Corneal Implant Retaining Devices and Methods of Use

• US 20130023892A1
• Filed: 07/13/2012
• Published: 01/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ReVision Optics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ReVision Optics, Inc.
• Inventors: Schneider, Ned, Le, Alan Ngoc, Plambeck, Gregg Edmond
• Granted Patent: US 9,271,828 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/107
• 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 2/148 Implantation instruments specially adapted therefor

Abstract

Corneal implant retaining devices and their methods of use. The retaining devices can be a cap adapted to be disposed over a portion of a corneal implant insertion device.

Claims

1. A cornea implant insertion system, comprising:

a corneal implant insertion device comprising a corneal implant holding area adapted to receive a corneal implant; and

a cap adapted to be disposed over at least a portion of a distal region of the insertion device, the cap and the insertion device defining a fluid space in which a fluid is maintained, wherein the cap comprises an opening in fluid communication with the fluid space.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the cap comprises a fluid channel extending therethrough in fluid communication with the opening and the fluid space.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the opening is disposed at a distal end of the cap.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the cap comprises a distal flat face, and wherein the opening is disposed in the distal flat face.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the cap includes a channel extending from the opening to the fluid space.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the cap has a generally cylindrical configuration.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the distal region of the insertion device has a generally flat configuration.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the cap includes a channel extending from the opening to the fluid space.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the cap includes an inner surface adapted to prevent the corneal implant from escaping the holding area.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the channel extends from the opening to the inner surface.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the cap completely surrounds the distal region of the insertion device.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the holding area is defined by a first surface and a second surface of the insertion device.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the first and second surfaces are generally flat surfaces.

14. The system of claim 1 further comprising a corneal implant disposed within the holding area.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising a second fluid disposed within the holding area and adapted to retain the corneal implant within the holding area by capillary forces.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the fluid and the second fluid are the same type of fluid.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the first and second fluids are both saline.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein the cap comprises an inner surface adapted to engage the distal end of the insertion device and prevent the corneal implant from escaping the holding area.

19. A method of removing fluid from a corneal implant insertion device prior to implanting the corneal implant, comprising:

providing a corneal implant insertion device and a cap disposed over at least a portion of a distal region of the insertion device, a first portion of the cap and a first portion of the distal region of the insertion device defining a fluid space in which a fluid is maintained;

removing at least a portion of the fluid from the fluid space through an opening in the cap; and

removing the cap from the distal region of the insertion device to provide access to a cornea implant retained by the insertion device.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the removing step comprises positioning an absorbent material adjacent the opening to withdraw fluid through the opening.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein the removing step comprises aspirating the fluid from the fluid space through the opening with an aspiration device.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the removing step comprises removing at least a portion of the fluid from the fluid space without removing all of a fluid disposed within the insertion device.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein the removing step comprises removing at least a portion of the fluid from the fluid space through a channel in the cap.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the removing step comprises inserting an aspiration device within the channel and aspirating the fluid from the space with the aspiration device.

25. The method of claim 19 further comprising removing the conical implant from the insertion device and depositing the corneal implant onto corneal tissue.