Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B3/00—Apparatus for testing the eyes; Instruments for examining the eyes
  • A61B3/10—Objective types, i.e. instruments for examining the eyes independent of the patients' perceptions or reactions
  • A61B3/12—Objective types, i.e. instruments for examining the eyes independent of the patients' perceptions or reactions for looking at the eye fundus, e.g. ophthalmoscopes
  • A61B3/125—Objective types, i.e. instruments for examining the eyes independent of the patients' perceptions or reactions for looking at the eye fundus, e.g. ophthalmoscopes with contact lenses
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
  • A61B3/00—Apparatus for testing the eyes; Instruments for examining the eyes
  • A61B3/10—Objective types, i.e. instruments for examining the eyes independent of the patients' perceptions or reactions
  • A61B3/117—Objective types, i.e. instruments for examining the eyes independent of the patients' perceptions or reactions for examining the anterior chamber or the anterior chamber angle, e.g. gonioscopes
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
  • A61N5/00—Radiation therapy
  • A61N5/06—Radiation therapy using light
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
  • A61N5/00—Radiation therapy
  • A61N5/06—Radiation therapy using light
  • A61N2005/0635—Radiation therapy using light characterised by the body area to be irradiated
  • A61N2005/0643—Applicators, probes irradiating specific body areas in close proximity
  • A61N2005/0645—Applicators worn by the patient
  • A61N2005/0647—Applicators worn by the patient the applicator adapted to be worn on the head
  • A61N2005/0648—Applicators worn by the patient the applicator adapted to be worn on the head the light being directed to the eyes

Definitions

• the present invention generally relates to a contact lens for examining an eye under an incident light beam. It finds particular application for the observation of the interior of the eye and / or its treatment by irradiation, mainly at the level of the retina to detect various diseases affecting inter alia, the diaphragm, the lens or the retina, which require to be inspected optically accurately.
• the present invention also relates to a process for obtaining such a contact lens.
• the contact lens for observing and treating an eye with an incident light beam comprises a main element comprising a plane entry face, a spherical exit face to be applied on the cornea and a reflecting face.
• This type of glass may also comprise a plurality of other reflecting faces distributed around the periphery of the glass. It is a monobloc body of revolution having an axis of symmetry aa '. In use condition, a retina of a subject is traversed by this axis of aa 'at a point F.
• a beam of light X, d axis xx 'must enter this glass (commonly called Goldmann glass) perpendicular to the entrance face, at a distance of ⁇ ciXC clci, and cross directly, without reflection, the glass and the eye.
• a beam of light Y must, after entering the glass perpendicularly to the entrance face, undergo a total reflection by the reflecting face at a point to enter the eye at an angle of incidence i. For each region of the retina distant from ⁇ ', there is a particular inclination of the reflecting face with respect to the plane entry face.
• contact lenses are expensive to manufacture because of the volume of material composing the main element and the method to be implemented to obtain a contact lens having the optical qualities expected to allow the observation and treatment of an eye by an incident beam.
• the contact lenses of the prior art define main elements whose volume is defined axially by the first input face and the output face, and radially by the reflecting face (and possibly several other reflecting faces). as well as portions of the periphery of the main element. These one-piece contact lenses thus comprise a volume filled with material.
• the contact lens In order to ensure satisfactory quality of observation and treatment of the eye by the incident light beam, it is essential that the contact lens, by virtue of its qualities of shape and composition, allows a satisfactory focusing of the beam and the Maintaining focus qualities for any point in the eye, primarily the anterior chamber of the eye. It has been found that such monobloc contact lenses comprising such a volume filled in manner require particular precautions when they are obtained in order to preserve the optical qualities expected to allow observation and treatment of an eye by an incident beam. Indeed, the processes for obtaining such contact lenses require design efforts in order to avoid the phenomenon of shrinkage of material, such as, for example, the determination of the thicknesses of the different parts of the contact lens and the determination of the temperatures at which they occur. these must be cooled. A contact lens comprising a volume thus filled with material therefore also requires a relatively long cooling step which negatively impacts the cost of obtaining such a contact lens.
