Corneal implant storage and delivery devices

• US 9,345,569 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2012
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ReVision Optics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ReVision Optics, Inc.
• Inventors: Plambeck, Gregg Edmond, Schneider, Ned, Ariely, Adam, Matsuura, David, Simpson, Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): Willse, David H
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHIPMON, TIFFANY P
• Application Number:
  US14/352,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20140257477A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,310 Days
• Field of Search: 606/107
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2050/3006 Nested casings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/20 Holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments drapes with means to hold surgical instruments A61B46/23; for catheters A61M25/02
• 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: A61B 50/33 Trays
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0095 Packages or dispensers for prostheses or other implants for intraocular lenses A61F2/1691; for dental surgery A61C19/02
• 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 2/145 Corneal inlays, onlays, or lenses for refractive correction
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1451 Inlays or onlays
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/148 Implantation instruments specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1662 Instruments for inserting intraocular lenses into the eye
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1678 with a separate cartridge or other lens setting part for storage of a lens, e.g. preloadable for shipping
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0061 Devices for putting-in contact lenses
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/06 Packaging groups of articles, the groups being treated as single articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/264 for absorbing liquids

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 corneal implant applicator apparatus, comprising

an implant applicator with at least one applicator opening therethrough;

and

an implant support with at least one support opening therethrough, wherein the implant applicator and implant support are disposed relative to one another to form an implant nest that is adapted to house a corneal implant;

wherein the at least applicator opening and the at least one support opening are adapted such that forces between the corneal implant and a liquid disposed in the at least one applicator opening are greater than forces between the corneal implant and a liquid disposed in the at least one support opening, wherein the greater forces provide the applicator with a greater affinity for the corneal implant than the support.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one applicator opening are adapted to provide the applicator with less of an affinity for the corneal implant than a corneal surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the number of applicator openings is greater than the number of support openings.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the number of applicator openings that overlap the corneal implant when positioned in the implant nest is greater than the number of support openings that overlap the corneal implant.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the size of the at least one applicator opening is smaller than the size of the at least one support opening.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the implant applicator has a first surface through which the at least one applicator opening passes, wherein the first surface is flat.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the implant support has a first surface through which the at least one support opening passes, wherein the first surface is flat.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a ratio of the sum of the perimeters of the at least one applicator openings to the sum of the areas of the at least one applicator openings is greater than a ratio of the sum of the perimeters of the at least one support openings to the sum of the areas of the at least one support openings, and wherein the greater ratio provides the applicator with a higher affinity for a corneal implant than the support.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one applicator opening and the at least one support opening have hexagonal configurations.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the implant applicator has a plurality of applicator openings therethrough and the implant support has a plurality of support openings therethrough, wherein the plurality of applicator openings are smaller than the plurality of support openings.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the implant applicator has a plurality of applicator openings therethrough and the implant support has a plurality of support openings therethrough, and wherein a number of the plurality of applicator openings that overlap the corneal implant when the corneal implant is disposed in the nest is greater than a number of the plurality of support openings that overlap the corneal implant.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the corneal implant is made from a hydrophilic material.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the implant applicator has a plurality of openings therethrough, and the implant support has a plurality of openings therethrough, and wherein the arrangement of the plurality of applicator openings provides the applicator with a higher affinity for the corneal implant than the support.