Scleral prosthesis for treating presbyopia and other eye disorders and related devices and methods

• US 8,337,550 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2010
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Refocus Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ReFocus Ocular, Inc.
• Inventors: Griffis, Jack C. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Willse, David H
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLANCO, JAVIER G
• Application Number:
  US12/960,917
• Publication Number:
  US 20110077735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 623/4.1, 604/8
• US Class Current: 623/4.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/147 Implants to be inserted in the stroma for refractive correction, e.g. ring-like implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/148 Implantation instruments specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0023 operated at different temperatures whilst inside or touching the human body, heated or cooled by external energy source or cold supply

Abstract

One example scleral prosthesis includes a first free end and a second free end, each wider than a middle portion of the scleral prosthesis. Multiple first portions form the first end of the scleral prosthesis. The first portions are separated along at least half of a length of the scleral prosthesis. Multiple second portions may form the second end of the scleral prosthesis, and the second portions may be separated along less than a quarter of the length of the scleral prosthesis. An implantation device can be used to facilitate implantation of a scleral prosthesis. The implantation device includes a first end portion configured to be inserted into a scleral tunnel of an eye. The implantation device also includes a second end portion configured to receive the scleral prosthesis. A rod with a tapered and rounded end can be partially inserted into the first end portion of the implantation device.

Claims

1. A scleral prosthesis comprising:

an elongated body having a middle portion and first and second ends, each of the first and second ends comprising multiple sections;

the body configured to have a first shape at a first temperature and a second shape at a second temperature;

the first and second ends being narrower in the first shape and wider in the second shape, the first and second ends in the second shape being wider than the middle portion of the body in the second shape;

the multiple sections at each end being angled towards each other in the first shape and angled away from each other in the second shape;

the body configured to be implanted while having the first shape.

2. The scleral prosthesis of claim 1, wherein:

the first shape is relatively flat; and

the second shape is at least partially arched.

3. The scleral prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the first temperature comprises a temperature below 60°

F.

4. The scleral prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the body is formed from a shape-memory material.

5. The scleral prosthesis of claim 4, wherein the shape-memory material comprises a shape-memory metal.

6. The scleral prosthesis of claim 5, wherein the shape-memory metal comprises nickel titanium alloy.

7. The scleral prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the second temperature comprises a temperature associated with scleral tissue of a patient'"'"'s eye.

8. The scleral prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the first and second ends in the second shape form splayed feet, each splayed foot comprising a curved portion and a flatter tip.

9. The scleral prosthesis of claim 1, wherein:

the first shape is arched to a smaller degree; and

the second shape is arched to a larger degree.

10. A system comprising:

a scleral prosthesis; and

a sheath having a blade configured to cut scleral tissue of a patient'"'"'s eye to form an incision, the scleral prosthesis located within the sheath;

the scleral prosthesis comprising an elongated body having a middle portion and first and second ends, each of the first and second ends comprising multiple sections;

the body configured to have a first shape at a first temperature and a second shape at a second temperature;

the first and second ends being narrower in the first shape and wider in the second shape, the first and second ends in the second shape being wider than the middle portion of the body in the second shape;

the multiple sections at each end being angled towards each other in the first shape and angled away from each other in the second shape;

the body configured to be implanted while having the first shape.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the blade comprises a straight blade.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein:

the first shape is relatively flat; and

the second shape is at least partially arched.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein:

the first shape is arched to a smaller degree; and

the second shape is arched to a larger degree.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the first temperature comprises a temperature below 60°

F.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the body is formed from a shape-memory material.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the shape-memory material comprises a shape-memory metal.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the shape-memory metal comprises nickel titanium alloy.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the second temperature comprises a temperature associated with the scleral tissue of the patient'"'"'s eye.

19. The system of claim 10, wherein the first and second ends in the second shape form splayed feet, each splayed foot comprising a curved portion and a flatter tip.

20. A method comprising:

implanting a scleral prosthesis into scleral tissue of a patient'"'"'s eye;

the scleral prosthesis comprising an elongated body having a middle portion and first and second ends, each of the first and second ends comprising multiple sections;

the body configured to have a first shape at a first temperature and a second shape at a second temperature;

the first and second ends being narrower in the first shape and wider in the second shape, the first and second ends in the second shape being wider than the middle portion of the body in the second shape;

the multiple sections at each end being angled towards each other in the first shape and angled away from each other in the second shape;

wherein the scleral prosthesis is implanted into the scleral tissue of the patient'"'"'s eye while having the first shape.