• the methods for obtaining contact lenses according to the prior art require a metallization step on the faces of the part requiring optical qualities, such as the first entry face, the reflective face or faces and the face. spherical output. Such a metallization step is expensive and lengthens the time to obtain the contact lens.
• the contact lenses of the prior art are intended to be reused many times. This requires that these glasses are able to withstand sterilization conditions in a hospital environment. According to international standards, sterilization is obtained by autoclaving at 125 ° C for 10 minutes. The corresponding French standard is even more restrictive since it imposes a stay at 134 ° C for 20 minutes. These sterilization procedures require frequent and costly sterilization operations.
• the problem posed here is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.
• the invention aims to provide a contact lens for the observation and treatment of an eye by an incident light beam which is single-use, reliable and inexpensive to manufacture.
• the invention also aims to provide a contact lens lightweight, ergonomic, sterile and secure.
• the solution proposed by the present invention is a contact lens for examining and / or treating an eye under an incident light beam, comprising a main element having: a first planar entry face disposed perpendicularly to said beam,
• a spherical outlet face having a center of curvature and an axis of symmetry perpendicular to the input face and passing through the center of curvature, said outlet face being intended to be applied to the eye and to focus said beam in a point of work inside the eye.
• the main element includes:
• a second input face disposed opposite the spherical output face, along the axis of symmetry, a central recess extending from said first planar input face to said second input face.
• the second input face defines the bottom of the recess, said second input face being configured to allow the observation of a point close to an axis of symmetry of the eye.
• the first plane entry face is then preferably configured to allow the observation of a distant point of the axis of symmetry of the eye.
• the first input face comprises an observation zone
• the second input face is connected to the first input face by an internal lateral wall of the recess
• an optical prism is particularly defined by the observation zone, the reflecting face and the inner side wall of the recess, the prism being configured to allow the penetration of the light beam through the observation zone before undergoing total reflection by the reflecting face. a point to enter the eye at an angle of incidence.
• the prism is further delimited by two lateral flaps extending from the periphery of the glass to join the reflecting face.
• the glass includes a plurality of distinct reflective faces and a corresponding number of distinct prisms.
• the glass includes connecting faces defining the perimeter of the glass, which are interposed between the prisms to connect the prisms together.
• each connecting face is delimited by two lateral faces of two respective prisms.
• the glass comprises a homogeneous and constant thickness defined between the inner side wall and the connection face facing it.
• the first input face has an opening communicating with said central recess.
• the exit face is delimited by a circular contour delimiting the exit face of a base of the glass
• the second face is delimited by an outline
• the image of the virtual projection of the contour of the exit face, along the axis of symmetry, is contained within the contour of the second face.
• the image of the virtual projection of the contour of the exit face is a circle inscribed in the contour of the second face.
• the contour of the second face has a polygonal shape, preferably hexagonal.
• a contour of the opening has the same geometric shape as the contour of the second input face.
• the apices of the contour of the opening and the vertices of the contour of the second input face meet to form the edges inside recess, which delimit the internal side walls.
• the contour of the opening has dimensions identical to the contour of the second input face, or,
• the contour of the opening has dimensions larger than the dimensions of the contour of the second input face so that the area defined by the contour of the opening is greater than the area defined by the second face of input (this characteristic can for example be observed by projecting these outlines on the same plane).
• the glass is in one piece and consists of a transparent plastic material.
• a process for obtaining a contact lens according to any one of the embodiments presented in the description is also contemplated.
• the contact lens is obtained by a step of injecting a plastic material into a mold.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a sectional view along a longitudinal plane of symmetry of the contact lens according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention and a schematic representation of the eye on the cornea of which the contact lens is applied,
• FIG. 2 shows a view from above of the contact lens according to an embodiment of the invention
• FIGS. 3a-3b show sectional views along the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the contact lens according to an embodiment of the invention
• FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c respectively show views along the sectional planes AA, BB and CC which are represented in FIG. 2
• FIG. 4 shows a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view from above of an exemplary embodiment of the contact lens
• FIG. 6 illustrates a bottom perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the contact lens
• FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the contact lens.
