CZ303535B6 - Apparatus for introduction of eye implant - Google Patents

Abstract

The invented apparatus for introduction of eye implant û an artificial eye lens û consists of an injector for pushing the implant out of a storing area (7), a cartridge (6) over the introduction cannula (8) thereof, whereby the end of the injector (1) piston (2) is provided with a sleeve (3) having on its front face (3) a cavity (4) for insertion onto the injector (1) piston (2). The sleeve (3) has constant outside diameter (D) and a cavity (5) of cylindrical shape performed in its other face (3''). Said cavity (5) has constant inside diameter (d2) for receiving a marginal part of the intraocular lens, particularly a fixing leg thereof when pushing the intraocular lens out of the cartridge (6) storing area (7).

Description

Device for introducing an ocular implant

Technical field

The invention relates to a device for insertion of an ocular implant - an artificial intraocular lens.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Artificial intraocular lenses are fine artificial lenses developed and adapted for permanent placement within the eye. The lenses are made of a so-called biocompatible material - which means they are well received by the body and do not require care or maintenance. The lenses are placed either between the cornea and the iris in the anterior chamber of the eye, or on the iris or behind the iris in the posterior chamber of the eye. Artificial intraocular lenses are used either in cataract surgery or to replace a human lens that was removed in an earlier cataract surgery. Another application is correction of eye defect. In the case of correction of the eye defect, the human lens remains in the eye and the artificial intraocular lens is in this case called the so called phakic intraocular lens.

For sterile preservation, resp. for insertion of artificial intraocular lens during surgery - implantation is done by special cartridge. In principle, they consist of a lens storage box and an insertion cannula associated therewith. The intraocular lens, sterile embedded in the flat-shaped storage box, is then pushed out of the storage box in a coiled form by the insertion cannula during the implantation itself and directed to the implantation site within the eye. A special injector piston, temporarily attached to the cartridge, is used to exert the pressure required to push the lens through the cannula. More rarely, the cartridge is part of a disposable injector.

For easier and gentle handling of the lens by pushing it through the insertion cannula, a cylindrical sleeve ("cushion") of elastomeric material (eg based on silicone elastomers) is fitted at the end of the injector piston. This sleeve typically has an opening on one side for the end portion of the injector piston and, on the other hand, terminates in a flat face that contacts the implant and transmits pressure to the injector piston. A shortcoming of the present sleeve design is the aforementioned face planar surface, which insufficiently respects the shape complexity of the implant - the intraocular lens is provided with fixation legs. As a result, an undesirable deformation of the intraocular lens occurs, which complicates and hampers the already highly demanding process of extrusion through the cannula. In addition, thin portions of the lens may be trapped between the inner wall of the cartridge cavity and the end of the plunger, which, in addition to complicating the process of expelling the lens from the cartridge, may result in lens damage.

A certain solution to this problem is the invention according to European patent EP 1 438 929, according to which the sleeve of the injector piston is designed so that its skirt surface has a circumferentially arranged step so that two skirt areas with different diameters are formed and a skirt area with larger diameter connects to the sealing lip. In a preferred embodiment, the sealing lip surrounds a concave recess at the distal end of the seal. The effect of the solution is directly defined in the document as follows: in order to prevent thin portions of the lens, especially the haptic portions, from being clamped between the inner wall of the cartridge cavity and the gasket surface, the gasket is provided circumferentially with a sealing lip. In particular, the sealing lip is pressed radially outwardly against the inner wall of the cartridge cavity by the dynamic pressure generated when the push rod is moved at the distal end of the seal. Due to this self-sealing effect, the thin portions, the lens, especially the fibrous haptic, are prevented from clamping between the inner walls of the cartridge cavity and the distal end of the push rod, in particular the housing surface of the seal. The problem with this solution, however, is that the fact that the lens can be ejected from the cartridge can be caused by sealing the sleeve itself in the cartridge cavity. This is also indicated in the document EP 1 438 929 itself, which states that a viscous elastic solution is introduced into the cartridge cavity to facilitate displacement of the lens towards the distal end of the cartridge.

- 1 GB 303535 B6

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The device for insertion of an ocular implant - an artificial intraocular lens according to the invention contributes to eliminating the above mentioned drawbacks of the prior art. This device, like the existing device, consists of an injector with a piston for pushing the implant out of the cartridge receptacle through the insertion cannula, wherein the end of the injector piston is provided with a sleeve having a cavity in its one face for insertion onto the injector piston. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The cap has a constant outer diameter and has a cylindrical cavity of constant inner diameter in its second face to accommodate the peripheral portion of the intraocular lens, and in particular its fixation legs when the intraocular lens is pushed out of the cartridge storage space.

The advantage of the solution is a better deformed intraocular lens when passing through the insertion cannula (the edge part - especially the fixation leg temporarily accommodates the piston sleeve cavity) and the directly related easier and safer extrusion of the lens through the insertion cannula during implantation. This effect is achieved without the need to address the sealing of the sleeve in the cartridge cavity as efficiently as in EP 1 438 929. This also eliminates the associated complications when removing the lens from the cartridge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

1 is a side view of the piston injector, FIG. 2 is a side view of the intraocular lens cartridge, FIG. 3 is a detail of the injector piston sleeve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The device for insertion of an ocular implant - artificial intraocular lens in the exemplary embodiment is formed by an injector I (see Fig. 1) with a piston 2 for pushing the implant - intraocular lens from the cartridge storage space 7 (see Fig. 2) through its insertion cannula 8.

The end of the piston 2 of the injector 1 is provided with a sleeve 3 of cylindrical shape (detail - see Fig. 3) having an outer diameter D (in the exemplary embodiment D = 2.5 mm) and a length L (in the exemplary embodiment L = 6 mm).

The sleeve 3 is made of a silicone elastomer and has a piston cavity 4 in its face 3 'for mounting on the piston 2 of the injector 1. The piston cavity 4 is cylindrical in shape with a diameter d1 corresponding to the diameter of the piston 2 of the injector 1. , 5 mm.

A cavity 5 is then formed in the second face 3 of the sleeve 3 to receive the peripheral portion of the intraocular lens, in particular its fixation foot, when the intraocular lens is pushed out of the cartridge storage space 7 of the cartridge. In the exemplary embodiment, the cavity 5 has a diameter d2 - 1.5 mm and a depth h2 = 2 mm.

Claims (1)

PATENT CLAIMS An apparatus for introducing an ophthalmic implant - an artificial intraocular lens, comprising an injector (1) with a piston (2) for pushing the implant out of the cartridge storage space (7) through its insertion cannula (8), the end of the injector plunger (2). is provided with a sleeve (3) having in its one face 40 (3 ') a cavity (4) for mounting on the piston (2) of the injector (1), characterized in that the sleeve (3) has a constant outer diameter (D) and has a cavity in its second face (3) (5) a cylindrical shape with a constant inner diameter (d2) for accommodating the peripheral portion of the intraocular lens, in particular its fixation legs when pushing the intraocular lens out of the cartridge storage space (7).