MXPA06008337A - Intraocular lens injector - Google Patents

Abstract

A device having a pair of stretcher bars. The first bar remains fixed while the second bar can be reciprocated relative to the first bar by actuation of a movable slide. The device of the present invention is useful for stretching and implanting the ring portion of a two component intraocular lens.

Description

INTRAOCULAR LENS INJECTOR This invention relates to intraocular lenses (IOLs) and more particularly to injectors used to inject IOLs into the eye.

Background of the Invention The human eye in its simplest term functions to provide vision by transmitting and refracting light through an outer clear portion called the cornea, and also by focusing the image through the lens on the retina at the back of the eye. The quality of the focused image depends on many factors including the size, shape and length of the eye, and the shape and transparency of the cornea and the lens. When a trauma, age or disease causes the lens to be less transparent, vision deteriorates due to the decrease in light that can be transmitted to the retina. This deficiency in the lens of the eye is medically known as cataract. The treatment of this condition is the surgical removal of the lens and implantation of an artificial lens or IOL. Although the first IOLs were made of hard plastic, such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), the soft folding IOLs made of silicone, soft acrylics and hydrogel have increased their popularity due to the ability to fold or roll up these soft lenses and insert them through a smaller incision. Various methods are used to wind or fold these lenses. A popular method is an injector cartridge that folds the lenses and provides a relatively small diameter lumen through which the lenses can be pushed into the eye, usually by a soft tip plunger. The most commonly used injector cartridge design is illustrated in U.S. Patent No. 4,681,102 (Bartell), and includes a divided cartridge, longitudinally articulated. Similar designs are illustrated in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,494,484 and 5,499,987 (Feingold) and 5,616,148 and 5,620,450 (Eagles, et al.) In an attempt to avoid the claims of the American Patent No. 4,681,102, various solid cartridges have been investigated, see for example, U.S. Patent No. 5,275,604 (heinish, et al.) And 5,653,715 (Reich, et al.) These prior art devices used substantially symmetric pistons at about longitudinal axis and generally contained a soft cylindrical or flared tip that completely tilted the inside of the injector cartridge. See, for example, U.S. Patent Nos. 4,681,102 (Bartell) and 4,919,130 (Stoy, et al.), And IPO Publication No. WO 96/29956, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Other pistons have a hook-shaped or fork-shaped tip means grasping the edge of the IOL. See, for example, U.S. Patent Nos. 4,573,998 (Mazzocco), 5,494,484 and 5,499,484 (Feingold), 5,616,148 and 5,620,450 (Eagles, et al.) And 5,653,715 (Reich et al.), The entire contents of which are incorporated in the present for reference. A recent and commercially introduced plunger tip is designed in such a way that the IOL is wound around the tip as the IOL moves down the cartridge. See U.S. Patent No. 5,735,858 (Makker, et al.), The entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Although symmetrical piston designs work well, the larger the tip requires a larger incision, usually in the order of 3.0 mm or larger. Accordingly, there is a continuing need for the design of an IOL injector that is used with incisions smaller than 3.0 mm.

