GB2191439A

GB2191439A - Forceps particularly for use in implanting eye lenses

Info

Publication number: GB2191439A
Application number: GB08712594A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Detlef Uthoff
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-05-30
Filing date: 1987-05-28
Publication date: 1987-12-16
Also published as: DE3618193A1; GB8712594D0; FR2606993A1

Abstract

A pair of forceps comprises pivotally connected forcep legs (4, 6) defining a forcep mouth (8), one leg (4) being fixed to a body (1) and the other leg (6) being provided with an extension (9) movably mounted in a recess (2) in the body (1). A bolt 11 contacts a cam surface (10) on the extension (9) to force the legs (4, 6) towards one another to close the mouth (8) against the action of a leaf spring (15). The bolt (11) is provided on a slider (14) which is slidably mounted in a groove in the body (1) and connected to a plunger (17), a needle (22) being attached to the slider. A helical spring (21) surrounding the plunger (17) serves to maintain the bolt (11) in the position in which the mouth (8) is closed but depression of the plunger, against the action of the spring (21), serves to move the bolt (11) to a position in which the leaf spring (15) is effective to move the legs (4, 6) to open the mouth and to cause the needle (22) to tangentially strike a lens held in the mouth (8) such that the lens is rotated during implantation. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for taking up, holding and manipulating objects in the medical field The invention relates to an apparatus for taking up, holding and manipulating objects in the medical field with a forcep mouth formed from forcep legs and in particular an apparatus for taking up, holding and implanting lenses, particularly posterior chamber lenses, in eyes using forcep legs for receiving the lens in a forcep mouth.

The a forementioned apparatuses are used in many different forms as surgical forceps.

Generally these forceps have a specific function and must therefore have special construction. In the present case, it is in particular a question of the operation of implanting a posterior chamber lens in a human eye. It is known that such posterior chamber lenses comprise small plastic dishes used e.g. for replacing the crystalline lens or part thereof foi- lowing a cataract operation. These posterior chamber lenses conventionally carry lateral, filiform loops, which are used for anchoring the lens. For this purpose, following implantation, the circular lens must slip under the iris and assume a specific position.

Numerous implantation techniques are known and e.g. in one case the lens is held by the forceps on one of its loops and the distal loop is introduced by air application into the capsule of the eye. The second loop is then guided in the wound in front of the iris, the iris and capsule being drawn back with a special instrument, whilst the second loop is directly implanted in the capsule and the lens is rotated into position using an iris hook.

Another implantation technique makes use of the so-called shooter, which comprises a cannula into which one loop is introduced with the aid of forceps. The other loop is then introduced into the capsule under the action of air. The distal end of the shooter is guided between the front capsule and the iris. This is followed by irrigation through the outer shooter cannula and the lens is implanted in the capsule, in that by means of a pin in the shooter the loop is slowly forced out. This also leads to a rotation of the lens and to its positioning.

Thus, in the known effective implantation techniques use is made of at least two instruments, so that the surgeon no longer has a hand free during important manipulations.

The object of the present invention is to develop an apparatus of the aforementioned type permitting the implantation and positioning of a posterior chamber lens through the use of a single instrument.

According to the invention this object is achieved in that alongside the forcep mouth is arranged a needle or the like, which on opening the forcep mouth meets the edge of the lens and forces it out of the said mouth.

For taking up, holding and manipulating purposes, forceps have been developed, which can also be used in other medical fields. One forcep leg of said forceps is fixed to a basic body, whilst the other forcep leg is mounted with a lath-shaped extension in a longitudinal recess of the basic body. A bolt or the like engages between one forcep leg and the other forcep leg or part of the basic body and can be moved in the longitudinal axis of the forceps. The bolt runs down a rising surface of the forcep leg located on the other side of a fulcrum provided after the forcep mouth.

The distance between the forcep legs is varied by the bolt, i.e. the forcep mouth is opened or closed.

