Method and Device for Inserting an Intraocular Lens

• US 20090234366A1
• Filed: 03/12/2008
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visiogen, Inc. (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Visiogen, Inc. (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Tsai, George, Nguyen, Phu H., Nguyen, Tuan Anh, Evans, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 8,425,595 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/107
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1629 for changing longitudinal position, i.e. along the visual axis when implanted
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1648 Multipart lenses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1675 with a lubricated inner surface, e.g. the lubricant being coated on the inner surface or being injected through a port
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1678 with a separate cartridge or other lens setting part for storage of a lens, e.g. preloadable for shipping
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/1683 having filiform haptics
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0021 differing in coefficient of friction
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0025 differing in roughness

Abstract

An injector for inserting an intraocular lens into an eye includes a lumen. The lumen can include a terminal portion at a distal end and a proximal portion juxtaposed with the terminal portion. An injector plunger can be disposed within the lumen for generating a driving force on the intraocular lens. The injector can include a lens frictional force that has a first value when the lens is at a first location within the proximal portion and a second value when the lens is at a second location within the terminal portion. The first value can be smaller than the second value. In some embodiments, the lens frictional force increases abruptly from the first value to the second value as the lens approaches the distal end of the lumen.

Claims

1. An injector for inserting an intraocular lens into an eye, the injector comprising:

a lumen, said lumen comprising a terminal portion at a distal end and a proximal portion juxtaposed with said terminal portion, said lumen further comprising an inner surface; and

an injector plunger at least partially disposed within said lumen for generating a driving force on the intraocular lens, the driving force causing the intraocular lens to move within said lumen, the lens moving through said proximal portion before said terminal portion,

wherein the injector comprises a lens coefficient of friction between said inner surface and the intraocular lens when the lens is moving through said lumen, said lens coefficient of friction associated with a lens frictional force that resists the driving force;

said lens coefficient of friction having a first value when the lens is at a first location within said proximal portion and a second value when the lens is at a second location within said terminal portion, the first value being smaller than the second value.

2. The injector of claim 1, wherein said lens frictional force increases as the lens approaches said distal end of said lumen.

3. The injector of claim 1, wherein said lens coefficient of friction varies gradually from said first value to said second value with the passage of the lens from said first location to said second location.

4. The injector of claim 1, wherein said lens coefficient of friction varies abruptly from said first to second lens coefficient values with the passage of the lens from said first to said second location.

5. The injector of claim 1, wherein said lens coefficient of friction is provided at least in part by one or more coatings selectively covering said inner surface of said lumen.

6. The injector of claim 5, wherein said inner surface comprises a low-friction coating surface at said first location and an uncoated surface at said second location.

7. The injector of claim 5, wherein said inner surface comprises a partially coated surface at one or both of said first and second locations.

8. The injector of claim 1, wherein said lens coefficient of friction is provided at least in part by one or more grooves in said inner surface.

9. The injector of claim 1, further comprising a tubular section defining the lumen and comprising an outer surface, the injector further comprising a low-friction coating on the outer surface near the distal end of the lumen.

10. An injector for inserting an intraocular lens into an eye, the injector comprising:

a lumen, said lumen comprising a terminal portion at a distal end and a proximal portion juxtaposed with said terminal portion, said lumen further comprising an inner surface; and

an injector plunger at least partially disposed within said lumen for generating a driving force on the intraocular lens, the driving force causing the intraocular lens to move within said lumen, the lens moving through said proximal portion before said terminal portion,

wherein the injector comprises a lens coefficient of friction between said inner surface and the intraocular lens when the lens is moving through said lumen, said lens coefficient of friction associated with a lens frictional force that resists the driving force, and

wherein said lens frictional force has a first value when the lens is at a first location within said proximal portion and a second value when the lens is at a second location within said terminal portion, the first value being smaller than the second value, said lens frictional force increasing abruptly from the first value to the second value as the lens approaches said distal end of said lumen.

11. The injector of claim 10, wherein an increase in said lens frictional force from the first value to the second value provides tactile feedback to a user that the lens is near the distal end of the lumen.

