Lens injector lumen tip for wound assisted delivery

A CARTRIDGE (10) IS PROVIDED FOR AN INTRAOCULAR LENS (IOL) PLACEMENT SYSTEM BEING SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO ASSIST ASSISTED PLACEMENT OF A LIO IN A WOUND. THE DISTAL TIP (16) OF THE NOZZLE (14) HAS A PROLONGED COVER (20) THAT IS TO OPEN THE INCISION AND SUPPORT IOL. PERIPHERAL EMBROIDERY (22), EDGES, OR STEPS EXTENDING SIDEWALLLY FROM THE SIDE OF THE DISTAL TIP PROVIDE A POSITIVE DEPTH LIMITATION, AND AVOID THE TOTAL INTRODUCTION OF THE NOZZLE INTO THE INCISION. IN ADDITION, THE BOSS (22) PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR INTRODUCTION TO REDUCE THE TREND OF DAMAGE DAMAGE INJURY DAMAGES.

DESCRIPTION

Lumen for injector tip of lens for assisted placement in injury

This invention relates to intraocular lenses (IOL) and, more specifically, cartridges used to inject IOL into the eye.

Framework of the human eye invention, in its simplest form, works to provide vision by transmitting and refracting light through a transparent outer portion called the cornea, and further focusing the image through the 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, and the shape and transparency of the cornea and lens.

When trauma, age or illness cause the lens to become less transparent, vision deteriorates because of the lesser light that can be transmitted to the retina. This deficiency of the lens of the eye is known, medically, as cataracts. The treatment for this condition is surgical removal of the lens and implantation of an artificial lens or IOL.

While the first IOLs were made of hard plastic, such as methyl polymethacrylate (PMMA), soft, foldable IOLs made of silicone, soft acrylics and hydrogels became increasingly popular due to the ability to fold and roll these soft lenses and insert them through a smaller incision. Various processes for rolling and folding the lenses are used. A popular method is an injector cartridge that folds the lens and provides a lumen with a relatively small diameter through which the lens can be pushed into the eye, usually through a plunger with a soft tip. The most commonly used injector cartridge model is illustrated in US Patent No. 4,681,102 (Bartell) and includes a split, longitudinally articulated cartridge. Similar models are illustrated in US Patent Nos. 5,494,484 and 5,499,986 (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 investigated, 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.).

These prior art devices were intended to inject an IOL into the posterior chamber of an aphakic eye through a relatively large incision (approximately 3.0 mm or more). Surgical techniques and IOLs have been developed to allow the entire surgical procedure to be performed through much smaller incisions, 2.4 mm and less. As a result, surgeons began to develop assisted insertion of IOL into lesions, in which the IOL is placed through a small incision, without introducing the entire tip of the cartridge into the lesion. In this type of IOL placement, the wound itself provides a tunnel through which the IOL enters the anterior chamber. Assisted placement of IOLs in lesions eliminates the need for the incision to be large enough to accommodate the outside diameter of the cartridge tip, allowing the use of a smaller incision. Prior to the present invention, this injury-assisted placement was completed using techniques that are highly dependent on the degree of competence and confidence of the surgeon.

EP-A-1, 857, Ο76 (published on 21.11.2007) (Canon Staar Co.) describes an IOL insertion device having a flat or beveled nozzle opening and at least one peripheral shoulder extending laterally from the outer wall of the nozzle close to the opening, designed to prevent spillage of the wound following the total introduction of the nozzle in use

US2006 / 167466 (Dusek) and US 2006/200167 (Peterson) also describe an IOL delivery device having a beveled nozzle opening for full insertion into an incision, in use.

Thus, there remains a need for a cartridge for injecting an intraocular lens that provides features that specifically facilitate assisted placement of an IOL in a lesion.

Brief summary of the invention

The present invention relates to an intraocular lens injector cartridge according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

The present invention improves upon the prior art by providing a cartridge for an IOL delivery system which includes an extended cover on the distal tip of the cartridge to open and support the lesion while guiding and controlling the folded lens as it passes through the lesion, and a peripheral shoulder, flange or stop feature that provides a limited depth of insertion and prevent the total insertion of the cartridge tip, according to the claims that follow. In addition, the shoulders provide support for the incision to reduce the tendency of wound damage from the cut.

An object, therefore, of the present invention is to provide a cartridge for a lens placement system that has an extended coverage at the distal tip.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cartridge for a lens delivery system that comprises a peripheral shoulder, lip or stop which provides a limitation on the depth of introduction.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a cartridge for a lens delivery system that comprises a peripheral shoulder, lip or anvil that provides support to the incision to reduce the tendency for wound damage from the cut.

