Automated preloaded intraocular lens injector

• US 9,700,407 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2014
• Issued: 07/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Medical Optics Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Safabash, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Miles, Jonathan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rwego, Kankindi
• Application Number:
  US14/196,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20140257317A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 623 612
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1662 Instruments for inserting intraocular lenses into the eye
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/167 with pushable plungers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1672 with a two-stage plunger, e.g. rotatable and pushable or rotatable at different speeds
• 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

Abstract

This intraocular lens (IOL) injector for delivering an IOL into an eye of a patient includes an IOL load chamber and connected delivery tube, and a spring-loaded push rod for urging the IOL through the delivery tube and out of a distal tip thereof. The injector includes an actuator that is cocked to compress an automatic delivery coil spring. Cocking the actuator also folds the IOL and may elongate a dual optic IOL. A braking mechanism may be provided to permit control of the spring-biased IOL advancement. The injector is in a pen style with finger plates on the side for better ergonomic control.

Claims

1. An injector for delivering an intraocular lens (IOL) into the eye of a subject, comprising:

a housing;

a load chamber within the housing for holding an IOL;

a delivery tube in communication with the load chamber and terminating at a distal tip;

a push rod within the housing and movable through the load chamber for urging the IOL in a distal direction from the load chamber, through the delivery tube and out of the distal tip in a delivery procedure;

an actuator mounted to slide within the housing;

a biasing coil connected between the actuator and the housing, the biasing coil assuming a relaxed state when the actuator is in a retracted position and assuming a stressed configuration when the actuator is in a cocked position, the actuator and housing having cooperating features to hold the actuator in the cocked position, and the biasing coil being coupled to apply a distally-directed force to the push rod when the biasing coil is in its stressed configuration; and

a latch that maintains the push rod in a proximal position against the force of the biasing coil, a trigger that releases the latch to permit the biasing member to apply a distally-directed force to the push rod, and an operator controlled brake associated with the trigger for slowing or halting movement of the push rod when the trigger is fully depressed;

wherein the push rod has a proximal plunger head with a recess, and the latch comprises an inwardly-directed finger on a lever arm mounted on one side of the housing, the trigger being provided on a distal end of the lever arm and the lever arm having a fulcrum in between the trigger and inwardly-directed finger so that inward movement of the trigger causes outward movement of the latch;

wherein there are two identical lever arms opposite each other across the housing and two associated triggers that are squeezed to each release a latch to permit the biasing coil to apply a distally-directed force to the push rod.

2. The injector of claim 1, wherein the injector has a pen-style of operation with the trigger being mounted on at least one side of the housing such that the user holds the injector and operates the trigger in the manner of holding a pen.

3. The injector of claim 1, wherein the housing further includes an IOL folding mechanism that is configured to first elongate and then fold an IOL when the actuator moves from the retracted position to the cocked position.

4. A pen-style injector for delivering an intraocular lens (IOL) into the eye of a subject, comprising:

a housing having an IOL delivery tube on a distal end and an actuator with a thumb plate on a proximal end, the actuator being mounted to slide within the housing from a retracted position extending from the housing and a cocked position within the housing, the housing further including a spring positioned to be compressed by the actuator when moving from the retracted position to the cocked position, and the actuator and housing having cooperating features to hold the actuator in the cocked position;

a push rod within the housing and movable through a load chamber defined therein for urging an IOL in a distal direction from the load chamber in a delivery procedure, wherein the compressed spring engages and applies a distally-directed force to a proximal end of the push rod when in its stressed configuration;

a latch that maintains the push rod in a proximal position against the force of the spring, a trigger on the side of the housing that releases the latch to permit the spring to apply distally-directed force to the push rod, and an operator controlled brake associated with the trigger that slows the velocity of the push rod when engaged;

wherein the brake braking mechanism comprises a braking finger associated with the trigger that is configured to press against an O-ring surrounding the push rod and apply friction thereto.

5. The injector of claim 4, wherein the push rod has a proximal plunger head with a recess, and the latch comprises an inwardly-directed finger on a lever arm mounted on one side of the housing, the trigger being provided on a distal end of the lever arm and the lever arm having a fulcrum in between the trigger and inwardly-directed finger so that inward movement of the trigger causes outward movement of the latch.

6. The injector of claim 4, wherein the housing further includes an IOL folding mechanism that is configured to first elongate and then fold an IOL when the actuator moves from the retracted position to the cocked position.