Corneal implant storage and delivery devices

• US 8,668,735 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2012
• Issued: 03/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ReVision Optics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ReVision Optics, Inc.
• Inventors: Nigam, Alok, Plambeck, Gregg Edmond, Schneider, Ned, Ariely, Adam, Matsuura, David, Simpson, Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): McEvoy, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Szpira, Julie A
• Application Number:
  US13/657,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20130123916A1
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 294/1.2, 606/107, 606/161, 606/166, 623/6.12
• US Class Current: 623/6.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/30 Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for wound clamps A61B17/10; for ligaturing clips A61B17/122; packages or dispensers for surgical gloves or finger-stalls A61B42/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/142 Cornea, e.g. artificial corneae, keratoprostheses or corneal implants for repair of defective corneal tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1451 Inlays or onlays
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/148 Implantation instruments specially adapted therefor

Abstract

Devices and methods for handling and depositing corneal implants onto corneal tissue. Devices and methods for packaging and storing corneal implants.

Claims

1. A method of depositing a corneal implant onto corneal tissue, comprising:

providing a corneal implant applicator apparatus, the apparatus comprising

a corneal implant applicator,

an implant support disposed relative to the corneal implant applicator to form an implant chamber, and

a corneal implant disposed in the implant chamber;

moving the implant support relative to the corneal implant applicator to allow the corneal implant to preferentially adhere to the corneal implant applicator rather than the implant support due to the corneal implant'"'"'s preference for adhering to the implant applicator rather than the implant support;

positioning the corneal implant applicator such that the corneal implant engages corneal tissue; and

moving the corneal implant applicator from the corneal tissue to allow the corneal implant to preferentially adhere to the corneal tissue rather than the applicator due to the corneal implant'"'"'s preference for adhering to the corneal tissue rather than the applicator, thereby depositing the corneal implant on the corneal tissue.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein moving the implant support relative to the corneal implant applicator comprises removing a securing element that detachably secures the implant support to the corneal implant applicator.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising wicking away fluid from within the implant chamber, wherein the wicking step occurs prior to moving the implant support relative to the corneal implant applicator.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising, prior to the depositing step, creating a corneal flap and lifting the corneal flap to expose the corneal tissue.

5. A method of depositing a corneal implant onto corneal tissue, comprising:

providing a corneal implant applicator apparatus, the apparatus comprising

a corneal implant applicator,

an implant support disposed relative to the corneal implant applicator to form an implant chamber, and

a corneal implant disposed in the implant chamber;

moving the implant support relative to the corneal implant applicator to allow the corneal implant to preferentially adhere to the corneal implant applicator rather than the implant support due to the corneal implant'"'"'s preference for adhering to the implant applicator rather than the implant support;

positioning the corneal implant applicator such that the corneal implant engages corneal tissue; and

displacing the corneal implant from the applicator surface and depositing the corneal implant onto the corneal tissue by lifting the applicator surface away from the corneal tissue, wherein lifting the surface away from the corneal tissue allows the corneal implant to preferentially adhere to the corneal tissue over the applicator surface due to the corneal implant'"'"'s preference for adhering to the corneal tissue rather than the applicator.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising removing a securing element that detachably secures the implant support to the corneal implant applicator.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising wicking away fluid from within the implant chamber, wherein the wicking step occurs prior to moving the implant support relative to the corneal implant applicator.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising, prior to the positioning step, creating a corneal flap and lifting the corneal flap to expose the corneal tissue.

9. A method of depositing a corneal implant onto corneal tissue, comprising:

providing a corneal implant applicator apparatus, the apparatus comprising

a corneal implant applicator,

an implant support disposed relative to the corneal implant applicator, and

a corneal implant disposed between the corneal implant applicator and the implant support;

moving the implant support relative to the corneal implant applicator to allow the corneal implant to adhere to the corneal implant applicator due to the corneal implant'"'"'s preference for adhering to the implant applicator rather than the implant support;

positioning the corneal implant applicator such that the corneal implant engages corneal tissue; and

moving the corneal implant applicator from the corneal tissue to allow the corneal implant to preferentially adhere to the corneal tissue rather than the applicator due to the corneal implant'"'"'s preference for adhering to the corneal tissue rather than the applicator.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising removing a securing element that detachably secures the implant support to the corneal implant applicator.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising wicking away fluid from between the corneal implant applicator and the implant support, wherein the wicking step occurs prior to moving the implant support relative to the corneal implant applicator.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising, prior to the positioning step, creating a corneal flap and lifting the corneal flap to expose the corneal tissue.