Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F2/00—Filters implantable into blood vessels; Prostheses, i.e. artificial substitutes or replacements for parts of the body; Appliances for connecting them with the body; Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents
  • A61F2/02—Prostheses implantable into the body
  • A61F2/14—Eye parts, e.g. lenses or corneal implants; Artificial eyes
  • A61F2/16—Intraocular lenses
  • A61F2/1662—Instruments for inserting intraocular lenses into the eye
  • A61F2/1678—Instruments for inserting intraocular lenses into the eye with a separate cartridge or other lens setting part for storage of a lens, e.g. preloadable for shipping
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F2/00—Filters implantable into blood vessels; Prostheses, i.e. artificial substitutes or replacements for parts of the body; Appliances for connecting them with the body; Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents
  • A61F2/02—Prostheses implantable into the body
  • A61F2/14—Eye parts, e.g. lenses or corneal implants; Artificial eyes
  • A61F2/16—Intraocular lenses
  • A61F2/1662—Instruments for inserting intraocular lenses into the eye
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
  • A61F9/00—Methods or devices for treatment of the eyes; Devices for putting in contact-lenses; Devices to correct squinting; Apparatus to guide the blind; Protective devices for the eyes, carried on the body or in the hand
  • A61F9/0008—Introducing ophthalmic products into the ocular cavity or retaining products therein
  • A61F9/0017—Introducing ophthalmic products into the ocular cavity or retaining products therein implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts

Definitions

• the present disclosure relates to optical surgery, and more specifically to surgery for replacement of a patient's lens.
• the human eye in simple terms, functions to provide vision by transmitting and refracting light through a clear outer portion called the cornea and focusing the image by way of the lens onto 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 lens.
• IOL intraocular lens
• a system for intraocular lens (IOL) surgery may include an IOL insertion cartridge and an IOL interface adapted to engage an IOL lens for advancement through the IOL insertion cartridge.
• the system may also include a bracket that is detachably attached to the IOL insertion cartridge and that facilitates securing of the IOL interface relative to the IOL insertion cartridge.
• the bracket may form a cavity between itself and the IOL insertion cartridge for securing at least a portion of the IOL interface.
• the cavity may, for example, be sized to hold the IOL interface in place by friction between the IOL interface and the bracket and the IOL insertion cartridge.
• the IOL insertion cartridge may also include protuberances that form part of the cavity.
• the bracket includes a detent that inhibits the IOL interface from being advanced through the cavity during engagement with an IOL insertion tool.
• the detent may be used for storing energy in the IOL interface to aid in removing it from the system.
• the bracket may, for example, attach to the IOL insertion cartridge due to a friction fit.
• the bracket may include a truncated V-shaped body with wings that engage the IOL insertion cartridge. Additionally, the truncated portion of the V-shaped body may form part of a cavity for securing the IOL interface.
• a process for using an IOL surgical system may include positionally stabilizing an assembly including an IOL insertion cartridge, an IOL interface, and a detachable bracket and removing the IOL interface from the assembly.
• the process may also include detaching the bracket from the IOL insertion cartridge.
• a process for making an IOL surgical system may include detachably attaching an IOL insertion cartridge to a bracket that facilitates securing of an IOL interface relative to the IOL insertion cartridge and engaging an IOL interface with the bracket.
• a system for IOL surgery may allow an IOL interface to be co-located with an IOL insertion cartridge, which assists in preventing the IOL interface, which may often be relatively small, from being lost.
• a system may allow an IOL interface to be positioned relative to an IOL insertion cartridge in a stable manner.
• grasping the IOL insertion cartridge which is typically much larger than the IOL interface and, hence, easier to grasp (whether by hand or tool), allows control over the IOL interface.
• grasping the IOL insertion cartridge which is typically much larger than the IOL interface and, hence, easier to grasp (whether by hand or tool)
• manual grasping of it through a surgical glove may be difficult, especially if the glove is wet. Additionally, this eliminates a handling operation, and a separate assembly device is not required.
• an IOL interface may be readily presented for engagement with an IOL insertion tool, which may ease the engagement process.
• FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an example system for intraocular lens surgery.
• FIGs. 2A-B show perspective views of the system of FIG. 1 in an assembled state.
• FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example process for using a system for intraocular lens surgery.
• FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example process for making a system for intraocular lens surgery.
• FIG. 1 illustrates an example system 100 for intraocular lens (IOL) surgery.
• System 100 includes an IOL insertion cartridge 1 10, an IOL interface 120, and a detachable bracket 130.
• IOL insertion cartridge 1 10 facilitates the insertion of an IOL into a patient's eye.
• IOL insertion cartridge 1 10 includes a body 1 12 and a passage 1 14 through the body.
• a foldable IOL which may be made of silicone, soft acrylics, hydrogels, or other appropriate materials, is moved through passage 1 14 in preparation for insertion into the eye.
• passage 1 14 has an asymmetric bore, which assists in folding an IOL.
