Intra-ocular lens mounting assembly and method of making it

INVENTOR"

STANLEY PCLEE. NATIONALITY:

NORTH AMERICAN.

ΦΤΦΓΓΤ * Ό.

x. t

NATIONALITYt

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NBW YORK / · YORK, USA

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CITY AND COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE of the HOLDER »

PRIORITY »NORTH AMERICAS US. 691,033 of May 28, 1976 and 780,682 of March 23/77.

CLASS:

00-4.

(51) INT. CL²

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Ccp the Gazette. AVD / haco.

/76 ^$7

IMPROVEMENTS IN MOUNTING ADAPTER FOR INTRA-EYE LENS AND METHOD TO PRODUCE IT - ~

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Mr. STANLEY POLER, American citizen, residing at 78 East Second Street, City and State of New York, United States of America, inventor, claims for himself all the rights to the invention that are described below:

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SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE the invention intends improved techniques to produce a graft of the lens to be used in ophthalmic surgery, the lens or lens being a substitute for the natural lens covered with cataracts and the lens in the pupil being installed in the iris as an operative stage after removing the cataract-filled lens. The crystalline lens produced by the method of the invention is characterized by an adapter structure assembled to an intraocular lens element and having first and second multiplicities of stabilizing legs radially outward, in an angularly spaced relationship and interlaced with the legs. of the other multiplicity; and the multiplicities re-

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The stabilizing leg components are on opposite sides of the iris, thereby causing the iris to retain and position the graft lens.

This application is a continuation in part as to the matter that was not chosen in the pending application, serial number 691,033, filed on May 2, 1976.

This invention relates to methods p_tTo make an improved lens graft, as a substitute for a cataract-filled or otherwise diseased natural lens.

Nearly 500,000 Americans annually require surgery to remove the natural lens that has become opaque (cataracts), causing loss of vision.

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Modern therapy for cataracts is surgical removal; that is, it is generally carried out by removing the opaque lens of the eye that is a part or by fragmenting the lens and rinsing the fragments away. to the eye so that a sharp image is focused on the retina. Powerful eyeglass lenses and contact lenses are both used for this purpose, but both have major disadvantages. Powerful eyeglass lenses dramatically increase image, shorten distances, t * i ί *

V

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restrict * peripheral vision, and prevent both eyes from being used simultaneously if both eyes have not undergone cataract surgery; Contact lenses overcome some of these problems but introduce others, involved in insertion, removal and frequent maintenance.

The concept of grafting an intraocular lens instead of the natural lens that is removed is not new, even though it is of relatively recent origin. However, read the date, an important limitation in such a procedure has been the relative unavailability of graft lenses, since their production has depended on small craft-type workshops and the quality of the lens has been less than satisfactory.

Consequently, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved r / ctouo to produce slow intra-ocular crystalline lenses, for procedure and grafting of the indicated nature.

Another object is to provide a method of producing an improved mounting structure for such lenses, whereby operating procedures can be carried out with greater safety and reliability.

It is - also an object to provide a method of producing such complete crystalline lenses with a

I

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mounting structure, inherent high quality, adherence to specification and reproducibility through precise mass production techniques ·

Other objects and various further features of novelty and the invention will be pointed out or will occur to those skilled in the art from reading the following specifications, in relation to the accompanying drawings. In said drawings they illustrate, for illustrative purposes only, the preferred forms of the invention;

Figure 1 is an enlarged perspective view, showing a unit mount intraocular crystalline lens of the invention ready for its operative graft, as in the course of a cataract operation;

Figures 2 and 3 are a plan view of the unit assembly of Figure 1, Figure 2 illustrating an internal formative condition, and Figure 3 illustrating the fully formed assembly ready for assembly of the crystalline lens element;

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional views taken on planes 4, 5 and 6 indicated in Figures 1 and 3;

Figure 7 is a, view similar to that of Figure 3 to show a modification;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view.

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of the structure of Figure 7 to allow the identification of the dimensional characteristics;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view, with solid contours as taken in plane 9, and with contours of non-continuous lines as taken in

I plane 9 'ce to Figure 7; '

Figure 10 is a view similar to that of

Figure 9 to show a modification;

Figures 11 and 12 are perspective views.

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to illustrate further modifications;

Figures 13 and 14 are plan and perspective views to show the shape of the part and the last folded configuration of an assembly that is particularly adapted to the factory from a plastic material;

Figure 14A. it is a fragmentary view similar to that of Figure 14 to show a variation;

* *

Figure 15 is a fragmentary plan view of a multiplicity of photographically duplicated mounting and lens parts in a multiple relationship side by side and connected for separation; and

Figures 16 and 17 are plan and fragmentary plan views similar to Figures 14 and 15 to illustrate another application of the method of the invention;

With reference to Figures 1 to 6, the invention

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is illustrated in an application regarding a graft lens 10 of a transparent non-toxic plastic such as methyl methacrylate. The lens 10 has a refractory index such and is so polished that when it is mounted on the iris and inserted inside, so that the c-1 eye thus grafted will develop an acute focus of the image on the retina. 10 is typically circular even though not necessarily around

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its optical axis; it can for example have a diameter of 5 mm. and having a thickness of the peripheral edge T of 1 mm · or less.

In accordance with the invention, the unitary mounting structure 11 this ensured ul cristidino 10 and pro-

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it provides a first and a second multiplicity of legs radically outward for reference to an axially stabilized placement respecting the iris, the legs of a multiplicity being axially offset with respect to and angularly interlocked with those of the other multiplicity, so that both sides of the iris contribute to stability. As illustrated, a circumferentially continuous ring 12 coincides with the peripheral contour of the edge of the lens being arranged adjacent to one face of the lens.

gularmcntc extended radially outward for retention adjacent to the external side (anterior surface) of the iris, closing the papillary border of the iris itself i

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on the circular edge of the lens. The second multiplicity of legs comprises three radially outward spirals 14 in a radial plane that is axially offset from ring 12 to substantially distance T. Therefore, each of legs 14 includes short and spaced off-center leg portions 15 r engage the circular edge of lens 10 and the radial spiral portion extends from leg portions JL5_F In the case of the plastic lens 10 of Figure 1, six anchor nails extend in the form of L 16 and 17 first radially inward and then axially backward, the same being embedded in the adjacent regions of the lens lens. 10

The described mounting or adapter structure 11 can be a single piece of metal, all the anchoring claws 16 and 17 being integrally formed and the stabilizing legs 13 and 14 with the body ring 2. The metal is inert with respect to the fabric The body and fluids are conveniently stainless steel, with a center thickness of the order of 0.1 mui. It has been found that it is practical to construct the part or pattern of Figure 2, for the mounting structure using chemical and photographic etching techniques.

Specifically, in the case of the part in Figure 2, a drawing was prepared, in a greatly enlarged scale, for example 40 times. L ^ I draw you so reduced '· *

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-¾ photographically down to the last size, and multiplied at graduated locations to produce a photographic negative with multiple reduced images of the drawing. Next, one of a kind of metal that is tolerated in the body (for example, stainless steel, platinum, iridium, etc.) was coated with a photosensitive material. The negative was brought into contact with the photosensitive coating, exposed to light, and was then revealed in a photographic reversal, thereby removing from the exposed surface any areas that have been exposed to light. The sheet that was left over was placed in a chemical solution (ferric chloride) that chemically removed the material. The chemical etching process described has the advantage that it tends to produce burr-free round edges and that it can employ lighter and thinner materials than any material hitherto available to my knowledge and consideration »

Figure 2 illustrates the piece thus prepared, noting that the lobes 14 'have a radially extended projection, in order to give the same effect to the offset 15 and the spirals 14; in the same way, the tines 1G'y 17 'have an extended projection radiating inward as much as i'adialmcntc inward at the 1G and 17.

The bending dies are used to operate with the part

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of Figure 2, so that all the necessary axial off-center actions take place, resulting in the reduction ¿the total circle defined by the legs 14 and the expansion of the circle defined by the nails 16 and 17, all as it appears in the Comparison of the plant views before and after Figures 2 and 3.

To complete the description of the actual physical modality in Figures 1 through 6, it is indicated that each of the rod-like retaining legs 13 ends with a small knob formation, to avoid the presentation of any unintentional edges that may irritate the tissue of the iris · Flat knobs are arranged in the center of a circle of 7.5 mm diameter, and the outer limits of the legs 14 are within an 8 mm circle. diameter. Claws 16 and 17 are bent axially in a radially offset center inward about 0.15 mm. from body ring 12; They are embedded in the lens 10 at a distance of about 0.30 mm. in axial direction. Such encrustation can be achieved without perforation, by means of axially directed ultrasonic pulses applied to the nails 16 and 17, while retaining the ring 12 and the parts of the leg (13-14) of the adapter 11 in conation ^ hOrii₀uaüa.

/ x 'of the crystalline lens 10 I take care $ such assembled · *** · WS * · *,' adapter to the crystalline lens is null.

Powered optical distortion of the

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In the embodiment of Figures 7 to 9, the arrangement of the adaptive piece is generally the same as that described for Figure 2, except that the radius of the body ring 12 'exceeds the radius í £ of the 10 * crystalline lens around its optical axis to a ΔR amplitude that is slightly less than the rudially inward effective projecting extension ^ R 'of the anchor tines 16 * and 17 *. The interlocking multiplicities of the radially outward stabilizing legs 13 * and 14 'are in an axially offset relationship, with each multiplicity offset in the opposite direction to the other multiplicity, as is evident from Figure 9. rare to assemble the adapter of Figure 7 to the crystalline lens 10 *, the body ring 12 'is momentarily distorted with a suitable tool, to approximate a polygonal shape; the action of such a tool is signaled with the arrows radially inward and radially outward symbolizing the application of the local force to momentarily radially displace all the tines 16 'and 17' in order to the outer edge in radius R_or free of the 10 'crystalline lens. Once centered axially around this edge, the tool relaxes to allow * the elastic restoration, the tines 16 'and 17 * contact the edge of the lens and are then inserted into

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a short local radial distance into the lens with an ultrasonic tool. Then it is complete and ready for sterilization and ingested as a whole.

Figure 10 illustrates a slight modification of Figures 7 to 9, in which the body of the ring 12 is at an axial end of the lens 10 and the multiplicities of stabilizing legs 13 and 14 determine the retention of the iris in an ulane that is axially offset relative to lens 10. The tines 16 and 17 are longer than previously described, to allow an axially offset projection with respect to the ring 12 before being radially inward blown to engage and embed locally and radially at locations spaced along the edge of the lens 10 .

In the embodiment of Figure 11, the edge of the lens 20 has a peripheral groove 21 and the unitary mounting adapter 22 is formed such that it permanently assembles with an elastic action within the groove 21. The adapter 22 can still be formed from a single pattern piece using the indicated photo-chemical technique, and can still be a continuous circumferential structure. As illustrated, the spiral legs 23 comprising a multiplicity of localized legs integrally connect the adjacent ends of the spaced ring and body coffers 24, and the rod-like legs 25 of

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the other multiplicity extend radially from the respective arches 24; the axial offset of these multiplicities is introduced to the branches 23, in the manner generally described in 15 of Figure 1, with the exception of a small initial radially outward offset in such branches 23 on their union with the 24 * Ln circuses effortless condition, the arches 24 have a curvature that coincides with that of the slot 21 and are preferably in a position slightly displaced radially inwards with respect to the circle. of the slot 21 »to assemble it to the lens 20, the arches 24 expand outward against the elastic action of the coils 23, in order to allow the placement and retention of the clastic action of the arches 24 in the slot 21. The assembly is then ready for sterilization and grafting.

In the modality of the l^?i_orura 12, the circular body ring 30 of the unitai'io adapter 31 is retained as a whole to a crystalline lens 32 with radially inward tines 33 and 34 of a multiplicity (33) that * engage on an axial end of the lens 32 and another multiplicity (34) intertwined with the tines, of the first multiplicity and engaging on the other axial end of lens 32, thereby retaining the assembly without resorting to mechanical embedding in the lens material.

Another is illustrated, the stabilizer legs of the

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£

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Multiplicity tubular irises 35 are radially spaced rods at ring locations on pips 34, and tines 34 include axial thrusts up to a thickness equal to the thickness of the slow and ring. The legs 36 of the other multiplicity include offsetting axial thrusts at the junction with the body ring 30, places where the tines 33 taro well sq extend radially inward. The legs 36 differ from the coils already described in that they are somewhat coiled or spiral in a common radial plane, the free end of the spiral being bored at 37. It will be understood that Figure 12 illustrates the normal condition without imposed stress and the leg orientation 36.

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In accordance with a feature of the invention, the inherent elasticity of the legs 36 and their apertured ends 37 are employed to facilitate operative insertion through the iris pupil. In preparation, a suture 38 such as a nylon filament is tied with a loop 38 'in the middle of its free ends 39 and 39 *. The end 39 is passed through all the openings 37 of the 3 legs before passing through the turns 38 'and is then tightened, purely pulling elastically radially inwards, touching the ends of the feet 37 until it is inside the peripheral confines of the lens. 30, as noted with a contour in dashed 3G lines¹ in the

Figure 12. In the operative insertion of the retracted legs

Lias beyond the pupil, suture ends 39 and 39 'are retained, with end 39 held tightly until released when the legs are already secure behind the iris. Λ1 release the end 39, the other end 39 * is pulled out, thereby first removing the turn 38 * and allowing the remaining end 39 to slide out of the turn 38 'and all openings 37 before completely removing the suture·

Figures 13 and 14 illustrate another mounting modality for the lens of the invention in which the ring-like body comprises a multiplicity of arcuate sections spaced 40-41-42 between the integrally connected coils 43, and in which each coil is connects a short bridge 44 (with a radial offset-Δ r, with respect to the circle of the body arches 40-41-42, in the part ¿e Figure 13) the spaced branches of the spiral and circumferentially reinforces the circumferential integrity of the body. Extended ra-.

* Dially inward of each bridge 44 is a retaining formation of the lens 45, effectively insulated from the spaced bridge 44 except for the arcuately spaced integral branch connections 46 thereto. previously described radiate centrally from each of the body arches 40-41-42,

The part in Figure 13 is bent with a suitable tool up to the retuning configuration of len15

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illustrated in Figure 14, in which it is evident that the projections 45 have been offset axially with respect to the plane of the arches of the body 40-41-42, so that the respective axial limits of the periphery of the lens element (suggested by a dashed contour 43) engages to permanently retain the lens in its mount. The relatively substantial radial extension r¹ whereby bridge 44 is connected to the branches of each turn 4-3, in the context of a natural

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Relatively torsionally elastic race of connection of each turn 43 to its adjacent body arc (40-41-42) will be understood to be able to manipulate radially and momentarily outward any of the projections, in engagement with the lens 45 simply flexing one of the i spirals 43, thus allowing the easy insertion of a lens 43 to its ring and the coupling of the lens to it. i

To complete the description in Figure 14, the turns 43 are also illustrated as having been subjected to bending, so that each bridge element 44 extends axially to provide an axial offset with respect to the radial plane of the turns 43 with respect to an axial offset. in the radial plane of the turns with respect to the radial plane of the whores 47, so that the turns 43 and the legs 47 can be coupled to the opposite sides of an iris ee

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support.

Also illustrated in Figures 13 and 14 is the provision of a uniquely wide body arch element at 42 for identification objects, such as the manufacturer's brand, identification key, and date of manufacture.

Heretofore, the invention has been described in the particular context of employing a metal as the material for the lens mounting structure. This should not be taken as avoiding the use of other materials, such as, for example, a suitably inert plastic, such as nylon or polypropylene. In a preferred use of an ee nylon film sheet or a high temperature polymide (for example, Kapton, a product of E. I · Dupont Company), a chemical engraving technique very similar to that indicated above can be used. I split the box of a metal sheet chemically engraved beforehand. This similarity will appear from Example I, being a specific description of the steps taken to produce the plastic article.

EJEI.TLO I

one. A nylon sheet or a polyimide film, with a thickness of 0 * 005 to 0.0125 centimeters, is selected, being the same thickness scale used in the previously rewritten metal chemical etching technique. The no—

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The selected plastic material is evaluated for its water content, mechanical strength and spectrographically for the Γϊύβϋάίΐά of the composition.

2. The sheet is rinsed in acetone and then air dried.

3 · The leaf is rinsed in distilled water and then air-dried.

Four. The sheet is visually inspected for cleaning and surface defect ·

5 · The sheet is prepared for a photo-resistant coating under vacuum or through another 'chrome deposit.

G. A photo-resistant coating of a photographic emulsion is applied to both sides of the sheet and then air-dried.

7 · By first preparing a drawing on a scale of 20X to 50X, and then reducing it photographically in stages as necessary, culminating in reproduction on a glass photographic plate, a master negative is made up to the last desired scale; preferably, the master negative includes a multiplicity of duplicates of the same photographically reduced drawing, adjacent to each other's luco with intra-connecting branch formations, as is evident for the tangential connections in the form of a rod 50 to the branches of the configuration repeated in figure 15.

to-

8. The polyimide or nylon film sheet is placed in a vacuum rack to flatten and hold it tight against a glass plate and the master negative is photographically capped on both sides of the *

record sheet accurately ·

9. The exposed sheet is not revealed, with the result that the areas not revealed to be masked by the negative and therefore not exposed to light. The areas reached by light are removed by rinsing with the developer, and in the case of a polyimide sheet, there may be an initial chemical etching action attributing to the developer.