• FIG. 1 A schematic representation of the eye 1 is shown in Figure 1. It is a body of revolution having an axis of symmetry aa 'which comprises, going from the outside to the inside of the eye, a cornea 2 by which enter the light rays, an iris 3 whose opening regulates the amount of material, a crystalline lens 4 and a retina 5, of spherical shape having a center O, which is crossed by the axis aa 'at a point F.
• FIGS. 1 to 7 show a contact lens for the observation and treatment of an eye by an incident light beam F.
• This lens 10 comprises a substantially flat first input face 11, an exit face 12 applied on the cornea 2 and a reflecting surface 13 (reflecting towards the inside of the glass 10).
• the reflecting face 13 allows indirect observation of the anterior chamber of the eye by total reflection of the beams on this wall.
• other reflecting faces 13 may also be distributed around the periphery of the glass.
• the angle between a reflecting face 13 and the input face 11 depends on the point of the target retina. Typically, this axis can vary from 50 ° to 80 °.
• the line perpendicular to the input face 11 and passing through the center of curvature C of the output face 12 defines the axis of symmetry bb 'of the contact lens 10.
• the dimensions of the glass allow it to tilt over the cornea so that certain limits, the point of observation or treatment, also called working point, inside the eye.
• the axis bb 'then pivots around the center C.
• Figure 1 shows the path of light in the contact lens according to the invention for two typical points of the retina.
• the first point, noted Fx in Figure 1 corresponds to a point close to ⁇ 3.X C 33 of the eye.
• an incident light beam X of axis xx ', must enter the glass 10 perpendicularly to the input face 11, at a distance from the axis aa', and traverse directly, without reflection. , the glass 10 and the eye 1.
• the second point, noted Fy corresponds to a point located far from 13XC 33.
• the angle formed by the axis aa 'and the line joining the point F to the center O of the retina 5 may exceed 90 °.
• a beam of light Y of which only the axis yy 'has been represented, must, after entering the glass 10 perpendicular to the face 11, undergo a total reflection by the face 13 at a point 14 to enter the eye 1 at an angle of incidence i.
• the same lens according to the present invention may advantageously have several reflecting faces of different inclinations.
• the first input face 11 is a plane surface extending substantially perpendicularly with respect to the straight line passing through the center of curvature C of the exit face 12 defining the axis of so bb 'of the contact lens 10.
• the glass 10, monobloc is made of a material transparent to the useful radiation substantially defined by a shape having a longitudinal plane of symmetry.
• the glass is constituted by a shape whose base 15 is substantially hexagonal developing from the outlet face 12 to the first planar entry face 11 so that the section of the periphery of the glass near the first face of 11 is relatively larger than the section of the glass near the exit face 12.
• the first inlet face 11 is connected to the periphery of the glass at the location of a third connecting face 16 preferably substantially parallel to the first face 11.
• a collar 17 having a longitudinal plane of symmetry and constituted by a cylindrical volume of revolution is thus defined between the first input face 11 and the third connecting face 16.
• this flange 17 comprises on its periphery projections 18 extending radially outwardly and allowing easier gripping of the glass 10 during the handling of the glass by the operator.
• the first input face 11 has at its center an opening 22 which communicates with a central recess 20 extending from the first input face 11 to a second input face 21 disposed opposite the face of the spherical output 12 along the axis of symmetry bb '.
• central recess 20 is configured to allow the observation and / or treatment of a point near the axis of symmetry aa 'of the eye via the second input face 21.
• the central recess 20 is configured to allow, during the observation and / or the treatment of a point near the axis of symmetry aa ', the optical path of the light beam through the central recess 21 before crossing directly the second input face 21 and the spherical exit face 12 to reach the target point.
• the shape of the recess 21 is thus configured to allow the whole of the outlet face 12 and in particular its contour 26 to be viewed directly, without reflection and via a path of the beam through the recess.
• the opening 22 is delimited internally by a contour 23 of substantially polygonal shape, the number of sides of the polygon can be adapted according to the number of reflecting faces 13 that includes the main element on its periphery.
