forces can be chemical solutions. 


FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of the eye of a patient 1 showing the upper eyelid 2 and the lower eyelid 3 are such that the upper eyelid 2 is flipped backward to see the upper and lower tarsal gland 2' and 3' in the presence of the sclera 9, the limbus 22, the crystalline lens 8, and the iris 7. As shown, the implanted contractile artificial muscle fibers 19 are sutured under the superior palpebral conjunctiva in a serpentine and parallel configuration with respect to tarsal (meibomian) glands of the eyelid and suture anchored to the tissues of upper superior fornix 21 and the lower edge of the eyelid 20. 

Professor Shahinpoor is director of the Artificial Muscle Research Initiative, Biomedical Engineering Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering,  College of Engineering, University of Maine.  The Artificial Muscle Research Institute has now become the leading world institution in ionic polymeric artificial muscle research, development, and applications. Professor Shahinpoor has re-established the Institute as an Initiative at University of Maine. The immediate goals of the institute is to develop, design, fabricate, test, and commercialize medical and industrial and domestic products based on biomimetic electrically and/or chemically controllable polymeric artificial muscles. 

These muscles will be used in applications relating to industrial, medical, and domestic problems. The Artificial Muscle Research Institute (AMRI) has teamed up with The FacioScapuloHumeral Muscular Dystrophy Society (http://www.fshsociety.org) and will be actively involved in developing artificial muscle-based devices and systems to help people with muscular problems and deficiencies and disabled individuals.

Dr. Mohsen Shahinpoor (207) 581 2143

Artificial Muscles Research Initiative
Biomedical Engineering Laboratory
Department of Mechanical Engineering
The University of Maine
Orono, ME 04469
Tel:(207) 581 2143(W), (207) 356 5957

(Mobile), (207) 581 2379 (Fax)