Brief Summary of the Invention The present invention improves the prior art lens injectors by providing a device having a pair of extender rods. The first rod remains fixed while the second rod can be rotated in relation to the first rod by actuation of a mobile guide. The device of the present invention is useful for extending and implanting the ring portion of a two component intraocular lens. ThereforeIt is an object of the present invention to provide a lens injector having a pair of extender rods. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a lens injector having a pair of extender rods that move in relation to one another. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a lens injector useful for extending and implanting the ring portion of a two component intraocular lens. Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent with reference to the drawings, and the following description of the drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is an enlarged perspective view of the lens injector of the present invention. FIGURE 2a is an enlarged perspective view of a first embodiment of the tip of the lens injector of the present invention taken in the circle 2 in FIGURE 1, showing the extension rods in the relaxed position. FIGURE 2b is an enlarged perspective view of a first embodiment of the tip of the lens injector of the present invention taken in the circle 2 in FIGURE 1, showing the extender rods in the retracted position. FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of a second embodiment of the tip of the lens injector of the present invention. FIGURE 4 is a bottom plan view of a second embodiment of the tip of the lens injector of the present invention. FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of a third embodiment of the tip of the lens injector of the present invention. FIGURE 6 is a bottom plan view of a third embodiment of the tip of the lens injector of the present invention. FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the tip of the lens injector of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention As best seen in FIGS. 1, 2a and 2b, the intraocular lens injector 10 of the present invention generally consists of an applicator 10 and extender rods 14 and 16. The applicator 10 contains a guide 12 alternating with the thumb, slides 18 and an extendable handle 20. The handle 20 can be extended or retracted in such a way that it fits the user's hand more comfortably. The extension rod 14 is fixed to the slide 18 while the extension rod 16 penetrates through the slide 18 and is fixed to the thumb guide 12 in such a way that the alternation of the thumb guide 12 causes the corresponding alternation of the rod 16 Extender in relation to the extension rod 14. The thumb guide 12 can be biased in any direction by spring and can be operated by other manipulation besides manual, such as electric or pneumatically. The extension rod 14 contains a hook 22 and the extension rod 16 contains a hook 24. The extension rods 14 and 16 are preferably made of titanium, stainless steel or thermoplastic. As best seen in FIGURES 2a and 2b, the intraocular lens injector 10 is best used in combination with an annular component 26 of a multicomponent lens. A suitable lens is described in US Patent Application Serial No. 10 / 618,954, of which the entire contents are incorporated herein by reference and specifically, the description of the lens system on page 3, lines 25-28. and on page 4, lines 1-14 and FIGURES 1, 2 and 3. The annular component 26 is held in place on the hooks 22 and 24 on the extender rods 14 and 16, respectively. The movement of the thumb guide 12 causes the hook 24 to move towards or away from the hook 22, depending on the direction of movement of the thumb guide 12. Moving the hook 24 away from the hook 22 causes the annular component 26 to extend, as seen in FIGURE 2b. The extension of the annular component 26 causes the annular component 26 to be thinner in a transverse area. When extended, the annular component 26 can be inserted into an eye through a relatively smaller incision, preferably less than 3 mm and more preferably, 2.00 mm or less. As best seen in FIGURE 2a, the extension rod 16 contains a projection 17. The projection 17 helps prevent the hook 24 from being trapped in the wound when the injector 10 is removed from the eye. As best seen in FIGURES 3 and 4, the extension rods 14 'may alternatively consist of a hollow tube surrounding the extension rod 16' such that the extension rods 14 'and 16' are coaxial, and the extension rod 16 'alternates within the extension rods 14' in the slot 30 in such a way as to move the hooks 22 'and 24' closer or further away. The extension rod 16 'also contains a projection 17'. As best seen in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the extension rod 14"can be projected onto the distal tip of the extension rod 16". In this construction, an extension rod 14"can be fixed so that the extension rod 16" alternates coaxially on the extension rod 14". The extension rod 14"contains a hook 22" and the extension rod 16"contains a hook 24" and a projection 17"and is otherwise similar in construction to that previously described. Although certain embodiments of the present invention were previously described, these descriptions are given for purposes of illustration and explanation. Variations, changes, modifications, and separations of the systems and methods described previously can be adapted without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention.

Claims (1)

CLAIMS 1. An intraocular lens injector system comprising: a) an applicator having a slide; b) a first extension rod fixed to the slide and projecting from the applicator; and c) a second extender rod penetrating the slide, projecting from the applicator and attaching to the applicator in such a manner as to allow the second extension rod to alternate in relation to the first extension rod. 2. The lens injector system of claim 1, wherein the extender rods contain hooks. 3. The lens injector system of claim 1, wherein the first and second extender rods are coaxial. 4. The lens injector system of claim 1, wherein the second extender rod is mounted on a thumb guide on the applicator. 5. An intraocular lens injector system, comprising: a) an applicator having a slide; b) a first spreader rod having a first hook; and c) a second spreader rod having a second hook, the second spreader rod is mounted coaxially within the first spreader rod, wherein the first and second spreader rods are attached to the applicator in such a manner as to allow the first and second spreader rods alternate in relation to each other. The lens injector system of claim 5, wherein the second extender rod is mounted on a thumb guide of the applicator. The lens injector system of claim 5, wherein the first spreader bar is mounted on a thumb guide on the applicator. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A device (10) having a pair of extensor rods (14, 16). The first rod remains fixed while the second rod can be alternating with respect to the first rod by actuation of a mobile guide (12). The device of the present invention is useful for expanding and implanting the ring portion of a two component intraocular lens.

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