• the contact lens has three reflecting faces 13, the opening 22 has a contour 23 of substantially hexagonal shape.
• the spherical outlet face 12 is delimited by a contour 24 defining a circle, which delimits the spherical outlet face 12 of the base 15 of the contact lens. Any embodiment in which the shape of the hexagonal base is replaced by another polygonal or circular shape is not outside the scope of the present invention. As indicated below in the description, when the contour 24 delimiting the spherical outlet face 12 describes a circle whose center is a point of intersection between the axis of symmetry of the spherical exit face 12 passing through the point of contact.
• the radius R of this circle may be adapted so that a circle having as center this point of intersection and having radius R is inscribed in the shape of the second input face 21 and more precisely in its contour 26.
• the inscription of this circle requires virtually project the image of the circle in the contour 26 of the second input face 21, or vice versa.
• the radius R of this circle can be adapted so that it is inscribed in the 23 of the opening 22 of said first input face 11.
• the inscription of this circle requires virtually projecting the image of the circle in the contour 23 of the first input face 11, or vice versa .
• the recess 21 is configured to allow the display of the entire contour 24 of the outlet face 12 through the opening 22.
• the second inlet face 21, defining the bottom of the central recess 20, is connected to the first inlet face 11 by one or more internal lateral walls 27. More particularly, the internal lateral walls 27 each extend from the edge or edges of the contour 26 of the second input face 21 to the corresponding edges of the contour 23 of the opening of the first input face 11.
• the contour 23 of the opening 22 of the first input face has a geometric shape identical to that of the contour 26 of the second input face 21 and has identical dimensions.
• the inner side walls 27 are rectangular; these side walls can according to another example e A be trapezoidal.
• the contour 23 of the opening 22 of the first input face 11 has a geometric shape identical to that of the contour 26 of the second input face 21, and has relatively larger dimensions than the dimensions of the contour 26 of the second input face 21 so that the area defined by the contour 23 of the opening 22 of the first input face 11 is greater than the area defined by the second face of input 21. This advantageously facilitates demolding of the contact lens.
• the path of light it will be different depending on what the operator wishes to observe.
• the incident light beam X When the operator wishes to observe the point Fx corresponding to a point close to ⁇ 3XC 33 'of the eye, the incident light beam X must pass through the central recess 20, then cross directly, without reflection, the second face of input 21, the spherical exit face 12 and the subject's eye.
• the light beam Y When the operator wishes to observe the point Fy corresponding to a distant point of ⁇ 3XC 33 'of the eye, the light beam Y must, after entering the glass 10 perpendicular to the face 11 via an observation zone 30 , undergo a total reflection by the reflecting face 13 at a point 14 to enter the eye at the angle of incidence i.
• the number of observation zones 30 on the first input face 11 is adapted as a function of the number of reflecting faces 13 that comprises the contact lens 10.
• the operator can look directly through the second input face 21 if it wishes to observe a point close to ⁇ 3XC 33 'of the eye, or look through the observation zone 30 if it wishes to observe a point distant from the axis aa' of the eye.
• the spherical outlet face 12 constitutes, for the contact lens, a concave surface.
• the radius of curvature of the exit face 12 the person skilled in the art will preferentially choose a value greater than radius of curvature of the anterior aspect of the cornea of an eye at rest, in order to obtain a good contact between glass and cornea.
• the reflecting surface 13 by total reflection is a flat surface extending from the base 15 of the glass and developing toward the third connecting face 16.
• This reflecting face can be connected directly to the third connecting face 16 (FIG. 3 a) or be connected via a connecting portion 19 connecting the reflecting face 13 to the third connecting face ( Figures 3b and 3c).
• a plurality of reflecting faces 13 each having a different inclination makes it possible to maximize the coverage of the regions of the retina that can be observed.
• the first input face 11 comprises an observation zone 30 through which penetrates the light beam Y.
• a block of material 40 having optical properties such as a prism 40.
• This prism 40 is delimited by the zone of observation 30, the reflecting face 13 and the inner side wall 27 of the central recess 20 which is arranged facing the corresponding reflecting face 13. It may also be delimited by the connecting portion 19 connecting the reflecting face 13 to the third connecting face 16.
