System for packaging and handling an implant and method of use

• US 20020029981A1
• Filed: 04/26/2001
• Published: 03/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ReVision Optics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alok Nigam
• Inventors: Nigam, Alok
• Granted Patent: US 6,581,993 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/5.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/30 Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for wound clamps A61B17/10; for ligaturing clips A61B17/122; packages or dispensers for surgical gloves or finger-stalls A61B42/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0095 Packages or dispensers for prostheses or other implants for intraocular lenses A61F2/1691; for dental surgery A61C19/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/14 Eye parts, e.g. lenses, corneal implants; Implanting instruments specially adapted therefor; Artificial eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/148 Implantation instruments specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/007 Methods or devices for eye surgery

Abstract

A system designed to store an implant together with the tools necessary to implant the stored implant, and a method of using said system. Such system includes an implant storage tool adapted to retain the implant within a storage container. The implant storage tool is operable to provide an implant applicator.

Claims

1. An implant packaging and handling system, comprising:

an implant carrier having a handle joined to an implant applicator, the implant applicator having a surface adapted to hold and deposit an implant onto a cornea surface;

an implant support having a handle joined to an implant base, the implant support being configured to detachably connect with the implant carrier so as to form an implant holding chamber between at least a portion of the implant applicator surface and an upper surface of the implant base;

wherein, the carrier is detachable from the support to expose the applicator surface, whereby the implant can be deposited onto a cornea surface.

2. The system claimed in claim 1, further including:

a vessel having an opening to receive a volume of storage fluid therein, and a vessel stopper contoured to seal said vessel opening;

the carrier handle and support handle being configured to form a storage handle and the stopper being adapted to hold the storage handle within the vessel;

wherein, the implant holding chamber is placed into the vessel so as to maintain the implant in fluid communication with the storage fluid contained therein.

3. The system claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the implant applicator surface is concave.

4. The system claimed in claim 3, wherein the concave implant applicator surface has a radius of curvature that is greater than the radius of curvature of at least a portion of an implant surface.

5. The system claimed in claim 1, wherein the implant applicator surface defines at least one opening therethrough.

6. The system claimed in claim 1, wherein, the handle portion of the implant carrier further includes a tab extending from the handle portion, the handle portion of the implant support having a surface defining an opening to receive the tab to interlock the implant carrier to the implant support.

7. The system claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the upper base surface comprises polypropylene.

8. The system claimed in claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the upper base surface further comprises polytetrafluoroethylene beads

9. The system claimed in claim 8, wherein the polytetrafluoroethylene embedded beads form raised portions along the upper base surface.

10. The system claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the implant applicator surface is more smooth than the upper base surface.

11. The system claimed in claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the implant applicator surface is more smooth than the upper base surface.

12. The system claim in claim 1, wherein the implant applicator and the implant carrier handle are angularly connected.

13. The system claimed in claim 12, wherein the implant applicator has a lower surface disposed about the applicator surface, the implant carrier handle being connected at an angle of about 30°

to about 60°

relative to the implant applicator lower surface.

14. The system claimed in claim 13, wherein the implant carrier handle is connected at an angle of about 45°

relative to the implant applicator lower surface.

15. The system claimed in claim 1, further including a fastener adapted to fasten the implant carrier to the implant support.

16. The system claimed in claim 15, wherein the fastener is a metal clip.

17. The system claimed in claim 15, wherein the fastener is an elastic band.

19. The method claimed in claim 18, wherein the step of providing markings on an implant further comprises laser engraving the markings on the surface of the implant.

20. The method claimed in claim 18, wherein the step of providing markings on an implant further comprises the step of printing the markings on the surface of the implant.

21. The method claimed in claim 20, wherein the step of printing the markings comprises printing with an ink jet printer.

22. The method claim in claim 18, wherein the step of providing markings on an implant comprises marking the implant with marks having an asymmetrical orientation.

24. A corneal implant as claimed in claim 23, wherein the at least one marking is an ink marking on the anterior and/or posterior surface of the implant.

25. A corneal implant as claimed in claim 23, wherein the at least one marking is an engraving on the anterior and/or posterior surface of the implant.

26. The system claimed in claim 5, wherein the at least one opening through the implant applicator surface is located in the center of the implant applicator surface.

27. The system claimed in claim 26, wherein the applicator surface has a plurality of openings positioned about the center opening, the center opening having a diameter greater than each of the plurality of openings.

29. The corneal implant claimed in claim 23, wherein the implant is bi-meniscus, the posterior surface being convex and the anterior surface being concave.

30. The system claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the implant base is rough.

31. The system claimed in claim 30, wherein the upper surface of the implant base is etched, notched and/or scored.

32. A corneal implant as claimed in claim 23, wherein the at least one marking is a letter on the posterior surface of the implant.

33. A corneal implant as claimed in claim 23, wherein the at least one marking is a word on the anterior and/or posterior surface of the implant.

18. A method of implanting an implant to the cornea surface, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an implant holder, said implant holder comprising an implant carrier having a handle joined to an implant applicator and an implant support having a handle joined to an implant base, the implant carrier and support are configured to be detachably connected so as to define a chamber to hold an implant therein;

(b) detaching said implant carrier from said implant support so as to provide the implant for implantation, said implant applicator having an applicator surface adapted to hold the implant;

(c) positioning said implant applicator surface above the cornea surface and resting the implant applicator surface and implant on the cornea surface;

(d) depositing the implant on the cornea surface by lifting the implant applicator away from the cornea surface; and

(e) providing the implant with markings, the markings having a specific orientation when the implant is properly oriented and/or positioned right side up on the cornea surface.

23. A corneal implant, comprising:

an anterior surface;

a posterior surface; and

at least one marking on either the anterior and/or posterior surface of the implant;

wherein, the marking is aligned in a specific orientation when the implant is in a proper orientation and/or right side up position on a cornea surface.

28. A kit for packaging, handling and implanting an implant to the cornea surface, the kit comprising:

(a) an implant packaging and handling system, including an implant carrier having a handle joined to an implant applicator, the implant applicator having a surface adapted to hold and deposit an implant onto a cornea surface;

(b) an implant support having a handle joined to an implant base, the implant support being configured to detachably connect with the implant carrier so as to form an implant holding chamber between at least a portion of the implant applicator surface and an upper surface of the implant base;

(c) an implant in the implant holding chamber, the implant having markings on the implant surface to provide proper orientation of the implant on the cornea surface;

(d) a vessel having an opening to receive a volume of storage fluid therein, and a vessel stopper contoured to seal said vessel opening, the carrier handle and support handle being configured to form a storage handle and the stopper being adapted to hold the storage handle within the vessel; and

wherein, the implant holding chamber is placed into the vessel so as to maintain the implant in fluid communication with the storage fluid contained therein.