Deformable intraocular lens injecting apparatus

• US 6,001,107 A
• Filed: 12/05/1996
• Issued: 12/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Staar Surgical Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Staar Surgical Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Feingold, Vladimir
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Assistant Examiner(s): CUDDIHY, FRANCIS KEVIN
• Application Number:
  US08/760,327
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 623/6, 606/107, 606/108, 206/5.1
• US Class Current: 606/107
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1664 for manual insertion during surgery, e.g. forceps-like instruments

Abstract

A surgical device for implantation of deformable intraocular lens into the eye through a relatively small incision made in the ocular tissue including a holder with receiver for a lens holder. A lens holder for a surgical device for implantation of deformable intraocular lens into the eye including a split tubular member having a fixed tubular portion and a moveable tubular portion connected together at a hinge. A method for implantation of deformable intraocular lens into the eye using the above-described surgical devices.

Claims

1. A lens injecting apparatus for implanting a deformable intraocular lens into an eye, said apparatus comprising:

a lens holding portion having a lens delivery passageway, said lens holding portion configured for inserting the deformable intraocular lens through an incision made in the eye; and

a plunger movably disposed within said lens holding portion, said plunger including a plunger tip having an end face provided with an upper protrusion and a separate lower protrusion defining a lens engaging recess encompassing and capturing an edge portion of the deformable intraocular lens, said plunger configured to force the deformable intraocular lens through said lens delivery passageway into the eye;

wherein said recess is a concave shaped recess.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recess is shaped to capture the edge portion of the deformable intraocular lens when engaging with the deformable intraocular lens.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recess is centered in said end face of said plunger tip for centering the edge portion of the deformable intraocular lens in said lens delivery passageway.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said concave shaped recess is centered in said front face of said plunger tip.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lower protrusion is wider relative to said upper protrusion.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recess is shaped similar to an edge shape of the deformable intraocular lens.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recess is shaped specifically to receive an edge portion of the deformable intraocular lens.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lens delivery passageway is a closed passageway in the assembled lens injecting apparatus.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plunger tip is a faceted tip.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plunger tip is configured to provide a side clearance between the plunger tip and inner wall of said lens delivery passageway to accommodate a trailing haptic of the deformable intraocular lens.

11. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said plunger tip is configured to provide a side clearance between the plunger tip and an inner wall of said lens delivery passageway to accommodate a trailing haptic of the deformable intraocular lens.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plunger tip is connected to a main portion of said plunger by an extension having a transverse cross-sectional size less than a transverse cross-sectional size of said plunger tip to provide a side clearance between said extension and an inner wall of said lens delivery passageway to accommodate a trailing haptic of the deformable intraocular lens.

13. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said plunger tip is connected to a main portion of said plunger by an extension having a transverse cross-sectional size less than a transverse cross-sectional size of said plunger tip to provide an additional side clearance between said extension and an inner wall of said lens delivery passageway to further accommodate a trailing haptic of the deformable intraocular lens.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plunger tip is smaller in outer dimensional size relative to said lens delivery passageway.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said plunger tip has a circular cross-sectional shape and said lens delivery passageway has a circular cross-sectional shape.

16. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said lens delivery passageway has an oval cross-sectional shape.

17. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plunger is fixed from rotating within said lens holding portion.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said plunger and said lens holding portion are shaped to provide a keyway fit therebetween to prevent relative rotation.

19. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recess of said plunger tip is oriented with the edge portion of the deformable intraocular lens.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said lens holding portion is configured for orientating the deformable intraocular lens in said lens delivery passageway so that the edge portion of the deformable intraocular lens is properly aligned with said oriented recess of said plunger tip of said oriented plunger.

21. A lens injecting apparatus for implanting a deformable intraocular lens into an eye, said apparatus comprising:

a lens holding portion having a lens delivery passageway, said lens holding portion configured for inserting the deformable intraocular lens through an incision made in the eye; and

a plunger movably disposed within said lens holding portion, said plunger including a plunger tip having an end face provided with an upper protrusion and a separate lower protrusion defining a lens engaging recess encompassing and capturing an edge portion of the deformable intraocular lens, said plunger configured to force the deformable intraocular lens through said lens delivery passageway into the eye;

wherein said plunger tip is configured to provide a side clearance between the plunger tip and inner wall of said lens delivery passageway to accommodate a trailing haptic of the deformable intraocular lens.

22. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said recess is shaped to capture the edge portion of the deformable intraocular lens when engaging with the deformable intraocular lens.

23. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said recess is centered in said end face of said plunger tip for centering the edge portion of the deformable intraocular lens in said lens delivery passageway.

24. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said recess is a concave shaped recess.

25. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said concave shaped recess is centered in said front face of said plunger tip.

26. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said lower protrusion is wider relative to said upper protrusion.

27. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said recess is shaped similar to an edge shape of the deformable intraocular lens.

28. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said recess is shaped specifically to receive an edge portion of the deformable intraocular lens.

29. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said lens delivery passageway is a closed passageway in the assembled lens injecting apparatus.

30. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said plunger tip is a faceted tip.

31. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said plunger tip is connected to a main portion of said plunger by an extension having a transverse cross-sectional size less than a transverse cross-sectional size of said plunger tip to provide an additional side clearance between said extension and an inner wall of said lens delivery passageway to further accommodate a trailing haptic of the deformable intraocular lens.

32. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said plunger tip is smaller in outer dimensional size relative to said lens delivery passageway.

33. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said plunger tip has a circular cross-sectional shape and said lens delivery passageway has a circular cross-sectional shape.

34. An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said lens delivery passageway has an oval cross-sectional shape.

35. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said plunger is fixed from rotating within said lens holding portion.

36. An apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said plunger and said lens holding portion are shaped to provide a keyway fit therebetween to prevent relative rotation.

37. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said recess of said plunger tip is oriented with the edge portion of the deformable intraocular lens.

38. An apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said lens holding portion is configured for orientating the deformable intraocular lens in said lens delivery passageway so that the edge portion of the deformable intraocular lens is properly aligned with said oriented recess of said plunger tip of said oriented plunger.

39. A lens injecting apparatus for implanting a deformable intraocular lens into an eye, said apparatus comprising:

a lens holding portion having a lens delivery passageway, said lens holding portion configured for inserting the deformable intraocular lens through an incision made in the eye; and

a plunger movably disposed within said lens holding portion, said plunger including a plunger tip having an end face provided with an upper protrusion and a separate lower protrusion defining a lens engaging recess encompassing and capturing an edge portion of the deformable intraocular lens, said plunger configured to force the deformable intraocular lens through said lens delivery passageway into the eye;

wherein said lens holding portion is defined by a lens injecting device having a lens cartridge receiver and a separate lens cartridge for receiving and holding the deformable intraocular lens when said lens cartridge is loaded into said lens cartridge receiver of said lens holding portion.

40. An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said recess is shaped to capture the edge portion of the deformable intraocular lens when engaging with the deformable intraocular lens.

41. An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said recess is centered in said end face of said plunger tip for centering the edge portion of the deformable intraocular lens in said lens delivery passageway.

42. An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said recess is a concave shaped recess.

43. An apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said concave shaped recess is centered in said front face of said plunger tip.

44. An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said lower protrusion is wider relative to said upper protrusion.

45. An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said recess is shaped similar to an edge shape of the deformable intraocular lens.

46. An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said recess is shaped specifically to receive an edge portion of the deformable intraocular lens.

47. An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said lens delivery passageway is a closed passageway in the assembled lens injecting apparatus.

48. An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said plunger tip is a faceted tip.

49. An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said plunger tip is configured to provide a side clearance between the plunger tip and inner wall of said lens delivery passageway to accommodate a trailing haptic of the deformable intraocular lens.

50. An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said plunger tip is connected to a main portion of said plunger by an extension having a transverse cross-sectional size less than a transverse cross-sectional size of said plunger tip to provide a side clearance between said extension and an inner wall of said lens delivery passageway to accommodate a trailing haptic of the deformable intraocular lens.

51. An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said plunger tip is connected to a main portion of said plunger by an extension having a transverse cross-sectional size less than a transverse cross-sectional size of said plunger tip to provide an additional side clearance between said extension and an inner wall of said lens delivery passageway to further accommodate a trailing haptic of the deformable intraocular lens.

52. An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said plunger tip is smaller in outer dimensional size relative to said lens delivery passageway.

53. An apparatus according to claim 52, wherein said plunger tip has a circular cross-sectional shape and said lens delivery passageway has a circular cross-sectional shape.

54. An apparatus according to claim 52, wherein said lens delivery passageway has an oval cross-sectional shape.

55. An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said plunger is fixed from rotating within said lens holding portion.

56. An apparatus according to claim 55, wherein said plunger and said lens holding portion are shaped to provide a keyway fit therebetween to prevent relative rotation.

57. An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said recess of said plunger tip is oriented with the edge portion of the deformable intraocular lens.

58. An apparatus according to claim 57, wherein said lens holding portion is configured for orientating the deformable intraocular lens in said lens delivery passageway so that the edge portion of the deformable intraocular lens is properly aligned with said oriented recess of said plunger tip of said oriented plunger.