Mask configured to maintain nutrient transport without producing visible diffraction patterns

• US 20060271181A1
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Published: 11/30/2006
• 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:
  US11/417,895
• Publication Number:
  US 20060271181A1
• 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 optical axis substantially all incident light and a substantially opaque portion surrounding at least a portion of the aperture;

a plurality of randomly located nutrient flow paths in the opaque portion, the randomly located nutrient flow paths configured to permit nutrient flow between the first corneal layer and the second corneal layer; and

at least one non-randomly formed nutrient flow path in the opaque portion at a location that maintains at least one performance characteristic of the mask.

2. The mask of claim 1, wherein the non-randomly formed nutrient flow path is formed at a location that maintains the structural integrity of the mask.

3. The mask of claim 2, wherein the non-randomly formed nutrient flow path is formed more than about 20 microns from adjacent nutrient flow paths.

4. The mask of claim 1, wherein the non-randomly formed nutrient flow path is formed at a location that maintains optical performance of the mask.

5. The mask of claim 4, wherein the non-randomly formed nutrient flow path is formed at a location that reduces a difference in the opacity between a first region of the opaque portion and a second region of the opaque portion.

6. The mask of claim 1, wherein the opaque portion comprises a region that is substantially free of nutrient flow paths.

7. The mask of claim 6, wherein the substantially nutrient flow path free region is adjacent an inner periphery of the mask.

8. The mask of claim 6, wherein the substantially nutrient flow path free region is adjacent an outer periphery of the mask.

9. The mask of claim 6, wherein the substantially nutrient flow path free region is between adjacent nutrient flow paths, whereby the minimum distance between adjacent flow paths is above a minimum threshold.

10. 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

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

a first plurality of nutrient flow paths being located non-uniformly in the opaque portion, the non-uniformly located nutrient flow paths configured to enhance nutrient flow between the first layer and the second layer; and

a region within the opaque portion in which nutrient flow paths are excluded, said region configured to maintain at least one performance characteristic of the mask.

11. The mask of claim 10, wherein said region comprises an outer peripheral region.

12. The mask of claim 11, wherein the outer peripheral region extends from an outer periphery of the mask to a selected outer circumference of the mask, the selected outer circumference being a radial distance of about 0.05 mm from the outer periphery.

13. The mask of claim 11, further comprising an inner peripheral region, the nutrient flow paths being located between the inner peripheral region and the outer peripheral region.

14. The mask of claim 13, wherein the inner peripheral region extends from an inner periphery of the mask to a selected inner circumference of the mask, the selected inner circumference being a radial distance of about 0.05 mm from the inner periphery.

15. The mask of claim 10, wherein said region comprises an inner peripheral region.

16. The mask of claim 15, wherein the inner peripheral region extends from an inner periphery of the mask to a selected inner circumference of the mask, the selected inner circumference being a radial distance of about 0.05 mm from the inner periphery.

17. The mask of claim 10, wherein a wall thickness is defined as the shortest distance between adjacent nutrient flow paths, the wall thickness being no less than about 20 microns.

18. The mask of claim 10, wherein said region is formed between adjacent nutrient flow paths, said region having a dimension of at least about 20 microns.