Intra-orbital implant manufacturing method and intra-orbital implant

• US 5,089,021 A
• Filed: 01/02/1990
• Issued: 02/18/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jean-Marc Vachet
• Original Assignee: Jean-Marc Vachet
• Inventors: Vachet, Jean-Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Green, Randall L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Willse, David H.
• Application Number:
  US07/459,877
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 623/4, 623/11, 427/2
• US Class Current: 623/6.64
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/141 Artificial eyes

Abstract

An intra-orbital implant (1) is made by integrally coating a spherical core (36) with a preferably flexible, bio-compatible synthetic material by means of a uniform layer (3) of a microporous, bio-compatible synthetic material intimately mated to the spherical core (36). The layer (3) is formed, for example, by two identical strips (6, 7) of the material, disposed according to mutually perpendicular median planes (18, 19) each containing the spherical center of the core, the strips being joined to each other edge-to-edge. Used after enucleation or evisceration, such implants permit colonization by the natural tissue, thereby avoiding the risk of rejection.

Claims

1. Method of manufacturing an intra-orbital implant intended to be accommodated in an orbital cavity after enucleation or evisceration and to be joined to oculo-motor muscles, using a spherical core of predetermined circumference in a bio-compatible flexible, suturable, synthetic material, said method comprising the steps of

(a) making two uniform identical flat strips from a micro-porous bio-compatible suturable flexible synthetic material capable of plastic deformation, each of said strips having a longitudinal plane of symmetry and two longitudinal edges the length of which is approximately equal to one-half of said predetermined circumference, mutually spaced by a width approximately equal to one-quarter of said predetermined circumference and joined to each other by two convex semi-circular transverse edges having a diameter approximately equal to one-quarter of said predetermined circumference;

(b) placing said strips one on each side of the spherical core in a position in which their longitudinal planes of symmetry contain a spherical center of said core and are mutually perpendicular;

(c) folding said strips around the spherical core into a conformation in which they are mutually joined edge-to-edge and complement each other so as to envelop all of the spherical core; and

(d) rendering said conformation of said strips around said spherical core permanent.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein step (d) is effected by attaching said strips to said spherical core.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein step (d) is effected by adhesively bonding said strips to said spherical core.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein step (d) is effected by suturing said strips together edge-to-edge.

5. Method according to claim 2, wherein step (d) is effected by suturing said strips together edge-to edge and to the spherical core.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein said bio-compatible synthetic material of the spherical core is a silicone elastomer.

7. Method according to claim 1, wherein said micro-porous bio-compatible synthetic material is a micro-porous polytetrafluorethylene.

8. Intra-orbital implant adapted to be accommodated in an orbital cavity after enucleation or evisceration and to be joined to oculo-motor muscles, and comprising to this end a bio-compatible, flexible, suturable synthetic material spherical core integrally coated with a substantially uniform layer of a micro-porous bio-compatible synthetic material intimately mated to said spherical core, said layer being formed from two identical strips of said micro-porous bio-compatible synthetic material which have median planes each containing a spherical center of said core and are joined to each other edge-to-edge.

9. Intra-orbital implant according to claim 8, wherein said strips are fastened to said core.

10. Implant according to claim 9, wherein said strips are adhesively bonded to said core.

11. Implant according to claim 8, wherein said strips are sutured together edge-to-edge.

12. Implant according to claim 9, wherein said strips are sutured together edge-to-edge and to the core.

13. Implant according to claim 8, wherein said bio-compatible synthetic material of said spherical core is a silicone elastomer.

14. Implant according to claim 8, wherein said micro-porous bio-compatible synthetic material is a micro-porous polytetrafluorethylene.

15. Implant according to claim 8, wherein the material constituting said layer is capable of plastic deformation.