Mask configured to maintain nutrient transport without producing visible diffraction patterns

• US 20060079959A1
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bruce A. Christie, Kevin F. Hahnen, Thomas A. Silvestrini
• Original Assignee: Bruce A. Christie, Kevin F. Hahnen, Thomas A. Silvestrini
• Inventors: Christie, Bruce A., Silvestrini, Thomas A., Hahnen, Kevin F.
• Application Number:
  US11/290,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20060079959A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/5.110
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/152 for aligning
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/14 Eye parts, e.g. lenses, corneal implants; Implanting instruments specially adapted therefor; Artificial eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/145 Corneal inlays, onlays, or lenses for refractive correction
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/147 Implants to be inserted in the stroma for refractive correction, e.g. ring-like implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/15 Implant having one or more holes, e.g. for nutrient transport, for facilitating handling
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1601 Lens body having features to facilitate aqueous fluid flow across the intraocular lens, e.g. for pressure equalization or nutrient delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/1689 having plate-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 2002/1699 Additional features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0023 differing in porosity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0067 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/007 Methods or devices for eye surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 27/02 Ophthalmic agents
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/04 Lenses comprising decentered structures
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/04 Contact lenses for the eyes disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/046 Contact lenses having an iris pattern
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/165 with stenopaeic apertures

Abstract

A mask configured to be implanted in a cornea of a patient to increase the depth of focus of the patient includes an anterior surface, a posterior surface, and a plurality of holes. The anterior surface is configured to reside adjacent a first corneal layer. The posterior surface is configured to reside adjacent a second corneal layer. The plurality of holes extends at least partially between the anterior surface and the posterior surface. The holes of the plurality of holes are configured to substantially eliminate visible diffraction patterns.

Claims

1. A mask configured to be implanted in a cornea of a patient to increase the depth of focus of the patient, the mask comprising:

an anterior surface configured to reside adjacent a first corneal layer;

a posterior surface configured to reside adjacent a second corneal layer; and

a plurality of nutrient flow paths extending between the anterior surface and the posterior surface;

wherein at least one of the nutrient flow paths is configured to substantially prevent propagation of light therethrough from the anterior surface to the posterior surface to reduce diffraction patterns visible to the patient.

2. The mask of claim 1, wherein at least one of the nutrient flow paths has a transverse size that is less than a thickness of the mask and is formed along the transport axis at an angle with respect to an optical axis of the mask that substantially prevents propagation of light parallel to the optical axis from the anterior surface to the posterior surface through the at least one nutrient flow path.

3. The mask of claim 1, wherein the transport axis of at least one nutrient flow path is formed at an angle with respect to an optical axis of the mask that is large enough to prevent the projection of most of an anterior end of the nutrient flow path from overlapping a posterior end of the nutrient flow path.

4. The mask of claim 3, wherein the angle is at least about forty degrees.

5. The mask of claim 1, wherein the at least one nutrient flow path is configured to transport nutrients across the mask to reduce nutrient depletion in adjacent tissue of at least one of the first corneal layer and the second corneal layer.

6. The mask of claim 1, wherein at least one of the nutrient flow paths extends along a non-linear path.

7. The mask of claim 6, wherein the at least one nutrient flow path is configured to reduce nutrient depletion in adjacent tissue of at least one of the first corneal layer and the second corneal layer.

8. The mask of claim 6, further comprising a first mask layer and a second mask layer, the first mask layer comprising the anterior surface and a first nutrient flow path portion extending along a first flow axis, the second mask layer comprising the posterior surface and a second nutrient flow path portion extending along a second flow axis, the first and second flow axes not being collinear.

9. The mask of claim 1, further comprising a substantially opaque portion and an aperture defined within an outer periphery, the aperture configured to transmit incident light within the outer periphery.

10. The mask of claim 9, wherein the outer periphery of the aperture comprises the inner periphery of the substantially opaque portion.

11. A method of making a mask, comprising:

configuring a body to have an anterior surface capable of residing adjacent a first layer of a cornea of a patient and a posterior surface capable of residing adjacent a second layer of the cornea;

configuring a peripheral portion of the body to be substantially opaque to incident light;

configuring a central portion of the body to transmit along an optical axis incident light in the central portion; and

configuring the body with a transport structure capable of substantially maintaining natural nutrient flow from the first layer to the second layer, the transport structure substantially preventing propagation of light therethrough from the anterior surface to the posterior surface to reduce visible diffraction patterns.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein configuring the body with a transport structure further comprises forming a plurality of holes in the body.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein configuring the body with a transport structure further comprises forming a plurality of nutrient flow paths with a transverse size that is less than a thickness of the mask and with a flow axis at an angle with respect to the optical axis of the mask such that the propagation of light parallel to the optical axis from the anterior surface to the posterior surface through the holes is substantially prevented.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the nutrient flow paths is formed along a transport axis that forms an angle relative the optical axis that is large enough to prevent the projection of most of the an anterior end of the flow path from overlapping the posterior end of the flow path.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the angle is greater than about forty degrees.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein forming the plurality of nutrient flow paths further comprises drilling the flow paths.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein forming the plurality of nutrient flow paths further comprises forming a substantial number of the flow paths along a non-linear transport axis.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein forming the substantial number of flow paths along a non-linear transport axis further comprises:

providing a first mask layer comprising the anterior surface and a first flow path portion extending along a first flow axis;

providing a second mask layer comprising the posterior surface and a second flow path portion extending along a second flow axis; and

coupling the first mask layer with the second mask layer such that the first flow axis and the second flow axis are not collinear.