Masked intraocular implants and lenses

• US 10,449,036 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2016
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acufocus, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Acufocus, Inc.
• Inventors: Christie, Bruce A., Kosmynine, Alexei N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Herring, Lisa L
• Application Number:
  US15/364,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20170143477A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/15 Implant having one or more holes, e.g. for nutrient transport, for facilitating handling
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/16 Intraocular lenses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1613 having special lens configurations, e.g. multipart lenses; having particular optical properties, e.g. pseudo-accommodative lenses, lenses having aberration corrections, diffractive lenses, lenses for variably absorbing electromagnetic radiation, lenses having variable focus
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1659 having variable absorption coefficient for electromagnetic radiation, e.g. photochromic lenses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/1681 having supporting structure for lens, e.g. haptics
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/1696 Having structure for blocking or reducing amount of light transmitted, e.g. glare reduction
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0076 multilayered, e.g. laminated structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2240/002 Designing or making customized prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0053 differing in optical properties
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0058 Additional features; Implant or prostheses properties not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00317 Production of lenses with markings or patterns
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/023 Implants for natural eyes
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2033/04 Polymers of esters
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/0085 Copolymers

Abstract

Intraocular implants and methods of making intraocular implants are provided. The intraocular implants can improve the vision of a patient, such as by increasing the depth of focus of an eye of a patient. In particular, the intraocular implants can include a mask having an annular portion with a relatively low visible light transmission surrounding a relatively high transmission central portion such as a clear lens or aperture. This construct is adapted to provide an annular mask with a small aperture for light to pass through to the retina to increase depth of focus. The intraocular implant may have an optical power for refractive correction. The intraocular implant may be implanted in any location along the optical pathway in the eye, e.g., as an implant in the anterior or posterior chamber.

Claims

1. A method of making an intraocular implant comprising:

forming an opaque mask, the opaque mask comprising an anterior surface, a posterior surface, and an aperture sized to increase depth of focus;

after forming the opaque mask, providing the formed opaque mask to the surface of the mold chamber;

flowing a lens material into the mold chamber to at least partially encase the opaque mask with the lens material; and

curing the lens material to form a monofocal optic,

wherein after curing the lens material, the opaque mask is coupled to the monofocal optic.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the opaque mask comprises curing a mask material to form the opaque mask.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the opaque mask comprises a mask material that is the same as the lens material.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the mask material comprises an acrylic copolymer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein flowing the lens material comprises flowing the lens material through the aperture of the opaque mask.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming the opaque mask with a curvature that corresponds to a curvature of the monofocal optic.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming the opaque mask with a curvature that corresponds to a contour of an anterior surface of the monofocal optic.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein after curing the lens material, the anterior surface of the opaque mask is anterior to a posterior surface of the monofocal optic.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein after curing the lens material, the posterior surface of the opaque mask is posterior to an anterior surface of the monofocal optic.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the opaque mask comprises a mask material that is the different from the lens material.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein flowing the lens material comprises flowing the lens material through a plurality of holes extending between the posterior surface and the anterior surface of the opaque mask.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the mold chamber comprises a concavity.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein when the opaque mask is provided to the surface of a mold chamber, the opaque mask resists movement.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising attaching haptics to the monofocal optic.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming haptics with the monofocal optic as a single piece.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein an outer periphery of the opaque mask has a diameter of about 3 mm to 8 mm.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the opaque mask comprises cutting the opaque mask from a film of mask material.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the opaque mask comprises punching the opaque mask from a film of mask material.