Deformable lens insertion apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus for insertion of an intraocular lens into a small incision in an eye, comprising:
- a loading chamber having a proximal end, a distal end and a sidewall including a distally extending through opening which terminates proximally of said distal end, said loading chamber defining a first lumen having a cross-section which gradually decreases at a substantially constant rate from the termination of said through opening to said distal end and being adapted to receive an intraocular lens in an unfolded state and to fold said intraocular lens and maintain said intraocular lens folded as said intraocular lens is placed in said first lumen; and
an injection portion joined to said loading chamber, defining a second lumen having a length aligned with and directly adjacent said first lumen, said second lumen having a cross-section which gradually decreases at a substantially constant rate distally throughout said length and being adapted to receive said folded intraocular lens from said first lumen , said second lumen having a distal end opening for passing said folded intraocular lens from said second lumen directly into an eye.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for insertion of intraocular lenses into the eye are disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a loading chamber and an injection portion. The loading chamber has a proximal end and a distally extending opening. The loading chamber defines a first lumen and is adapted to receive an intraocular lens in an unfolded state at the distally extending opening and to fold the intraocular lens and maintain the intraocular lens folded as the intraocular lens is placed in the first lumen. The injection portion defines a second lumen aligned with the first lumen and is adapted to receive the folded intraocular lens from the first lumen in the second lumen. The injection portion has an open distal end through which the folded intraocular lens from the second lumen passes to be inserted into an eye.
193 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for insertion of an intraocular lens into a small incision in an eye, comprising:
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a loading chamber having a proximal end, a distal end and a sidewall including a distally extending through opening which terminates proximally of said distal end, said loading chamber defining a first lumen having a cross-section which gradually decreases at a substantially constant rate from the termination of said through opening to said distal end and being adapted to receive an intraocular lens in an unfolded state and to fold said intraocular lens and maintain said intraocular lens folded as said intraocular lens is placed in said first lumen; and an injection portion joined to said loading chamber, defining a second lumen having a length aligned with and directly adjacent said first lumen, said second lumen having a cross-section which gradually decreases at a substantially constant rate distally throughout said length and being adapted to receive said folded intraocular lens from said first lumen , said second lumen having a distal end opening for passing said folded intraocular lens from said second lumen directly into an eye. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 15, 16)
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9. An apparatus for insertion of an intraocular lens into a small incision in an eye, comprising:
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a loading chamber defining a first lumen and having a distal end and an open proximal end which includes a distally extending through notch in said loading chamber terminating proximally of said distal end, said first lumen having a cross-section which gradually decreases at a substantially constant rate from said termination of said through notch to said distal end, said loading chamber being adapted to receive an intraocular lens at said open proximal end and to fold said intraocular lens and maintain said intraocular lens folded as said intraocular lens is passed into and through said first lumen; and an injection portion defining a second lumen contiguous with said first lumen, having a length and a cross-section which gradually decreases at a substantially constant rate distally throughout said length and being adapted to receive said folded intraocular lens from said first lumen ,said injection portion having a distal end opening for pushing said folded intraocular lens from said second lumen directly into an eye, said loading chamber and said injection portion being a unitary structure terminating proximally at said open proximal end. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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17. An apparatus for insertion of an intraocular lens into a small incision in an eye, comprising:
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a loading chamber defining a first lumen having an open proximal end, a distal end and a sidewall with a distally extending through opening therein which terminates proximally of said distal end, said open proximal end and said distally extending through opening together defining a proximal opening, said first lumen having a cross-section which gradually decreases at a substantially constant rate from the termination of said distally extending through opening to said distal end, said loading chamber being adapted to receive an intraocular lens in an unfolded state at said open proximal end and to fold said intraocular lens and maintain said intraocular lens folded as said intraocular lens is passed into and through said first lumen, said proximal opening is non-circular and is sized and configured to facilitate folding said intraocular lens passing through said proximal opening; and an injection portion joined to said loading chamber, defining a second lumen having a length aligned with and directly adjacent said first lumen, said second lumen having a cross-section which gradually decreases at a substantially constant rate distally throughout said length and being adapted to receive an intraocular lens in a folded state from said first lumen and having a distal end opening through which said folded intraocular lens from said second lumen passes to be directly inserted into an eye. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. An inserter for folding and inserting a flexible intraocular lens through a small incision into the eye comprising:
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a loading chamber having a generally tubular body providing a first lumen with a proximal end and a distal end adapted to receive an unfolded intraocular lens at said proximal end; said loading chamber having a longitudinal axis and said first lumen having a cross-sectional area at any point on said longitudinal axis measured perpendicular to such axis, said cross-sectional area gradually decreasing from said proximal end to said distal end to effectuate a folding of the intraocular lens as the intraocular lens is passed therethrough; the body of said loading chamber having a distally extending opening at said proximal end to facilitate the folding of the intraocular lens as the intraocular lens is loaded in said proximal end, said distally extending opening terminating proximally of said distal end, said cross-sectional area gradually decreasing at a substantially constant rate from the termination of the distally extending opening to said distal end; and an injector portion providing a second lumen contiguous with said first lumen, said second lumen having a length and a cross-sectional area measured perpendicular to said longitudinal axis which gradually decreases at a substantially constant rate distally throughout said length for passing said folded intraocular lens from said distal end of said first lumen through said second lumen directly into the eye. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification