Lens injector lumen tip for wound assisted delivery

[0001] The invention relates to intraocular lenses (IOLs), and more particularly to IOL injection cartridges for the eye.

[0002] The human eye, in the simplest terms, serves to enable vision by transmitting and refracting light through a transparent outer part known as the cornea, and then focusing the image with a lens on the retina at the back of the eye. The quality of the focused image depends on many factors, including the size, shape and length of the eye, as well as the transparency of the cornea and lens. [0003] When trauma, age or disease cause the lens to become less transparent, vision deteriorates because less light can enter the retina. This impairment of the eye lens is known in medicine as cataracts. The generally accepted treatment for this condition is surgical removal of the lens and implantation of an artificial lens or IOL.

[0004] Although early IOLs were made of hard plastic, such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), soft, foldable IOLs made of silicone, soft acrylic and hydrogels are becoming more and more popular due to the possibility of folding or folding such soft lenses and inserting them through a smaller incision. Several methods of rolling or folding the lenses are used. One popular method is the injection cartridge, which folds the lenses and provides a light with a relatively small diameter through which the lens can be inserted into the eye, usually through a soft tip plunger. The most commonly used injection cartridge design is disclosed in US Patent No. 4,681,102 (Barteli) and includes a split, longitudinally hinged cartridge. Similar designs are disclosed in US Patent Nos. 5,494,844 and 5,499,987 (Feingold), and 5,616,148 and 5,620,450 (Eagles et al.). In an attempt to avoid the claims of US Patent No. 4,681,102, several solid cartridges were tested, see, for example, US Patent No. 5,275,604 (Rheinish et al.), 5,653,715 (Reich et al.) And US Patent No. 5,947,976 (Van Noy et al.) [0005] These prior art devices were designed to inject IOLs into the posterior chamber of a lenticular eye through a relatively large incision (about 3.0 mm or larger). Surgical techniques and lOL-e have been developed that allow the entire surgical procedure to be performed through much smaller incisions, 2.4 mm and smaller. As a result, surgeons began developing wound-assisted IOL insertion, where IOL is introduced through a small incision without having to fully insert the cartridge tip into the wound. In this type of IOL supply, the wound itself is a tunnel through which the IOL goes to the anterior chamber. The wound-assisted IOL supply thus eliminates the need for the incision to be large enough to accommodate the outer diameter of the cartridge tip, allowing the use of smaller incisions. Prior to the present invention, such wound-assisted insertion was achieved using techniques that are highly dependent on the level of skill and confidence of the surgeon.

[0006] Document EP-A-1 857 076 (published November 21, 2007) (Canon Staar Co.) describes an IOL insertion device with a flat or beveled nozzle opening and at least one circumferential projection extending laterally from the outer wall nozzle proximal to the opening, designed to prevent leakage from the wound after insertion of the nozzle during use.

[0007] US 2006/167466 (Dusek) and US 2006/200167 (Peterson) also describe an IOL insertion device having a beveled nozzle opening for full insertion in use.

ΕΡ 2 002 803 Β1 [0008] In view of the above, there is still a need for an intraocular lens injection cartridge that has properties specifically associated with wound-assisted lOL-a incorporation.

Brief Summary of the Invention [0009] The present invention relates to an intraocular lens injection cartridge according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

The present invention is an improvement over the prior art by providing a cartridge for the lOL-a delivery system that includes an elongated visor on the distal tip of the cartridge to open and support the wound while guiding and controlling the composite lens as it passes through the wound, and a circumferential projection. a collar or limiting element that ensures a limited insertion depth and prevents the cartridge tip from fully inserted, in accordance with the following reservations. In addition, the projection provides support for the incision to reduce the tendency to damage the wound by tearing.

[0011] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cartridge for a lens delivery system that includes an elongated visor on the distal tip.

[0012] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cartridge for a lens delivery system that includes a circumferential projection, flange or stop that limits the insertion depth.

[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a cartridge for a lens delivery system that includes a circumferential projection, collar or stop providing incision support to reduce the tendency to tear wound damage.

[0014] Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the attached drawings and the following description of the drawings and claims.

Brief description of the drawings [0015]

Fig. 1 is an enlarged perspective view from above of the cartridge for the lens delivery system.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial perspective view from the front of the first embodiment of the distal tip of the cartridge into the lens delivery system.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view of the first embodiment of the distal tip of the cartridge for the delivery system.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the front of the second embodiment of the distal tip of the cartridge for the delivery system of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged front elevational view of a third embodiment of a distal cartridge tip for the delivery system of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged side view of the cartridge for the lens delivery system inserted into the incision made in the eye.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments [0016] As best shown in Fig. 1, the lens cartridge 10 of the present invention generally includes a body 12 and a nozzle 14. The cartridge 10 can be formed of any suitable thermoplastic material, such as polypropylene, which can contain a lubricant such as that disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,716,364. The nozzle 14 may integrally be

EP 2 002 803 Β1 formed with the body 12. The nozzle 14 comprises a distal tip 16. The body 12 contains a wire or lumen 15. Before use, the IOL 13 is pre-positioned in the lumen 15 of the body 12.

[0017] As best shown in Figs. 2-3, the distal tip 16 comprises an aperture 18, a roof 20 and a circumferential projection 22. The roof 20 extends from the distal tip 16 and serves to open the wound before the IOL 13 is inserted. In addition, the upper the portion 21 of the roof 20 provides support for the composite IOL 13 during wound-assisted insertion. In the preferred embodiment shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the roof 20 completely surrounds the opening 18. In such an embodiment, the roof 20 gradually decreases from its maximum length of between about 1.5 millimeters and 2.4 millimeters (preferably about 1.9 millimeters) from position 32 located approximately per hour. 12 aligning with hole 18 at position 34 located approximately on the chair. 6. In the second embodiment, shown in Fig. 4, the roof 20 'only partially surrounds the opening 18', from position 24 located approximately on the chair. 10 to item 26 located approximately on the chair. 2. Similar to the canopy 20, the canopy 20 'gradually decreases from its maximum length of between about 1.5 millimeter and 2.4 millimeter (and preferably about 1.9 millimeter) at position 27, aligning with the hole 18' at position 24 located approximately on h. 10 and at position 26 located approximately on the chair. 2. In the third embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the 20 "roof substantially surrounds the 18" opening from position 28 located approximately on the chair. 9 to item 30 located approximately on the chair. 3. In such an embodiment, the 20 "visor also gradually decreases from its maximum length of between about 1.5 millimeter and 2.4 millimeter (and preferably about 1.9 millimeter) at position 25, aligning with the 18" hole at position 28 located approximately on h. 9 and at position 30 located approximately on the chair. 3.

[0018] The circumferential projection 22 may be any suitable element to prevent the distal tip 16 from completely entering the incision, such as a collar or stop. The circumferential projection 22 extends laterally from the outer wall 36 of the distal tip 16 and may be a continuous projection that completely surrounds the nozzle 14. However, the circumferential protrusion 22 need not be continuous, and ideally exists in the form of a plurality of protrusions 22 that extend, for example, laterally on both sides of the outer wall 36 of the distal tip 16. The circumferential protrusion 22 serves as a limitation of the depth of insertion and prevents full inserting the distal tip 16 into the wound hole. The distal surface 23 of the peripheral projection 22 may be square or inclined at an angle between about 18 and 26 degrees (preferably about 22 degrees). This slope allows better contact with the eye surface and provides less tissue irritation, since the cartridge 10 is typically held at an angle to the eye 52 during use, as shown in Fig. 6. Both the visor 20 and the peripheral projection 22 can be formed integrally with the distal tip and nozzle 14.

[0019] During the procedure, which is shown in Fig. 6, the surgeon makes an incision 50 in the eye 52. The roof 20 is inserted into the incision 50 to such a depth that the peripheral projection 22 contacts the eye surface 52 and prevents further insertion. The upper portion 21 of the roof 20 holds the incision 50 open and supports the IOL 13 when it is moved through the opening 18, through the incision 50, and inserted into the eye 52. [0020] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these descriptions have been given for purposes of illustration and explanation only.