Compound subretinal prostheses with extra-ocular parts and surgical technique therefore
First Claim
1. A method for introducing a compound retinal implant to a position within a subretinal region of an eye, said eye having a sclera, a limbus, a vitreous cavity, a subretinal space, a retinal pigment epithelium, and a retina, wherein said implant comprises an inner portion to be placed in the subretinal space, an extra-ocular portion that after implantation remains outside said eye for connection to an external power source, and a connecting portion for interconnecting said inner and extra-ocular portions, said method comprising the following steps:
- a) preparing a fornix-based scleral flap at a distance from the limbus;
b) detaching the retina by subretinal injection of a physiologically acceptable solution, preferably a balanced salt solution, from the vitreous cavity and creating a localized bubble in the area of the scleral flap;
c) performing in the upper hemisphere of the eye a peripheral retinotomy and detaching a part of the retina;
d) advancing the implant into the subretinal space and placing said inner portion on the retinal pigment epithelium onto the desired position; and
e) closing the sclera flap.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In a method for introducing a retinal implant to a position within a subretinal region of an eye, the following steps are performed: a) preparing a fornix-based scleral flap at a distance from the limbus; b) detaching the retina by subretinal injection of balanced salt solution, from the vitreous cavity and creating a localized bubble in the area of the scleral flap; c) performing in the upper hemisphere of the eye a peripheral retinotomy and detaching a part of the retina; d) advancing the implant into the subretinal space and placing an inner portion of said implant on the retinal pigment epithelium onto the desired position; and e) closing the sclera flap.
46 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method for introducing a compound retinal implant to a position within a subretinal region of an eye, said eye having a sclera, a limbus, a vitreous cavity, a subretinal space, a retinal pigment epithelium, and a retina, wherein said implant comprises an inner portion to be placed in the subretinal space, an extra-ocular portion that after implantation remains outside said eye for connection to an external power source, and a connecting portion for interconnecting said inner and extra-ocular portions, said method comprising the following steps:
-
a) preparing a fornix-based scleral flap at a distance from the limbus;
b) detaching the retina by subretinal injection of a physiologically acceptable solution, preferably a balanced salt solution, from the vitreous cavity and creating a localized bubble in the area of the scleral flap;
c) performing in the upper hemisphere of the eye a peripheral retinotomy and detaching a part of the retina;
d) advancing the implant into the subretinal space and placing said inner portion on the retinal pigment epithelium onto the desired position; and
e) closing the sclera flap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
- 18. A retinal implant to be implanted into an eye of a mammalian for electrical stimulation of the retina, said implant comprising an inner portion to be placed into the subretinal space, preferably on the retinal pigment epithelium, an extra-ocular portion that after implantation remains outside said eye for connection to an external power source, and a connecting portion for interconnecting said inner and extra-ocular portions, said connecting portion having attached thereto at least one patch for fixation of said connecting portion on said sclera.
Specification