Accommodating zonular mini-bridge implants

• US 7,060,094 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2001
• Issued: 06/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ophthalmotronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ophthalmotronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Shahinpoor, Mohsen, Soltanpour, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Willse, David H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Blanco, Javier G.
• Application Number:
  US09/759,766
• Publication Number:
  US 20030028248A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,978 Days
• Field of Search: 623/4.1, 623/6.37, 623/6.38, 623/6.43, 623/11.11, 623/14.13, 623/905
• US Class Current: 623/4.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/08 Muscles; Tendons; Ligaments sutures A61B17/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/14 Eye parts, e.g. lenses, corneal implants; Implanting instruments specially adapted therefor; Artificial eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0014 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• 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

Abstract

Surgical correction of presbyopia and hyperopia by a circularly distributed assembly of mini-bridges implanted between the interior surfaces of the ciliary muscle and the exterior surface of the lens capsule, for augmenting the transmission of the contraction force of the ciliary muscle/zonule assembly to the lens capsule. The lens is symmetrically squeezed by mini-bridges acting in concert with the ciliary muscle thus changing the curvature of the lens. The mini-bridges are composite synthetic muscles comprising either passive biocompatible mini-bridges made with polymeric gels, silicone polymers or a composite, electromagnetically or mechanically deployable mini-bridges, inflatable balloons or synthetic muscles. The surgical procedure comprises using a ciliary muscle relaxant to stretch the lens/zonules/ciliary muscle assembly. An ultrasonic biomicroscope (UBM) is then used to enable the surgeon to see the area for implantation and the mini-bridges and thus perform endoscopic or incisional surgery to implant the mini-bridges in and around zonular cavities.

Claims

1. A method of correcting presbyopia and hyperopia on demand, the method comprising the steps of:

a. affixing at least one bridge in and around at least one set of natural zonular fibers of the eye;

b. transmitting a contraction force from the ciliary muscles to the at least one set of natural zonular fibers;

c. augmenting the contraction force by the at least one bridge affixed to the at least one set of natural zonular fibers; and

d. constricting the natural crystalline lens by the augmented contraction force from the transmission of the contraction force from the ciliary muscles to the at least one set of natural zonular fibers and the at least one bridge.