• the prisms 40 are delimited by two lateral panels 41 extending from the periphery of the glass to join the reflecting face 13, the periphery (corresponding to the periphery of the glass 10 where there is no reflecting face 13), the third connecting face 16 and the base 15 (and the connecting portions 19 if any).
• the optical properties of this prism 40 thus make it possible to observe via the observation zone 30 a distant point of ⁇ 3XC 33 'of the eye via the face reflective 19.
• the prism makes it possible to lighten the contact lens.
• the prism 40 when the prism 40 is connected by means of a connecting portion 19, it may be merged with the panels 41 and form a surface of revolution connecting the reflecting face 13, the third connecting face 19, the periphery of the glass and base 15.
• the observation zone 30 may be delimited by a substantially rectangular shape. It is delimited by the internal lateral wall 27 and by the shape of the prism 40. In other words, the observation zone 30 corresponds to a surface portion of the first face 11 which is associated with one side of the prism 40.
• the observation zone 30 has a contour within which the observation of a point distant from the axis aa 'is possible, while the zones of the first face 1 ldirectly adjacent, do not allow to observe a such point.
• each prism 40 is associated with a single observation zone 30 and a single reflecting face 13 of its own, which means that observe in a first observation zone 30 of a first prism 40 makes it possible to observe the image reflected by the first reflecting face 13.
• observing in the first observation zone 30 associated with the first prism 40 distinct from the second prism 40 does not make it possible to observe the image returned by a second reflecting face 13 associated with the second prism 40.
• the contact lens 10 comprises at least two distinct prisms 40.
• FIGS. 1 to 7 show an embodiment in which the contact lens 10 comprises three distinct prisms 40.
• connecting faces 50 are interposed between the prisms 40 and connect the prisms 40 on the periphery of the glass 10.
• a connecting face 50 is delimited by two lateral panels 41 of two respective prisms , the third connecting face 16 and the outer edge of the base 15.
• the connecting portion 19 is merged with the panels 41 so as to form a single surface of revolution connecting the reflecting face 13, the third connecting face 19, around the glass and the base 15, the connection face 50 is delimited by this connecting surface of revolution, the third connecting face 19 and the outer edge of the base.
• a homogeneous and constant thickness is defined between the inner side wall 27 and the connection face 50 facing it. The thickness will preferably be less than 6mm.
• the thickness is less than 3 mm. According to an even more advantageous embodiment, the thickness is less than 2 mm. This allows to lighten the contact lens. This also makes it possible to balance the material composing the glass and to avoid the removal of material that can take place in a large volume of material.
• connection faces 50 have no optical function and the path of a light beam in a volume of material defined between the connecting face 50 and the inner side wall 27 does not allow to observe the fundus of the eye of a subject.
• the material used for the production of the glass is preferably a material which does not exhibit a retreat after thermal stress, for example a polymethylmethacrylate.
• a process for obtaining a contact lens 10 according to any one of the embodiments described above is also contemplated.
• the contact lens is obtained by an injection molding process.
• the method therefore comprises, in particular, the injection of a material inside a mold configured to form a contact lens according to any one of the abovementioned embodiments so that the glass 10 is formed of a single molded part.
• the mold is configured to form a recess 20 in the glass 10, the recess extending inwardly of the glass 10 from the first planar input face 1 1 to the second input face 21.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Surgery (AREA)
• Molecular Biology (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Medical Informatics (AREA)
• Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
• Ophthalmology & Optometry (AREA)
• Biophysics (AREA)
• Pathology (AREA)
• Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
• Radiology & Medical Imaging (AREA)
• Eye Examination Apparatus (AREA)
• Eyeglasses (AREA)

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• 2016
  • 2016-05-06 EP EP16725559.5A patent/EP3451899A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2016-05-06 WO PCT/FR2016/051074 patent/WO2017191375A1/fr unknown
  • 2016-05-06 US US16/098,755 patent/US20190150734A1/en not_active Abandoned

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