Method for increasing the depth of focus of a patient

• US 8,858,624 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corneagen, Inc. (SightLife, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Acufocus, Inc.
• Inventors: Christie, Bruce A., Silvestrini, Thomas A., Hahnen, Kevin F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Holwerda, Kathleen
• Assistant Examiner(s): SIMPSON, SARAH A
• Application Number:
  US11/417,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20060271176A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,086 Days
• Field of Search: 606/107, 623/4.1, 623/5.11, 351/177
• US Class Current: 623/4.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/152 for aligning
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/14 Eye parts, e.g. lenses, corneal implants; Implanting instruments specially adapted therefor; Artificial eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/145 Corneal inlays, onlays, or lenses for refractive correction
• 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 2/15 Implant having one or more holes, e.g. for nutrient transport, for facilitating handling
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1601 Lens body having features to facilitate aqueous fluid flow across the intraocular lens, e.g. for pressure equalization or nutrient delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/1689 having plate-haptics
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/1696 Having structure for blocking or reducing amount of light transmitted, e.g. glare reduction
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/1699 Additional features not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0023 differing in porosity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0067 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/007 Methods or devices for eye surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 27/02 Ophthalmic agents
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 2202/04 Lenses comprising decentered structures
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/04 Contact lenses for the eyes disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/046 Contact lenses having an iris pattern
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/165 with stenopaeic apertures

Abstract

A mask configured to be implanted in a cornea of a patient to increase the depth of focus of the patient includes an anterior surface, a posterior surface, and a plurality of holes. The anterior surface is configured to reside adjacent a first corneal layer. The posterior surface is configured to reside adjacent a second corneal layer. The plurality of holes extends at least partially between the anterior surface and the posterior surface. The holes of the plurality of holes are configured to substantially eliminate visible diffraction patterns.

Claims

1. A method for increasing the depth of focus of a patient, the method comprising:

providing a corneal inlay comprising an aperture configured to transmit along an optical axis substantially all incident visible light and a portion configured to be substantially opaque to visible light and to surround at least a portion of the aperture, the corneal inlay comprising a plurality of randomly located nutrient flow paths in a central region of the substantially opaque portion, the nutrient flow paths having an average amount of open area per unit area in the central region and being randomly located and having a minimum wall thickness defined between adjacent nutrient flow paths,

the substantially opaque portion of the corneal inlay further comprising an inner peripheral region between the central region and the aperture and an outer peripheral region between the central region and an outer edge of the inlay, the inner and outer regions having nutrient flow paths permitting some nutrient flow therethrough, at least one of the inner and outer regions having greater opacity due to a lower amount of open area per unit area; and

inserting the corneal inlay into a cornea of an eye of the patient.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

accessing a first corneal layer of an eye of the patient;

placing a posterior surface of the corneal inlay adjacent to the first corneal layer; and

placing a second corneal layer adjacent to an anterior surface of the corneal inlay.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the central region is non-transmissive to about 92 percent of incident light.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the substantially opaque portion comprises a pigmentation agent.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the pigmentation agent comprises carbon.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the pigmentation agent is located in an interior region of the corneal inlay.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the nutrient flow paths are configured to maintain at least about ninety-six percent of the natural flow of at least one biological substance from a first corneal layer to a second corneal layer.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one biological substance includes glucose.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the aperture is centrally located within the outer periphery and extends through an anterior surface and a posterior surface of the corneal inlay.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the corneal inlay further comprises a lens body having an optical power for vision correction.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming a pocket within a stroma of the cornea prior to inserting the corneal inlay.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising using a laser to form a pocket within the stroma.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising using a keratome to form a pocket within the stroma.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming a flap in the cornea to expose first and second corneal layers, wherein inserting comprises inserting the corneal inlay between the first and second corneal layers.

15. A method for increasing the depth of focus of a patient, the method comprising:

providing a corneal inlay comprising an aperture configured to transmit along an optical axis substantially all incident visible light and a portion configured to be substantially opaque to visible light and to surround at least a portion of the aperture and extending from a central region to an outer edge of the corneal inlay, the corneal inlay comprising a plurality of randomly located nutrient flow paths in the central region of the substantially opaque portion,

the nutrient flow paths providing an amount of open area per unit area toward the center of the central region that is greater than an amount of open area per unit area adjacent the aperture of the corneal inlay; and

inserting the corneal inlay into a cornea of an eye of the patient.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising forming a pocket within a stroma of the cornea prior to inserting the corneal inlay.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising using a laser to form a pocket within the stroma.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising using a keratome to form a pocket within the stroma.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising forming a flap in the cornea to expose first and second corneal layers, wherein inserting comprises inserting the corneal inlay between the first and second corneal layers.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the corneal inlay comprises a plurality of regions in which the density of holes is substantially equal.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the corneal inlay comprises a plurality of wedges in which the density of holes is substantially equal.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the nutrient flow paths are irregularly located while maintaining a minimum local opacity in the central region.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the nutrient flow paths include a plurality of holes that vary in size.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the size of the holes varies randomly.

25. The method of claim 15, wherein the corneal inlay has larger nutrient flow paths toward the center of the central region than adjacent the aperture of the corneal inlay.

26. A corneal inlay comprising:

an aperture configured to transmit along an optical axis substantially all incident visible light;

a portion configured to be substantially opaque to visible light and to surround at least a portion of the aperture; and

a plurality of randomly located nutrient flow paths in a central region of the opaque portion, the nutrient flow paths having an average open area in the central region,

wherein the substantially opaque portion of the corneal inlay further comprises an inner peripheral region between the central region and the aperture and an outer peripheral region between the central region and an outer edge of the inlay, the inner and outer regions having nutrient flow paths permitting nutrient flow therethrough, at least one of the inner and outer regions having greater opacity due to a lower amount of open area per unit area.

27. A corneal inlay comprising:

an aperture configured to transmit along an optical axis substantially all incident visible light;

a portion configured to be substantially opaque to visible light and to surround at least a portion of the aperture and extending from a central region to an outer edge of the corneal inlay;

a plurality of randomly located nutrient flow paths in the central region of the substantially opaque portion, the nutrient flow paths providing an amount of open area per unit area toward the center of the central region that is greater than an amount of open area per unit area adjacent the aperture of the corneal inlay.

28. The corneal inlay of claim 27, wherein the central region has larger nutrient flow paths toward the center of the central region than adjacent the aperture.