Mask configured to maintain nutrient transport without producing visible diffraction patterns

• US 20060079960A1
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Healthcare Royalty Partners II LP (Toronto-Dominion Bank)
• Original Assignee: Healthcare Royalty Partners II LP (Toronto-Dominion Bank)
• Inventors: Christie, Bruce A., Silvestrini, Thomas A., Hahnen, Kevin F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,460,374 B2
• 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;

an aperture configured to transmit along an optic axis substantially all incident light and a substantially opaque portion surrounding at least a portion of the aperture; and

a plurality of nutrient flow paths extending at least partially between the anterior surface and the posterior surface, the plurality of flow paths being configured to substantially eliminate diffraction patterns visible to the patient and wherein the plurality of flow paths is configured to reduce depletion of at least one biological substance in adjacent tissue of at least one of the first corneal layer and the second corneal layer.

2. The mask of claim 1, wherein the flow paths are configured to prevent depletion of more than about 4 percent of the at least one biological substance in adjacent tissue of at least one of the first corneal layer and the second corneal layer.

3. The mask of claim 1, wherein the holes are configured to prevent depletion of glucose.

4. The mask of claim 1, wherein the flow paths are configured to enhance flow of the at least one biological substance between the anterior surface and the posterior surface of the mask.

5. The mask of claim 1, wherein a thickness of between about 5 micron and about 10 micron is defined between the anterior and posterior surfaces.

6. The mask of claim 1, wherein a thickness of about 8 micron is defined between the anterior and posterior surfaces.

7. The mask of claim 1, wherein each of the flow paths extends posteriorly from a hole entrance on the anterior surface, a total surface area of the hole entrances comprising about 5 percent or more of a total surface area of the anterior surface.

8. The mask of claim 1, wherein each of the flow paths extend posteriorly from a hole entrance on the anterior surface, each of the hole entrances having a perimeter of between about 20 and about 29 microns.

9. 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 be transparent to light incident at the central portion; and

configuring the body with a transport structure capable of substantially maintaining natural flow of at least one biological substance from the first layer to the second layer through the body without producing visible diffraction patterns.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the body is configured to maintain transport of at least ninety-six percent of natural glucose flow.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the transport structure comprises a plurality of flow paths configured to prevent depletion of more than about 4 percent of the at least one biological substance in adjacent tissue of at least one of the first corneal layer and the second corneal layer.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the flow paths are configured to prevent depletion of glucose.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein each of the flow paths comprise a hole entrance formed adjacent the anterior surface, at least some of the hole entrances having a perimeter of between about 20 and about 29 microns.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the transport structure is configured to enhance flow of the at least one biological substance between the anterior surface and the posterior surface of the mask.

15. The mask of claim 9, further comprising forming an aperture in the central portion to transmit substantially all incident light.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein configuring the body further comprises providing a thickness between the anterior and posterior surfaces of between about 5 micron and about 10 micron.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein configuring the body further comprises providing a thickness between the anterior and posterior surfaces of about 8 micron.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein the transport structure comprises a transport surface area of about 5 percent of a total surface area of the anterior surface.