12. An injector for inserting an intraocular lens into an eye, the injector comprising:

a lumen, said lumen comprising a terminal portion at a distal end and a proximal portion juxtaposed with said terminal portion, said lumen further comprising an inner surface; and

an injector plunger at least partially disposed within said lumen for generating a driving force on the intraocular lens, the driving force causing the intraocular lens to move within said lumen, the lens moving through said proximal portion before said terminal portion, said plunger comprising an abutting surface in facing relationship to said inner surface,

wherein the injector comprises a plunger coefficient of friction between said inner surface and said abutting surface when the plunger is moving through said lumen, said plunger coefficient of friction associated with a plunger frictional force that resists the driving force;

said plunger frictional force having a first value when the lens is at a first location within said proximal portion and a second value when the lens is at a second location within said terminal portion, the first value being smaller than the second value.

13. The injector of claim 12, wherein said plunger frictional force increases abruptly from the first value to said second value as the lens approaches said distal end of said lumen.

14. The injector of claim 12, wherein an increase in said plunger frictional force from said first value to said second value can provide a tactile feedback to a user indicating that the lens is near the distal end of the lumen.

15. The injector of claim 12, wherein said plunger coefficient of friction has a first plunger coefficient value when the lens is at said first location and a second plunger coefficient value when the lens is at said second location, said second plunger coefficient value being larger than said first plunger coefficient value.

16. The injector of claim 15, wherein said plunger coefficient of friction varies gradually from said first value to said second value during the passage of the lens from said first location to said second location.

17. The injector of claim 15, wherein said plunger coefficient of friction varies abruptly from said first value to said second value during the passage of the lens from said first location to said second location.

18. The injector of claim 15, wherein said plunger coefficient of friction is caused at least in part by one or more coatings selectively covering said inner surface of said lumen.

19. The injector of claim 15, wherein said inner surface comprises a partially coated surface in contact with said abutting surface when the lens is at at least one of said first and second locations.

20. The injector of claim 12, further comprising a tubular section defining the lumen and comprising an outer surface, the injector further comprising a low-friction coating on the outer surface near the distal end of the lumen

21. A method of operating an injector having an intraocular lens disposed therein, the injector comprising a lumen having a terminal portion at a distal end thereof and a proximal portion juxtaposed with said terminal portion, said lumen comprising an inner surface, the method comprising:

exerting a first lens frictional force on the intraocular lens when the lens is at a first location within said proximal portion, said first lens frictional force being associated with a first lens coefficient of friction between the lens and said inner surface; and

exerting a second lens frictional force on the intraocular lens when the lens is at a second location within said terminal portion, said second lens frictional force being associated with a second lens coefficient of friction between the lens and said inner surface, wherein said second lens coefficient of friction is larger than said first lens coefficient of friction.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising varying a lens coefficient of friction gradually from said first lens coefficient of friction to said second lens coefficient of friction during the passage of the lens from said first location to said second location.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising varying a lens coefficient of friction abruptly from said first lens coefficient of friction to said second lens coefficient of friction during the passage of the lens from said first location to said second location.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising providing said first lens coefficient of friction and said second lens coefficient of friction at least in part via one or more coatings selectively covering said inner surface of said lumen.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising providing said first lens coefficient of friction and said second lens coefficient of friction at least in part via one or more grooves in the inner surface of said terminal portion of said lumen.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising providing a tactile feedback to a user of the injector via transition from said first lens coefficient of friction to said second lens coefficient of friction.

27. The method of claim 21, further comprising slowing egress of the intraocular lens from said distal end of said lumen via said second lens coefficient of friction.

28. A method of operating an injector having an intraocular lens disposed therein, the injector comprising a lumen having a terminal portion at a distal end thereof and a proximal portion juxtaposed with said terminal portion, said lumen comprising an inner surface, the method comprising:

advancing the intraocular lens toward the distal end of the lumen;

exerting a first lens frictional force on the intraocular lens when the lens is at a first location within said proximal portion, said first lens frictional force being associated with a first lens coefficient of friction between the lens and said inner surface;

exerting a second lens frictional force on the intraocular lens when the lens is at a second location within said terminal portion, said second lens frictional force being associated with a second lens coefficient of friction between the lens and said inner surface, wherein said second lens frictional force is larger than said first lens coefficient of friction; and

abruptly transitioning from the first lens frictional force to the second lens frictional force.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising providing a tactile feedback to a user of the injector via transition from said first lens frictional force to said second lens frictional force.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising slowing egress of the intraocular lens from said distal end of said lumen via said second lens frictional force.

