Segmented scleral band for treatment of presbyopia and other eye disorders

• US 6,197,056 B1
• Filed: 03/02/1998
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ReFocus Ocular, Inc.
• Original Assignee: RAS Holding Corp.
• Inventors: Schachar, Ronald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Milano, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US09/032,830
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• Field of Search: 623/4, 623/6, 623/4.1, 623/5.12, 623/6.11, 424/427
• US Class Current: 623/4.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/14 Eye parts, e.g. lenses, corneal implants; Implanting instruments specially adapted therefor; Artificial eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00865 Sclera
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00891 Glaucoma
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00895 Presbyopia
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0008 Fixation appliances for connecting prostheses to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/007 Methods or devices for eye surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00781 Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment drainage implants in general A61M27/002
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/008 using laser

Abstract

A segmented scleral expansion band adapted for implantation within or fastening to a segment of the sclera of an eye lying outside of and adjacent to the ciliary body of the eye, is formed from a number of arcuate segments, curved to match the curvature of the globe of the eye, and joined together at each end to form a complete scleral expansion band. The band is implanted in the sclera of the eye by forming circumferential tunnels, inserting the band segments through the tunnels, and joining the ends of the segments to form a complete scleral expansion band. The scleral expansion band is useful in treating presbyopia and other ocular disorders.

Claims

1. A segmented scleral expansion band adapted for implantation within or fastening to a zone of the sclera of an eye lying outside of and adjacent to the ciliary body of the eye, said segmented scleral expansion band comprising

a plurality of adjacent arcuate segments, each segment having a curved anterior edge and a curved posterior edge and structural spacing means extending between said anterior edge and said posterior edge and rigidly spacing said edges apart,

each segment having lateral ends provided with means for fastening said ends of said adjacent segments together to form a band,

said anterior edges and said posterior edges forming, when assembled into said band, an anterior rim and a posterior rim, respectively, of said band, and

said segments being sized so that said anterior rim of said band will lie outside at least a portion of an anterior portion of said scleral zone and said posterior rim will lie outside at least a portion of a posterior portion of said scleral zone,

at least one of said anterior rim, said posterior rim and said spacing means having a diameter greater than the exterior diameter of said scleral zone adjacent thereto.

2. The scleral expansion band of claim 1 wherein said fastening means comprises a tongue adapted to engage a recess on an adjacent segment.

3. The scleral expansion band of claim 2 wherein said recess is a groove.

4. The scleral expansion band of claim 1 wherein said band is made of a synthetic resin.

5. The scleral expansion band of claim 4 wherein said synthetic resin is selected from the group consisting of poly(methyl methacrylate), polyethylene, polypropylene, poly(tetrafluoroethylene) and silicone resins.

6. The scleral expansion band of claim 1 wherein said band is made of a reinforced composite material.

7. The scleral expansion band of claim 6 wherein said reinforced composite material is a glass-fiber reinforced synthetic resin.

8. The scleral expansion band of claim 6 wherein said reinforced composite material is a carbon-fiber reinforced material.

9. The scleral expansion band of claim 6 wherein said reinforced composite material is carbon-fiber reinforced carbon.

10. The scleral expansion band of claim 1 wherein said band is made of a physiologically acceptable metal.

11. The scleral expansion band of claim 10 wherein said band is made of metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, platinum, gold, tantalum, stainless steel, shape-memory alloys, and physiologically acceptable alloys.

12. The scleral expansion band of claim 1 wherein said band is made of a ceramic material.

13. The scleral expansion band of claim 12 wherein said ceramic is selected from the group consisting of porcelain, alumina, silica, silicon carbide, and high-strength glasses.

14. A segment of a scleral expansion band adapted to be assembled to form a scleral expansion band, said segment comprising

a curved anterior edge and a curved posterior edge and structural spacing means extending between said anterior edge and said posterior edge and rigidly spacing said edges apart,

said segment having lateral ends provided with means for fastening said ends to adjacent segments to form a scleral expansion band.

15. The segment of claim 14 wherein said fastening means comprises a tongue on one of said lateral ends and a groove on another of said lateral ends.

16. The segment of claim 14 wherein said anterior edge has a radius of curvature of about 8.0 to about 8.5 millimeters.

17. The segment of claim 16 wherein said anterior edge has a radius of curvature of about 8.3 millimeters.

18. The segment of claim 14 wherein said posterior edge has a radius of curvature of about 10.0 to about 10.5 millimeters.

19. The segment of claim 18 wherein said posterior edge has a radius of curvature of about 10.3 millimeters.

20. The segment of claim 14 wherein said segment is made of a synthetic resin.

21. The segment of claim 20 wherein said synthetic resin is selected from the group consisting of poly(methyl methacrylate), polyethylene, polypropylene, poly(tetrafluoroethylene) and silicone resins.

22. The segment of claim 14 wherein said segment is made of a reinforced composite material.

23. The segment of claim 22 wherein said reinforced composite material is a glass-fiber reinforced synthetic resin.

24. The segment of claim 22 wherein said reinforced composite material is a carbon-fiber reinforced material.

25. The segment of claim 24 wherein said reinforced composite material is carbon-fiber reinforced carbon.

26. The segment of claim 14 wherein said segment is made of a physiologically acceptable metal.

27. The segment of claim 26 wherein said segment is made of metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, platinum, gold, tantalum, stainless steel, shape-memory alloys, and physiologically acceptable alloys.

28. The segment of claim 14 wherein said segment is made of a ceramic material.

29. The segment of claim 28 wherein said ceramic is selected from the group consisting of porcelain, alumina, silica, silicon carbide, and high-strength glasses.

30. A method for restoring the amplitude of accommodation of an eye comprising forming at least one circumferentially oriented tunnel in the tissue of the sclera of an eye in a circumferential zone of the sclera lying outside the ciliary body of said eye, inserting in said tunnels segments of a scleral expansion band, and joining said segments to form a scleral expansion band,

each of said segments of said scleral expansion band having a curved anterior edge and a curved posterior edge and structural spacing means extending between said anterior edge and said posterior edge and rigidly spacing said edges apart,

each of said segments of said scleral expansion band having lateral ends provided with means for fastening said ends of said adjacent segments together to form a band,

said anterior edges and said posterior edges forming, when assembled into said scleral expansion band, an anterior rim and a posterior rim, respectively, of said band, and

said segments of said scleral expansion band being sized so that said anterior rim of said band will lie outside at least a portion of an anterior portion of said scleral zone and said posterior rim will lie outside at least a portion of a posterior portion of said scleral zone,

at least one of said anterior rim, said posterior rim and said spacing means having a diameter greater than the exterior diameter of said scleral zone adjacent thereto.