[Development of atraumatic microneedles for use in ophthalmology]

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Ophthalmology

Context:

• Accurate assessment of microneedle performance is crucial for medical applications.
• Minimizing insertion force is key for delicate tissue manipulation, such as in ophthalmic surgery.
• Current methods for evaluating microneedle functionality can be time-consuming.

Purpose:

• To quantitatively estimate microneedle functional characteristics by measuring force interaction.
• To identify microneedle designs that require the least pricking effort for tissue penetration.
• To evaluate the efficacy of Soviet-designed ophthalmologic microneedles compared to international standards.

Summary:

• Force interaction measurements provide quantitative data on microneedle performance.
• Flat microneedles with trihedral points demonstrate the lowest pricking effort, making them suitable for suturing solid biological tissues (e.g., cornea, sclera).
• Mathematical modeling aids in optimizing geometric parameters for minimal insertion force.

Impact:

• Streamlines the quality control process for microneedles.
• Enhances the suitability of microneedles for delicate surgical procedures, improving patient outcomes.
• Validates the performance of Soviet ophthalmologic microneedles, suggesting potential for wider adoption.