According to the invention in the bottom of the recess a groove is shaped in the basic body in which slides a slider, which carries the bolt. The slider is in turn subject to the action of a slide bolt, which projects from the basic body and can consequently be operated by the thumb of the human hand.

For returning the slider or bolt to its initial position in which the forcep mouth is closed, between one face of the basic body and a pressure head shaped onto the slide both is provided a helical spring, which surrounds the slide bolt.

A clip is arranged on the basic body close to the end face for the application of the index and e. g. middle finger of the human hand. The opening of the forcep mouth is aided by a leaf spring or the like located between fulcrum and the forcep mouth.

If the said forceps are used for taking up, holding and implanting lenses, particularly posterior chamber lenses, the needle is connected to the slider and received in a guide tube. Thus, through the movement of the slider there is both an opening and closing of the forcep mouth as well as the removal of the needle from the guide tube. This operation is synchronized in such a way that the needle strikes the edge of the posterior chamber lens just after the opening of the forcep mouth. As this impact takes place tangentially and not radially, the pressure of the needle rotates the lens, so that the latter is automatically positioned in the eye.

Thus, as a result of the present apparatus, in a single operation a posterior chamber lens is implanted and positioned, which greatly facilitates the work of the surgeon.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention can be gathered from the following description of a preferred embodiment and the attached drawings, wherein show: Fig. 1 A plan view of an inventive lens injector.

Fig. 2 A side view of the lens injector according to fig. 1.

An inventive lens injector has, according to fig. 1, a basic body 1 from which, to the left and in the upper region, is milled a recess 2, whilst leaving behind a marginal web 3.

A forcep leg 4 is connected to the top of the marginal web 3 and is fixed to basic body 1 by means of screws 5. This forcep leg 4 forms an articulated connection with a further forcep leg 6, so that at 7 a fulcrum is formed for the two forcep legs 4, 6. The forcep legs 4 and 6 together form a forcep mouth 8 for receiving a not shown posterior chamber lens.

By means of a lath-shaped extension 9, forcep leg 6 rests in recess 2 and is movably mounted there in direction x. Inwards and towards the marginal web 3, the lath-shaped extension 9 has a rising surface 10, along which can move a bolt 11. Fig. 1 shows the closed position of the lens injector, in which bolt 11 has passed over rising surface 10 and is located between a thickened end piece 12 of the lath-shaped extension 9 and marginal web 3. Bolt 11 leads to an increase in the distance between end piece 12 or the lathshaped extension 9 and marginal web 3, which once again leads to a rotation of the forcep leg 6 about fulcrum 7 and to a closing of forcep mouth 8.

For opening forcep mouth 8 bolt 11, which is inserted in a slider 14, is moved in direction y and runs off sliding surface 10, so that it is possible to reduce the distance between the lath-shaped extension 9 and marginal web 3. The opening movement of forcep mouth 8 or forcep legs 4 and 6 is assisted by a leaf spring 15, which is fixed on forcep leg 6 and is guided through a not shown opening in forcep leg 4.

Slider 14 rests in a groove 16 formed in the bottom of recess 2 between marginal web 3 and lath-shaped extension 9 and is in operative connection with a slide bolt 17. The latter is inserted in a terminal face 18 of basic body 1, which also has a clip 19 for the application of two fingers of a user's hand.

A helical spring 21 is supported between face 18 and a pressure head 20 shaped onto the slide bolt 17. Slider 14 can be moved in groove 16 in direction y counter to the tension of helical spring 21 by means of slide bolt 17.

On the other side of slide bolt 17, a needle 22 projects from slider 14 and said needle passes out of the basic body 1 into a guide tube 23 (fig. 2). On moving slider 14 in direction y, said needle 22 can pass out of the guide tube 23, as shown in broken line form in fig. 2.