10. Ge fixes the revealed sheet.

eleven. The sheet is etched using a hydrazine hydride for chemical etching of nylon or polyimide sheet, and can be used for certain other plastic materials.

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12 * The photoresist material is rinsed off by rinsing using either a Ge plasma process or a fluorophone cleaner.

13. The resulting lens mounting sheet that connects parts so that they can be separated immediately is dipped in a 30 percent hydrazine hydride solution to round the edges of the parts.

14. The sheet of the pieces on the other hand ends-: í

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days are degassed increasing the leaf temperature up to 149 ° C. in the case of nylon and up to 260 ° C. in the case of high temperature polyimide.

fifteen. The mounting rings are cut free of the sheet at 50, to give rise to the individual ring or ring pieces as in x^;\ 13.

16. The individual ring pieces are mechanically bent to the profile shown in Figure 14, and the profile is revised.

17. A molded plastic or glass lens is selected and mounted as it appears in the limited relationship with dashed lines in Figure 14.

18. The total set is reviewed and the set is marked with its serial number and password at 42 in Figure 14.

19. Final review is carried out.

, 20. .31 total individual set is cleaned with plasma and packed and then sterilized with gas or autoclave.

21 · A final inspection is carried out through the packing window and the package is marked with respect to its date and lot »

An entirely different erosion or lot-engraving technique can also be applied to the manufacture of lens mount adapters of the present nature,

I

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partially for the case where such adapters are formed_tnien from a plastic sheet;¹, as is evident from the following Example II.

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Two matching metal masks or sheets

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teachers, for example; made of aluminum are prepared according to the photo-engraving technique described on page .5 above.

2. Select a suitable plastic sheet, such as nylon or polylimide film of a thickness of 0.005 to 0.0125 centimeters, and test, rinse and dry as noted in steps 4 of Example I *

3. The metallic master sheets apply a layer of cement to their anterior and posterior surfaces of the plastic sheet in precise registration.

Four. The sheet of the plastic sheet, thus masked, is exposed to discharge from a plasma generator or micro-ion mill, in the presence of a suitable reactive gas, for example, for an hour, until it has been generated the desired configuration due to erosion of the unmasked regions of pious material.

r

5 · be dissolves the cement to allow the removal of the aluminum masks or master sheets to clean them and reuse them.

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6 · The configured plastic sheet has the appearance of Figure 15 and can be cleaned by subsequent exposure as in Stage Kum. 4 of this Example II, for example over an exposure period of about two minutes, to remove any possible organic rubbish or debris.

It will be apparent that the intraocular lens and mounting structures that fill all have been described.

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the objects mentioned and how important they lend themselves to mass production, precision and inherent control techniques. The drilling operations previously considered necessary have been totally avoided, as well as the failure of the r.tültx * 'parts, thus simplifying the manufacture and avoiding the generation of waste particles. Even though plastic lenses have been specifically mentioned in the various illustrative contexts, it will be apparent that the invention is not necessarily limited to such uses. For example, glass lenses will be preferred and it can certainly be mounted well and safely using the · structure of the figures!&gt; S Figures 11

P to 14. Although peripheral contours of the ring and the pure circular lens have also been described in all forms, it will be evident that this was to simplify the description, since the techniques and structures have the same application whatever the peripheral contour of the lens; ·&gt; For example, you can select a ring outline

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and oval lens for easier operative insertion through the pupil, for certain patient requirements, and to reduce the possibility of surgical trauma.

Furthermore, the inherent nature of the mounted lenses is such that a minimal amount of protrusion protrudes into the anterior chamber of the eye; As regards the invention, both the danger of contact of the corneal tissue with any part of the intraocular lens structure of the invention is substantially less than in the prior art structures. . For the described forms of the invention in which the iris is closed at the circular periphery of the lens, there is minimal stress on the sphincter muscle with a reduction in the risk of accompanying trauma;

In the description so far, it has been indicated that the lens element accommodated by the mounting ring adapter can be made of glass or plastic material, the implication being that the lens element is a separate article of manufacture, then assembled to its mounting. However, it will be apparent that each of the described mounting ring modalities can be applied and placed within a lens molding cavity suitably formed so that when we assemble the retaining part of the mounting ring lens is embedded in a plastic lens element that is molded

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by injection into the cavity. The part of Figure 13 lends itself particularly well to such use at the time of injection molding of the lens element, and so on. that it is not necessary to bend the retaining extension of the lens 45 radially, as illustrated at 45 * of Figure 14A, in which case the injection molded lens material may be forced in the molding process to enter the slit or opening 49 between bridge 44 and extension 45. In that molded manner, the lens element can be positively interlocked and located with a radially outwardly formed lens material in each of the apertures 49.