Other objectives, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent with reference to the drawings and the following description of the drawings and claims.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 is an enlarged plan view in perspective of the cartridge of the lens placement system.

Figure 2 is an enlarged front elevation in perspective of the distal tip of the cartridge of the lens placement system.

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of a first embodiment of the distal tip of the cartridge of the lens delivery system.

Figure 42 is an enlarged front elevation in perspective of a second embodiment of the cartridge of the lens delivery system of the present invention.

Figure 5 is an enlarged front elevation of a third embodiment of the distal tip of the cartridge of the lens delivery system of the present invention.

Figure 6 is an enlarged side elevation of the lens delivery system cartridge inserted into an eye incision.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

As can be seen in figure 1, the lens cartridge 10 of the present invention normally includes a body 12 and a nozzle 14. The cartridge 10 can be molded in any suitable thermoplastic, such as polypropylene, and the thermoplastic can contain an agent that improves lubrication, such as those disclosed in US Patent No. 5, 716,364. The nozzle 14 can be integrally formed with the body 12. The nozzle 14 includes a distal tip 16. The body 12 comprises a bore or lumen 15. Before use, the IOL 13 is initially placed inside the lumen 15 of the body 12.

As can be seen in figures 2 - 3, the distal tip 16 includes an opening 18, a cover 20 and a peripheral shoulder 22. The cover 20 extends from the distal tip 16 and serves to open the lesion before the introduction of IOL 13 In addition, the upper portion 21 of the cover 20 provides support for the folded IOL 13 during assisted placement in the wound. In a preferred embodiment, illustrated in figures 2 and 3, the cover 20 fully surrounds the opening 18. In this embodiment, the cover 20 gradually tapers from its maximum length, between approximately 1.5 mm to 2.4 mm (preferably approximately 1.9 mm) at approximately the 32 o'clock position to level with opening 18 at position 34 at approximately 6 o'clock. In a second embodiment, shown in figure 4, the cover 20 'only partially involves the opening 18' from approximately the 24 o'clock position to approximately the 26 o'clock position at 2 o'clock. Similar to cover 20, cover 20 'gradually tapers from a maximum length between approximately 1.5 mm to 2.4 mm (and preferably about 1.9 mm), in position 27, for leveling with opening 18 'approximately at position 24 at 10 o'clock and approximately at position 26 at 2 o'clock. In a third embodiment, illustrated in figure 5, a cover 20 substantially involves opening 18, approximately from position 28 at 9 o'clock to approximately position 30 at 3 o'clock. In this embodiment, the cover 20 also gradually tapers from a maximum length of approximately 1.5 mm to 2.4 mm (also preferably about 1.9 mm) in position 25, for leveling with opening 18 in approximately position 28 9 o'clock and approximately 30 o'clock at 3 o'clock.

The peripheral shoulder 22 may have a similarly adjoining feature to prevent the distal tip 16 from fully entering an incision, such as a ridge or anvil. The peripheral shoulder 22 extends laterally from the outer wall 36 of the distal tip 16, and can be a continuous shoulder that completely surrounds the nozzle 14. However, the peripheral shoulder 22 may not be continuous and more preferably comprises a plurality of shoulders 22 which extend, for example, laterally from each side of the outer wall 36 of the distal tip 16. The peripheral shoulder 22 serves as a limitation on the depth of introduction, and avoids the total introduction of the distal tip 16 at the entrance of the wound. The distal face 23 of the peripheral shoulder 22 can be square or inclined at an angle of approximately 18 to 28 ° (preferably about 22 °). Such an inclination will allow greater contoured contact with the eye surface and will provide less tissue irritation, because the cartridge 10 is normally kept at an angle with the eye 52 during use, as can be seen in figure 6. Both the cover 20 and the peripheral shoulder 22 can be formed integrally with the distal tip 16 and nozzle 14.

During the operation, illustrated in figure 6, the surgeon makes incision 50 in eye 52. Cover 20 is inserted into incision 50, at such a depth that the peripheral shoulder 22 comes into contact with the surface of eye 52, and prevents further introduction . The upper portion 21 of the cover 20 keeps the incision 50 open and supports the IOL 13 as it moves through the opening 18, through the incision 50, and introduced into the eye 52.

Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these descriptions are given for purposes of illustration and explanation.