Refractive intraocular implant lens and method

• US 6,827,738 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2001
• Issued: 12/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Timothy R. Willis
• Original Assignee: Timothy R. Willis
• Inventors: Collin, Joseph, Willis, Timothy R., Paul, Lyle E.
• Primary Examiner(s): McDermott, Corrine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phan, Hieu
• Application Number:
  US09/774,127
• Publication Number:
  US 20020103537A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,407 Days
• Field of Search: 623/6.38, 623/6.39, 623/6.4, 623/6.41, 623/6.43, 623/6-4-
• US Class Current: 623/6.43
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/15 Implant having one or more holes, e.g. for nutrient transport, for facilitating handling
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1608 Iris fixated, e.g. by clamping iris tissue, by suturing to the iris
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0008 Fixation appliances for connecting prostheses to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes

Abstract

A refractive intraocular lens and method of locating the lens within the eye and attaching the lens to the iris. The refractive intraocular lens may be attached via staples, a fastener or by the tip of the haptics.

Claims

1. An intraocular lens adapted to be inserted and fixated in the eye, the intraocular lens being characterized by its ability to be easily inserted and removed with minimal trauma to the eye tissues, and comprising:

an optic for producing a preselected optical effect, said optic having an anterior side, a posterior side and an outer peripheral edge;

a plurality of flexible haptics connected to said optic, said haptics extending outward from said optic and being spaced apart from each other, and wherein at least one of said haptics includes a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end being connected to said optic and said distal end terminating in a pointed tip adapted to penetrate at least a portion of the iris and further, wherein said haptic includes a riser means for maintaining said optic in spaced relation from the iris;

whereby the intraocular lens may be easily implanted in the eye upon penetration of the fixation means into the iris.

2. An intraocular lens according to claim 1 wherein said haptic includes an intermediate segment positioned between the proximal end and the distal end and wherein the intermediate segment includes a shoulder means for supporting the intraocular lens on the iris.

3. The intraocular lens according to claim 1 wherein said pointed tip is constructed and arranged to penetrate about one half the thickness of the iris.

4. The intraocular lens according to claim 1 further including two pairs of haptics extending oppositely from said optic and wherein said respective distal ends of each pair extend inwardly in a facing relation.

5. The intraocular lens according to claim 1 wherein the optic is foldable,

whereby the intraocular lens may be inserted with small incision techniques which, cause less trauma to the eye tissues.

6. An intraocular lens adapted to be inserted and fixated in the eye, the intraocular lens being characterized by its ability to be easily inserted and removed with minimal trauma to the eye tissues, and comprising:

an optic for producing a preselected optical effect, said optic having an anterior side, a posterior side and an outer peripheral edge;

a haptic connected to said optic, said haptic extending outward from said optic and including an iris fixation means for attaching the intraocular lens to the iris, and further wherein said iris fixation means terminates in a pointed tip that defines a point of attachment to the iris such that the tip penetrates at least a portion of, but less than the entire thickness of the iris;

whereby the intraocular lens may be easily implanted in the eye upon penetration of the fixation means into the iris.

7. An intraocular lens according to claim 6 further including a plurality of flexible haptics connected to said optic, each of said haptics extending outward from said optic and being spaced apart from each other, and wherein at least one of said haptics includes a a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end being connected to said optic, said distal end terminating in a pointed tip adapted to penetrate at least a portion of the iris and further wherein said haptic means includes a riser means for maintaining said optic in spaced relation from the iris;

whereby the intraocular lens may be easily implanted in the eye upon penetration of the haptic means tip into the iris.

8. An intraocular lens according to claim 7 wherein said haptic includes an intermediate segment positioned between the proximal end and the distal end and wherein the intermediate segment includes a shoulder means for supporting the intraocular lens on the iris.

9. The intraocular lens according to claim 6 wherein said iris fixation means is constructed and arranged to penetrate about one half the thickness of the iris.

10. The intraocular lens according to claim 6 further including two pairs of haptics extending oppositely from said and wherein said respective distal ends of each pair extend inwardly in a facing relation.

11. The intraocular lens according to claim 6 further including two pairs of haptics extending oppositely from said optic and wherein the respective distal ends of each pair extend outwardly away from each other.

12. The intraocular lens according to claim 6 wherein the optic is foldable,

whereby the intraocular lens may be inserted with small incision techniques which, cause less trauma to the eye tissues.