It has also been noted in advance that the preferential processing of developed regions with the engraving of a photographically reduced lens mount master negative - lends itself to the mass production of multiplicities of such lens mounts, in adjacent multiples as suggested in Figure 15. And such production lends itself to further options regarding assembly with plastic lens elements. In one procedure, the blanks for individual assembly are cut at 50 and then bent to form lens retaining protrusions, as described at 45 'in relation to Figure 14Λ; the individual mount, prepared in that way can then be assembled to the lens molding cavity for localized inlay in the lens material

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in the course of lens injection molding. Alternatively, the lens retaining protrusions 45 'can be bent out of all lens mounting structures in large multiplicity on a single sheet, before being cut into 50; in that case, and the blade of the lens mounts thus conveniently formed having been inserted from a multiple cavity mold to simultaneously mold a multiplicity of elements of

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similarly spaced lens, all multiple mounting and lens assemblies can be completed in a single, injection molding step, i.e. a single injection molding of all lens elements, each in

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an assembled relationship with its own montage. Thus formed the multiple assemblies are conveniently handled and shipped and stored as a single sheet, with the individual assemblies being cut and separated into 50 only when and as required.

Although the invention has been described in detail for the preferred forms illustrated, it will be understood that modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. For example, the reference will be displayed! to metal for aaapt structures you love uc the i¹ Figures 11 and 12 is illustrative since suitably rigid and similarly shaped non-toxic plastics can serve the same object. Also, the reference u la propar. Clone fo—

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to-c; uimics of metal parts is illustrative of a preferred technique, since photo-resistant techniques and plating of printed circuit technology can also be used, with a subsequent release of the substrate; and the use of positive and negative terminology in reference to photographic processing will be understood as illustrative and not limiting, in that reversible development techniques can also be considered as applicable

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to proceed from a positive original, directly to a revealed positive image ·

Also even when the metal ring structures have been described in combination with the lens element mounted thereon, it will be understood that such unitary structures may be subjected, and in certain preferably

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they are subjected to an inert protective coating of a plastic material such as nylon, thereby securing against any chance that a small metal robbery or spike will project into contact with body tissue. By virtue of the foregoing, the described plastic sheet methods and methods will be understood to be related to the basic structural formations and not necessarily related to the finishing or final coating that may be desired for particular objects; for example, a coating of inert material, such as a vacuum-deposited or crackled Platinum or Noll can be applied

- 26 to an otherwise configured adapter element, to provide improved safety of an ultimate non-toxic product.

Further, it will be understood that even though all of the mounting adapters heretofore described have been of a one-piece unitary construction, the manufacturing methods described can also be applied to multi-piece mounting adapters, such as of uncles pieces described in greater detail in the patent application (Proxy File No. 737) filed the same day as this · The basic element is, For half of a structure: such, illustrated at 60, in contour of solid lines in Figure 16, with its two mounting lobes 61 projecting radially outwards from its body as a ring 62, in diametrically opposite locations; Another element 63 is illustrated in broken line outline with its two mounting lobes 64 in an angularly interlocked relationship with lobes 61. The lobes (61) of one adapter element (60) and the lobes (64) of the other adapter element (63) are retained in interlobular cleft regions 65-65 * of the respective elements 60-63, and the adapter elements. thus assembled “singularly locate and retain a lens 66; when inserted into the eye, lobes 61 stabilize the whole with respect to one side of the iris, and lobes 64 pro + 27 + provide stability with respect to the other side of the iris. The nature of the material of the elements 60-63 should be such that at least the lobes beyond the iris can be inserted or be elastically flexible, and highly satisfactory assemblies can be made in which both adapter elements 60-63 are duplicated of each other, formed of a suitable plastic such as nylon or a sheet of polyimide, according to the methods described in advance in Example 1 and Example II, Therefore, a single sheet of multi-element elements, a fragment of which is illustrated in Figure 17 can be prepared to serve as the mounting adapter element (60-63) of a multiplicity of assemblies of Figure 16_t It should be further understood that chemical etching and mechanical, electronic or other erosion may be considered equivalent manipulative stages, depending on the fabrication, selected materials involved.