Hingeless intraocular lens microcartridges

• US 6,143,000 A
• Filed: 12/18/1996
• Issued: 11/07/2000
• 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): Dawson, Glenn K.
• Application Number:
  US08/768,459
• Time in Patent Office: 1,420 Days
• Field of Search: 606/107, 623/4, 623/6, 604/57, 604/59, 604/60, 604/64
• US Class Current: 606/107
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1664 for manual insertion during surgery, e.g. forceps-like instruments

Abstract

A hingeless type intraocular lens microcartridge for use with a surgical insertion instrument. The hingeless microcartridge has a fixed configuration with a transition portion extending between a lens receiving portion and a nozzle portion.

Claims

1. A lens cartridge for use with a surgical device for implantation of a deformable intraocular lens into an eye through a relatively small incision made in the ocular tissue, said lens cartridge comprising:

a lens holding portion having a lens receiving portion configured for receiving and holding the deformable intraocular lens; and

a nozzle portion connected to and extending from said lens holding portion, said lens holding portion having a lens delivery passageway extending therethrough, said lens holding portion and said nozzle portion defining a one-piece lens cartridge,

wherein said lens delivery passageway is defined by a continuous walled annulus, and said lens cartridge is configured so that the deformable intraocular lens can be loaded into said lens delivery passageway from an end of said lens cartridge,

wherein said lens receiving portion has an oval shaped barrel configuration; and

wherein said lens receiving portion is provided with a longitudinal slot provided through a wall portion thereof to allow the deformable intraocular lens to be loaded through a side of said lens cartridge, said lens receiving portion including a pair of longitudinal grooves provided in said lens delivery passageway and located adjacent longitudinal side edges of said longitudinal slot said longitudinal grooves being defined by said longitudinal side edges extending inwardly into said lens delivery passageway.

2. A lens cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said lens cartridge having said lens delivery passageway defined by said continuous walled annulus defines a hingeless construction.

3. A lens cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said lens receiving portion is fixed relative to said nozzle portion.

4. A lens cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said slot extends to an end edge of said lens holding portion.

5. A lens cartridge according to claim 4, wherein said slot is provided with a rounded end.

6. A lens cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said lens holder portion includes a transition portion with an oval shaped barrel located between said lens receiving portion and said nozzle portion.

7. A lens cartridge according to claim 6, wherein said oval shaped barrel of said transition portion is defined by inwardly tapering side walls that taper from the dimensions of the lens receiving portion to the dimensions of the nozzle portion.

8. A lens cartridge according to claim 7, wherein said lens receiving portion is provided with an oval shaped barrel, said transition portion is provided with oval shape barrel with inwardly tapering sides, and said nozzle portion is provided with an inwardly tapering conical passageway defining said passageway.

9. A lens cartridge according to claim 8, wherein said oval shaped barrel in said receiving portion has greater cross-sectional dimensions relative to cross-sectional dimensions of an entranceway into said nozzle portion.

10. A lens cartridge according to claim 6, wherein said oval shaped barrel of said transition portion is defined by conical shaped inner side walls, a substantially flat bottom wall, and a top wall having a downwardly extending protrusions that tapers so as to become less pronounced when extending from said lens receiving portion to said nozzle portion.

11. A lens cartridge according to claim 10, wherein said top wall is substantially parallel to said bottom wall.

12. A lens according to claim 1, wherein said lens receiving portion is provided with a pair of longitudinal grooves configured for guiding the deformable intraocular lens through said lens delivery passageway.

13. A lens cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said nozzle portion is configured to taper inwardly towards a tip portion thereof.

14. A lens cartridge according to claim 13, wherein an outer wall of said nozzle portion tapers inwardly from said lens holding portion to an end of said nozzle portion.

15. A lens cartridge according to claim 14, wherein an inner wall of said nozzle portion tapers inwardly from said lens holding portion to an end of said nozzle portion.

16. A lens cartridge according to claim 15, wherein said inner wall and said outer wall of said nozzle portion taper together in a direction towards the end of said nozzle portion providing a wall thickness that tapers thinner from said lens holding portion to said end of said nozzle portion.

17. A lens cartridge according to claim 13, wherein an inner wall of said nozzle portion tapers inwardly from said lens holding portion to an end of said nozzle portion.

18. A lens cartridge according to claim 1, including an extension of the lens cartridge for aligning the lens cartridge with the device for implantation of the deformable intraocular lens.

19. A lens cartridge according to claim 18, wherein said extension protrudes upwardly from said lens holding portion.