31. A method of operating an injector comprising a lumen and a plunger at least partially disposed within said lumen, said lumen comprising a terminal portion at a distal end and a proximal portion juxtaposed with said terminal portion, said lumen further comprising an inner surface, an intraocular lens being disposed in said injector, said method comprising:

exerting a first plunger frictional force on the plunger when the lens is at a first location within said proximal portion, said first plunger frictional force being associated with a first plunger coefficient of friction between said abutting surface and said inner surface;

exerting a second plunger frictional force on the plunger when the lens is at a second location within said terminal portion, said second plunger frictional force being associated with a second plunger coefficient of friction between said abutting surface and said inner surface, wherein said second plunger frictional force is larger than said first plunger frictional force.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising abruptly transitioning from said first plunger frictional force to said second plunger frictional force as said intraocular lens is advanced within said lumen.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising varying a plunger frictional force gradually from said first plunger frictional force to said second plunger frictional force during the passage of the lens from said first location to said second location.

34. The method of claim 31, further comprising providing said plunger coefficient of friction at least in part via one or more coatings selectively covering said inner surface of said lumen.

35. The method of claim 31, further comprising providing a tactile feedback to a user of the injector via transition from said first plunger frictional force to said second plunger frictional force.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein said second plunger coefficient of friction is larger than said first plunger coefficient of friction.

37. An injector for inserting a dual-optic intraocular lens into the anterior chamber an eye, the injector comprising:

a tubular section having a lumen for conveying the dual-optic intraocular lens in a compacted condition along the tubular section with one optic in front of another optic;

a release control section at a distal end portion of the tubular section, said release control section sized to fit within the anterior chamber when the injector is positioned in the eye for injection of the dual-optic intraocular lens into the anterior chamber, said release control section resisting passage of the intraocular lens through the portion of the injector within the anterior chamber such that release of mechanical energy stored in the compacted dual-optic intraocular lens is slowed.

38. The injector of claim 37, wherein said release control section comprises an expansion member configured to transition from a constricted state to an expanded state when receiving an optic of said intraocular lens.

39. The injector of claim 38, wherein said release control section is configured to retain an optic of said intraocular lens after another optic of said intraocular lens has exited the injector.

40. The injector of claim 38, wherein said expansion member comprises an elastomeric sleeve.

41. The injector of claim 38, wherein said expansion member comprises a flexible tip at a distal end of said tubular section.

42. The injector of claim 37, wherein said release control section comprises an inner surface at a distal end of said tubular portion.

43. The injector of claim 42, further comprising a lens coefficient of friction between said inner surface and said intraocular lens when the lens is moving through the tubular section, said lens coefficient of friction increasing as the lens is advanced to the release control section.

44. The injector of claim 42, wherein said inner surface is uncoated.

45. The injector of claim 42, wherein said inner surface is at least partially coated.

46. The injector of claim 42, wherein said inner surface comprises one or more grooves.

47. The injector of claim 37, the tubular section further comprising an outer surface, and the injector further comprising a low-friction coating on the outer surface near a distal end of the tubular section.

48. A method for injecting an intraocular lens comprising multiple optics into an eye, the method comprising:

providing an injector having said intraocular lens positioned in an injection lumen with at least one optic in front of another optic;

inserting a release control section of the injector into the eye such that substantially the entire release control section is in the anterior chamber of the eye;

advancing the intraocular lens to the release control section;

using the release control section to significantly retard further advancement of the intraocular lens into the eye, whereby said release control section inhibits sudden release of mechanical energy stored in the compacted intraocular lens and slows entry of the intraocular lens from the injector into the anterior chamber.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein said release control section comprises an expansion member configured to transition from a constricted state to an expanded state when receiving an optic of said intraocular lens.

50. The method of claim 49, further comprising retaining an optic of said intraocular lens within said expansion member after another optic of said intraocular lens has exited the injector.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein said expansion member comprises an elastomeric sleeve.

52. The method of claim 49, wherein said expansion member comprises a flexible tip at a distal end of said tubular section.

53. The method of claim 48, wherein said release control section comprises an inner surface at a distal end of said tubular portion.

54. The injector of claim 53, further comprising a lens coefficient of friction between said inner surface and said intraocular lens when the lens is moving through the tubular section, said lens coefficient of friction increasing as the lens is advanced to the release control section.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein said inner surface is uncoated.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein said inner surface is at least partially coated.

57. The method of claim 54, wherein said inner surface comprises one or more grooves.