Ocular lens

• US 7,794,498 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2004
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eyedeal Hongkong Limited
• Original Assignee: Innolene LLC
• Inventors: Pinchuk, Leonard
• Primary Examiner(s): PREBILIC, PAUL B
• Application Number:
  US11/004,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20050125059A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,111 Days
• Field of Search: 623/6.4, 623/6.56, 623/6.58, 351/159, 424/427, 523/106, 523/113
• US Class Current: 623/6.56
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1613 having special lens configurations, e.g. multipart lenses; having particular optical properties, e.g. pseudo-accommodative lenses, lenses having aberration corrections, diffractive lenses, lenses for variably absorbing electromagnetic radiation, lenses having variable focus
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1629 for changing longitudinal position, i.e. along the visual axis when implanted
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1648 Multipart lenses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/169 Surrounding optic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0067 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/416 Anti-neoplastic or anti-proliferative or anti-restenosis or anti-angiogenic agents, e.g. paclitaxel, sirolimus
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2430/16 for reconstruction of eye parts, e.g. intraocular lens, cornea
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/16 obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/54 Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances A61L27/227 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/22 Copolymers of isobutene; Butyl rubber ; Homo- or copolymers of other iso-olefins
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 25/08 Copolymers of styrene C08L29/08, C08L35/06, C08L55/02 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 53/02 of vinyl-aromatic monomers and conjugated dienes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/041 Lenses

Abstract

An ocular lens has a refractive optics structure formed from a polyisobutylene-based material and a glassy segment that is non-reactive to ocular fluid and that maintains in vivo transparency for a substantial time period. The material has a central elastomeric polyolefinic block and thermoplastic end blocks (such as a triblock polymer backbone comprising polystyrene-polyisobutylene-polystyrene). The material is preferably flexible such that the refractive optics structure can be folded upon itself and introduced through a small scleral incision. The lens device includes an optic portion and preferably either an annular haptic element or one or more haptic elements adapted to rest within a capsular bag formed by a surgical procedure. A portion of the lens device may be loaded with at least one therapeutic agent that interferes with proliferation of the epithelial cells of the eye to protect against PCO.

Claims

1. An ocular lens device comprising:

a refractive optics structure formed from a polyisobutylene-based polymer having a triblock backbone comprising polystyrene-polyisobutylene-polystyrene, the polyisobutylene-based polymer processed to remove hygroscopic salts therefrom, wherein said refractive optics structure maintains in vivo transparency in an aqueous ocular environment for at least two months, whereby in vivo transparency means that said refractive optics structure transmits at least 80% of visible light incident thereon.

2. An ocular lens device according to claim 1, wherein:

said refractive optics structure can be folded or rolled upon itself.

3. An ocular lens device according to claim 2, wherein:

said refractive optics structure can be folded or rolled upon itself for introduction through a small scleral incision.

4. An ocular lens device according to claim 3, wherein:

said small sclera incision comprises a slit having a length of 2 mm or less.

5. An ocular lens device according to claim 1, wherein:

said polyisobutylene-based polymer further comprises a copolymer selected from the group consisting of a star-shaped block copolymer and multi-dendrite-shaped block copolymer.

6. An ocular lens device according to claim 1, further comprising:

an optic portion and at least one haptic element that are adapted to rest within a capsular bag formed by a surgical procedure that removes the natural crystalline lens supported therein, wherein said at least one haptic element supports said optic portion.

7. An ocular lens device according to claim 6, wherein:

said at least one haptic element comprises a plurality of haptic elements that extend from said optic portion.

8. An ocular lens device according to claim 6, wherein:

said at least one haptic element comprises an annular surface that surrounds and extends radially outward from said optic portion.

9. An ocular lens device according to claim 8, wherein:

said optic region is configured to be substantially disposed along a plane that is perpendicular to an optical axis of an eye, and said annular surface projects radially outward from said optic portion at an angle relative to said plane, said angle between 0 and 45 degrees.

10. An ocular lens device according to claim 9, wherein:

said angle is between 10 and 20 degrees.

11. An ocular lens device according to claim 10, wherein:

said angle is 15 degrees.

12. An ocular lens device according to claim 6, wherein:

said optic portion has a convex surface and a flat surface.

13. An ocular lens device according to claim 6, wherein:

said optic portion has a stepped wall structure at its periphery.

14. An ocular lens device according to claim 6, wherein:

said optic portion and said at least one haptic element are formed from said material.

15. An ocular lens device according to claim 6, wherein:

said optic portion is formed from said material, and said at least one haptic element is formed from a different material.

16. An ocular lens device according to claim 1, wherein:

said polyisobutylene-based polymer blocks ultra-violet light.

17. An ocular lens device according to claim 1, wherein:

said refractive optics structure is adapted for intraocular disposition in a portion of the eye, the portion of the eye selected from the group consisting of the anterior chamber of the eye, the posterior chamber of the eye, and the vitreous chamber of the eye.

18. An ocular lens device according to claim 1, wherein:

the refractive optics structure is formed and molded at temperatures that are significantly less than the melting point of the polyisobutylene-based polymer.

19. An ocular lens device according to claim 1, wherein:

the refractive optics structure is formed by compression molding in conjunction with rapid heating to a temperature at or near the melting point of the polyisobutylene-based polymer and rapid cooling.

20. An ocular lens device according to claim 19, wherein:

time duration encompassing the rapid heating and the rapid cooling defines a heating-cooling cycle that is less than three minutes.

21. An ocular lens device according to claim 20, wherein:

said heat-cooling cycle is less than one minute.

22. An ocular lens device according to claim 1, wherein:

said refractive optics structure is formed by dissolving said polyisobutylene-based polymer in a solvent to form a solution and casting the solution.

23. An ocular lens device according to claim 22, wherein:

the casting of the solution forms at least one lens perform that is compression molded to form said refractive optics structure.

24. An ocular lens device according to claim 1, wherein:

said refractive optics structure is formed by compression molding at a temperature between 100°

C. and 120°

C.

25. An ocular lens device according to claim 1, wherein:

said refractive optics structure is formed by casting a solution of the polyisobutylene-based polymer into a preform and compression molding of the preform.

26. An ocular lens device according to claim 25, wherein:

the compression molding is carried out at a temperature between 100°

C. and 120°

C.

27. An ocular lens device according to claim 1, wherein:

said refractive optics structure can be folded or rolled upon itself for placement into the eye.