Kentucky Patent of the Month – March 2023

The cornea is the clear outer layer of the eye and plays a crucial role in vision. Unfortunately, many people suffer from conditions that damage their corneas, leading to impaired vision or even blindness. Until recently, the only way to restore vision in these cases was through corneal transplant surgery, which required tissue donation from a deceased donor. A new invention from Advanced Solutions Life Sciences LLC offers a promising alternative.

The invention is a method and system for fabricating a cornea using a combination of 3D printing and tissue engineering techniques. The process involves affixing a frame to a cell culture insert, which is a cylindrical structure with a porous membrane. A dome-shaped member is then attached to the porous membrane within the frame, and a material containing a matrix-forming compound is deposited on the frame and the dome-shaped member. The matrix-forming compound can be chosen from a variety of materials, including collagen, silk, and polycaprolactone, among others. After the material has solidified, the dome-shaped member is removed to reveal a fabricated cornea attached to the frame.

Advanced Solutions’ new technique offers several advantages over traditional corneal transplant surgery. For one, it eliminates the need for a donor, which could significantly increase the availability of corneas for those in need. Additionally, the fabricated corneas can be customized to fit the specific needs of the patient, resulting in better outcomes and fewer complications.

The invention has the potential to revolutionize the field of corneal replacement therapy and corneal research. With this new technology, scientists could be able to produce corneas in a lab setting, which could lead to new insights into the causes and treatment of corneal diseases. Furthermore, patients in need of corneal replacement therapy will have a new option that is faster, safer, and more effective than traditional corneal transplant surgery.

Advanced Solutions Life Sciences is a subsidiary of 34-year-old Advanced Solutions, Inc. (ASI) and is headquartered within a 15,000 square foot facility in Louisville, Kentucky. The company is dedicated to the discovery, design, and development of integrated software, hardware, and biological solutions for the biomedical and biotechnology fields of science and industry

Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

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