Cell Transfer Device for Corneal Wound Healing

Implications: I have been working on a cell transfer device designed to optimize wound healing after PRK laser vision correction. Essentially, we plan to coat a silicone hydrogel contact lens with a thin dissolvable layer of collagen on the concave surface. Cultured epithelial cells would be seeded onto the collagen layer, and the device would be placed onto the human eye after PRK laser vision correction. Tissue adhesive or sutures would be used to secure the peripheral portion of the device onto the eye. Collagenases in the tear film would dissolve the collagen layer, similar to their action upon collagen shields. The live epithelial sheet would transfer onto the corneal stroma and adhere after 24-72 hours. The contact lens secured to the eye would protect the epithelial sheet while allowing the patient to see as he/she was healing. The contact lens would be removed after the epithelium was successfully transferred.

Analysis: The goal of the device is to provide the safety profile of PRK with the rapid visual recovery of Lasik. Patients could avoid flap complications and induced higher order aberrations while also minimizing pain and time away from work.

The technology has the potential to surpass, Lasik, Intralase, Epi-Lasik, and PRK as the preferred surgical modality for laser vision correction with an estimated market of 130,000 to 1.5 million cases per year in the US. The device is designed to be mass produced inexpensively using established techniques in contact lens, cell culture, and tissue adhesives. The product will be priced at $100 to $200 per device, which is comparable to established disposable costs for Lasik, Intralase, and Epi-Lasik.