Intraocular prostheses

• US 5,282,851 A
• Filed: 02/18/1992
• Issued: 02/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jean Jacob-Labarre
• Original Assignee: Jean Jacob-Labarre
• Inventors: Jacob-LaBarre, Jean
• Primary Examiner(s): Shay, Randy C.
• Application Number:
  US07/837,483
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 623/4-6, 623/66
• US Class Current: 623/6.56
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/142 Cornea, e.g. artificial corneae, keratoprostheses or corneal implants for repair of defective corneal tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/15 Implant having one or more holes, e.g. for nutrient transport, for facilitating handling
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/16 Intraocular lenses
• 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 2002/1683 having filiform haptics
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/169 Surrounding optic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/007 Methods or devices for eye surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/425 Porous materials, e.g. foams or sponges

Abstract

An intraocular prosthesis (56) for implanting in an annular void extending radially into the tissues of the eye. The prosthesis is a circular, transparent, elastomeric optical element (57) having a peripheral edge and a non-rigid or flexible porous skirt (68) which extends radially from the periphery of the element. The skirt encircles the element and is positioned to extend radially into the void. An annular, flexible porous portion (68) having a pore size in the range of about 15-90 microns, and preferably about 60 microns, is included with the skirt. The porous portion surrounds the element and is disposed in contact with the tissues of the eye surrounding the void to allow fibrous growth into the pores of the porous portion. A plurality, preferably, six, spoke-like, porous extension (54) may be included.

Claims

1. An ocular prosthesis for use as an implant within the eye socket region of a patient, within the patient'"'"'s eye or on the outer surface of the patient'"'"'s eye, comprising:

a) a prosthesis body that is positioned during use in the eye socket region of a patient'"'"'s body, said region being exposed to the external environment and to the threat of pathogen travel from outside the patient'"'"'s body;

b) the prosthesis body including tissue attachment means that includes a non-resorbable, non-dissolving porous polymer material with a port size greater than 20 microns, and wherein the pores of the porous polymer material form a tissue attachment site on a first outer surface of the prosthesis that allows tissue ingrowth by surrounding ocular tissue; and

c) the prosthesis body including a solid or closed-pore polymer layer coextensive with the tissue attachment site that forms a barrier against generally transverse fluid or pathogen travel from a second outer surface which opposes said first outer surface, to the tissue attachment site.

4. The prosthesis of claims 1, 2, or 3 wherein the polymer is of a material that will not unravel when cut.

5. The prosthesis of claim 1 wherein the polymer forms a porous layer and there is an adjacent non-porous layer so that a barrier is defined against bacterial penetration or fluid leakage.

6. The prosthesis of claims 1, 2, or 3 wherein the non-porous layer is a non-porous polyurethane, polyacrylate polymethacrylate, polysiloxane, biopolymer, or a copolymer of these polymers.

7. The prosthesis of claims 1, 2, or 3 wherein:

the porous polymer material comprises a material from the group consisting of polyurethane, polypropylene-polybutylene copolymer, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyothoesters, polyesters, polyethylene terephthalate, polyacrylate, and a silicone based polymer.

8. The prosthesis of claims 1, 2, or 3, wherein the porous polymer material is an expanded polymer foam, fabric or mesh.

9. The prosthesis of claims 1, 2, or 3, wherein the solid polymer layer is substantially impermeable to fluids.

2. An ocular prosthesis for use as an implant within the eye socket region of a patient, within the patient'"'"'s eye or on the outer surface of the patient'"'"'s eye comprising:

a) a prosthesis body having tissue adhesion means on a first outer surface of the prosthesis body for forming a bond between the eye tissue and the prosthesis;

b) wherein the tissue adhesion means comprises a portion formed of a porous polymer material having pores that enable connection to surrounding ocular tissue, wherein the pores of the polymer define a tissue attachment site;

c) the prosthesis body having means for impeding fluid leakage past the implant at the tissue attachment site; and

d) wherein said means for impeding comprises a portion formed of a solid or closed-pore polymer material coextensive with the tissue attachment site so that a barrier is formed against generally transverse fluid and pathogen penetration rom a second outer surface which opposes said first outer surface to the tissue attachment site.

3. An ocular prosthesis comprising:

a) a prosthesis body that includes a first outer surface of a porous polymer material having a pore size of about twenty to ninety (20-90) microns for forming a tissue adhesion surface defining a tissue attachment site for attachment of surrounding ocular tissue;

b) the body having a means for impeding fluid and pathogens from leaking past the implant at the tissue attachment site; and

c) wherein said means for impeding comprises a portion formed of a solid or closed-pore polymer material coextensive with the tissue attachment site so that a barrier is formed against generally transverse fluid and pathogen penetration from a second outer surface which opposes said first outer surface to the tissue attachment site.