Foldable lens delivery system

• US 5,607,433 A
• Filed: 10/21/1994
• Issued: 03/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Micro Medical Devices Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Micro Medical Devices Incorporated
• Inventors: Erdman, Arthur G., Peichel, David J., Polla, Dennis L., Costin, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Koo, Benjamin K.
• Application Number:
  US08/326,907
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 606/107, 310/323, 310/328
• US Class Current: 606/107
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/025 Inertial sliding motors
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/067 generating drive pulses

Abstract

An automatic lens delivery device using a linear actuator which is specially adapted for low torque, low heat applications, and can be used to insert a lens into a user'"'"'s eye. The linear actuator uses two semiconductor devices which are moved one relative to the other. The movable device pushes a push rod that delivers a lens.

Claims

1. An automated lens delivery device comprising:

a first wafer element having a first wafer surface of a first material;

a second wafer element of a second material, having a second wafer surface, said second wafer element abutting against but slidable relative to said first material;

a natural oxide thin film electrically insulating layer formed on said first wafer surface between said first and second wafer surfaces and said first and second wafer elements;

a controlling device which produces a first voltage between said first and second wafer elements to selectively electrostatically clamp said first wafer elements relative to said second wafer element, and which produces a second voltage across said first wafer element which expands and contracts said first wafer element to move it relative to said second wafer element;

a pushing element, operatively attached to said first wafer element, and including a surface which is shaped to push a folded intra-ocular lens;

means for holding an intra-ocular lens in a path of said surface of said pushing element; and

an insulated element, coupled between said wafer elements, and said pushing element, for electrically insulating said pushing element from said wafer elements.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein said first material is a different material than said second material.

3. A device as in claim 2, wherein said first and said second wafer elements are each formed of a shape which has edge surfaces abutting one another, said edge surfaces being free from chips thereon.

4. A device as in claim 3 wherein said pushing element moves within a chamber, said pushing element including means, movably coupled to said chamber, for preventing rotation of said pushing element.

5. A device as in claim 4 wherein said pushing element includes an elongated rod.

6. A device as in claim 3 further comprising a lens delivery nozzle, said delivery nozzle including a tapered area adjacent said holding means.

7. An automated lens delivery device comprising:

a first wafer element having a first wafer surface of a first material;

a second wafer element of a second material, having a second wafer surface, said second wafer element abutting against but slidable relative to said first material;

a natural oxide thin film electrically insulating layer formed on said first wafer surface between said first and second wafer surfaces and said first and second wafer elements;

a controlling device which produces a first voltage between said first and second wafer elements to selectively electrostatically clamp said first wafer element relative to said second wafer element, and which produces a second voltages across said first wafer element which expands and contracts said first wafer element to move it relative to said second wafer element;

a pushing element, operatively attached to said first wafer element, and including a surface which is shaped to push a folded intra-ocular lens;

means for holding an intra-ocular lens in a path of said surface of said pushing element; and

an O-ring, sealing said first and second wafer elements against moisture intrusion.

8. An intraocular lens delivery device comprising:

a housing;

a base element, rigidly coupled to said housing;

a covering layer, formed of a first material covering at least a first surface of said base element;

a glider element, located having a first surface thereof abutting against said covering layer, said glider element including a portion formed of a material which can be selectively changed in size by application of a stimulus thereto and having a load interface area which connects to a load, said first surface of said glider element formed of a different material than the first material;

a first source of energy connected to clamp said glider to said base with a first force;

a second source of energy connected to provide said stimulus to said portion to expand said portion,

said first and second sources of energy producing energy of an amount such that a first amount of said stimulus does not overcome the first force between said glider and said base, but a second amount of said stimulus, different than said first amount of said stimulus, does overcome said first force between said glider and said base;

a first pushing element, operatively coupled to said gliding element, and having a surface adapted in shape to press against an intraocular lens;

an inoculated element, coupled between said glider element and said first pushing element, operating to electrically insulate between said glider element and said first pushing element; and

a lens holding element, connected in a position adjacent said pushing element, such that said pushing element, when moved in a first direction, pushes said intraocular lens.

9. A device as in claim 8, wherein said first material is either silicon, SiN or SiO2, and said different material is an other of silicon, SiN or SiO2.

10. A lens delivery device comprising:

a base member, formed of a semiconductor material and including a natural oxide film insulating layer thereon of a thickness less than 2 μ

m;

a glider, having a surface in contact with said insulating layer, said glider including a portion formed of a material which changes size when voltage is applied thereto; and

a control element, producing a first voltage which electrostatically clamps said glider to said base member, and producing a second voltage which expands said material and contracts said material in a way to move said glider relative to said base against a force produced by the electrostatic clamping;

a first pushing element, operatively coupled to said gliding element, and having a surface adapted in shape to press against an intraocular lens; and

a lens holding element, connected in a position adjacent said pushing element, such that said pushing element, when moved in a first direction, presses against said intraocular lens.

11. A lens delivery device as in claim 10, further comprising a sealing member, preventing moisture from reaching said base member and said glider.

12. An automated intraocular lens delivery device, comprising:

a linear force delivery system, formed of at least two members with flattened operative surfaces, said two members in contact with one another, including a first member moving relative to an unmoving second member;

a connection element, connected to said first member, and moving responsive to movement of said first member;

a lens cassette, holding a folded intraocular lens, said lens cassette having a storage portion and an open portion, said open portion coupled to an open chamber; and

an insulated element, coupled between said wafer elements, and said pushing element, for electrically insulating said pushing element from said wafer elements; and

a pushing rod, having a surface in said chamber which pushes said lens, said surface connected to said first member.

13. An automated lens delivery system comprising:

a linear actuator device, having first and second miniature wafers which slide relative to one another to produce linear force, a first surface, covering said first miniature wafer, a second surface, covering said second miniature wafer, said first surface sliding relative to the second surface of said second miniature wafer, said first and second surfaces being formed of different materials;

an O-ring, sealing said first and second miniature wafers against moisture intrusion,

a chamber, having inner surfaces defining a substantially cylindrical elongated area therein, which tapers at one end thereof to form a cylinder ending in a tapered delivery tip;

a lens cassette, having a lens storage area, storing a lens in a folded position therein, and an open area opening to said chamber; and

a pushing rod, connected to said linear actuator device, said pushing rod pushing said lens when said linear actuator device is energized to move said first miniature wafer relative to said second miniature wafer.