The inventive lens injector functions as follows. For gripping the posterior chamber lens the slider 14 is moved by means of slide boit 17 against the tension of helical spring 21 in direction y, so that bolt 11 runs off the rising surface 10 of lath-shaped extension 9 and forcep mouth 8 can be opened by means of the tension of leaf spring 15. The posterior chamber lens is introduced into the forcep mouth 8. The pressure on the slide bolt 17 is then reduced and slider 14 is moved by helical spring 21 counter to direction y. Bolt 11 slides up the rising surface 10 and the distance between the marginal web 3 and lathshaped extension 9 is increased, forcep mouth 8 being closed by means of fulcrum 7.

This is followed by the insertion of the posterior chamber lens in the eye or pupil to be treated. A not shown distal loop on the posterior chamber lens is placed under the iris. By exerting pressure on slide bolt 17 the forcep mouth 8 is opened, needle 22 being moved in tube 23 in direction y. On opening the forcep mouth 8 needle 22 strikes against the edge of the posterior chamber lens. As the forcep mouth 8 holds the posterior chamber lens radially, the needle 22 tangentially strixes the edge of the posterior chamber lens and causes a slight rotation of said lens, although this rotation is sufficient to ensure that the lens assumes the desired, necessary position in the eye. The second distal loop also slides under the iris.

Claims

1. Apparatus for taking up, holding and manipulating objects in the medical field with a forcep mouth formed from a pair of forcep legs, wherein one forcep leg is fixed to a basic body and the other forcep leg is mounted in a movable manner with a lath-shaped extension in a longitudinal recess provided in the said basic body, a bolt or the like being movably arranged between the said other forcep leg and the said one forcep leg or part of the basic body and said bolt being arranged to run off a rising surface of a forcep leg, which is located on the other side of a fulcrum between said forcep legs remote from the forcep mouth and in this way to control the distance between the forcep legs at the said forcep mouth.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a groove is formed in the bottom of the recess and wherein a slider carrying the bolt is slidably mounted in said groove.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the slider is subject to the action of a slide bolt which between said forcep legs remote from the forcep mouth and in this way to control the distance between the forcep legs at the said forcep mouth.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a helical spring, which surrounds the slide bolt, is provided between a face of the basic body and a projection provided on the slide bolt.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a clip is provided on the basic body adjacent to the said face of the body engaged by the helical spring.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein a leaf spring or the like is provided between the forcep mouth and fulcrum, said spring being fixed to one of the forcep legs and passing through the other.

7. Apparatus for taking up, holding and implanting lenses, particularly posterior chamber lenses, in eyes using a pair of forcep legs for receiving the lens in a forcep mouth, wherein a needle or the like is provided alongside the forcep mouth which, following the opening of the forcep mouth, strikes the edge of the lens and forces it out of the forcep mouth.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein one forcep leg is fixed to a basic body and the other forcep leg with a lath-shaped extension is movably mounted in a longitudinal recess provided in the basic body, a bolt or the like being movably arranged between the said other forcep leg and the said one forcep leg or part of the basic body and said bolt being arranged to run off a rising surface of a forcep leg, which is located on the other side of a fulcrum between said forcep legs remote from the forcep mouth and in this way to control the distance between the forcep legs at the said forcep mouth.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the needle or the like is guided in a guide tube.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the guide tube and at least one forcep leg are fixed to the basic body and the opening of the forcep mouth and the striking of the lens by the needle or the like take place in a single operation.

11. Apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein a groove is formed in the bottom of the recess and wherein a slider carrying the bolt is slidably mounted in said groove.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the slider is subject to the action of a slide bolt which projects out of the basic body.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein a helical spring, which surrounds the slide bolt, is provided between a face of the basic body and a projection provided on the slide bolt.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a clip is provided on the basic body adjacent to the said face of the body engaged by the helical spring.

15. Apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the needle or the like is fixed to the slider.

16. Apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 15, wherein a leaf spring or the like is provided between the forcep mouth and fulcrum, said spring being fixed to one of the forcep legs and passing through the other.

17. Apparatus for taking up, holding and manipulating objects substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.