• a common IOL may be approximately 6 mm in diameter, and with haptics can be up to around 13 mm. However, surgical incisions are typically much smaller (e.g., 2 to 3 mm in width). An IOL is therefore typically folded before insertion through the incision.
• passage 1 14 may also taper along its length (e.g., to a circular or elliptical bore) to assist in folding an IOL.
• the IOL is folded due to the shape of the passage.
• At the end of the passage e.g., the injection point
• there is typically a relatively small diameter injection nozzle through which the lens may be advanced into the eye.
• IOL insertion cartridge 1 10 also includes a pair of protuberances 1 19, which extend from body 1 12.
• Protuberances 1 19 may generally assist in the placing and securing of IOL interface 120.
• protuberances 1 19 are a pair of parallel legs spaced apart from each other sufficiently to allow the IOL interface to be placed between them. Protuberances 1 19 may therefore assist in placing, aligning, and securing of the IOL interface.
• IOL insertion cartridge 1 10 further includes sides 1 16a, 1 16b. Sides 1 16a, 1 16b may assist in the grasping (by tool or hand) of IOL insertion cartridge 1 10, and system 100 accordingly. At one end of IOL insertion cartridge, sides 1 16a, 1 16b taper outward to form wings 1 17, which are used in securing detachable bracket 130 to the IOL insertion cartridge, as discussed in more detail below. Wings 1 17 include detents 1 18, which may assist in positioning detachable bracket 130 on wings 1 17.
• IOL insertion cartridge 1 10 may be molded as a single piece from any suitable thermoplastic, such as polypropylene.
• the thermoplastic may contain a lubricity enhancing agent.
• IOL interface 120 is responsible for interfacing with an IOL to advance it through IOL insertion cartridge 1 10.
• IOL interface 120 includes a body 122 having a generally cylindrical shape and a first end 124a and a second end 124b.
• First end 124a includes a port 126 into which an IOL insertion tool may be inserted.
• IOL interface 120 may, for example, engage with an IOL insertion tool due to a friction fit.
• Second end 126a may be closed.
• IOL interface 120 may be made of a commercial injection-molded elastomer, polymer (e.g., polypropylene or styrene) or any other appropriate material. In particular implementations, IOL interface may be approximately 2 to 3 mm in diameter.
• Detachable bracket 130 is adapted to detachably attach to IOL insertion cartridge 1 10 and secure IOL interface 120 relative to the IOL insertion cartridge 1 10.
• detachable bracket 130 includes a body 132 having a truncated V-shape. The ends of the V-shape are flattened to provide support surfaces for IOL insertion cartridge 1 10. Coupled to the ends of the V-shape are wings 134. Wings 134 are spaced apart from each other to receive wings 1 17 of IOL insertion cartridge 1 10. Each of wings 134 includes a tab 135. Tabs 135 form cavities into which wings 1 17 of IOL deliver cartridge fit and are be spaced from the flattened portions of body 132 to provide a fiction fit for wings 1 17.
• Detachable bracket 130 also includes a detent 136 that retards the movement of IOL interface 120 during use.
• detent 136 extends from the truncated portion of body 132 and includes a protuberance 137.
• Protuberance 137 is sized to interact with end 124b of IOL interface 120.
• Detachable frame 130 may be composed of plastic (e.g., styrene, polypropylene, or any other commercially available injection-molded polymer), metal (e.g., titanium, stainless steel, or aluminum), or any other appropriate material.
• detachable bracket 130 is approximately 3 mm in width (i.e., in the longitudinal direction of body 1 12) and 1 mm in thickness.
• detachable bracket 130 may be sized.
• detachable bracket 120 may be sized according to a desired application.
• detachable bracket 130 may also have other shapes. For example, instead of a truncated V-shape, detachable bracket 130 may have a square or rectangular shape.
• detachable bracket 130 may be appropriately sized and configured to work with various IOL cartridge designs.
• FIGs. 2A-B illustrate system 100 in an assembled state.
• IOL insertion cartridge 1 10 has been engaged with detachable bracket 130 by having wings 1 17 inserted between wings 134 and between the flattened portions of body 132 and tabs 135. Wings 1 17 may, for example, be held in place due to a friction fit.
• IOL interface 120 has been engaged with system 100 by being captured in a cavity formed between the truncated portion of body 1 32, protuberances 1 19, and a portion of body 1 12. IOL interface 120 may be held in the cavity due to a friction fit.
• end 124b of IOL interface 120 is inhibited from moving beyond a particular location along IOL insertion cartridge 1 10 by protuberance 137 of detent 136. This may prevent IOL interface 120 from sliding through the cavity formed between IOL insertion cartridge 1 10 and detachable bracket 130, during assembly and/or use. Additionally, tabs 135 may abut detents 1 18 to prevent detachable bracket 130 from sliding along the longitudinal direction of body 1 12, which may assist in securely mounting detachable bracket 130 to IOL insertion cartridge 1 10.
• system 100 arrives in an assembled, sterilized state at a surgical site (e.g., hospital).
• System 100 may then be positionally stabilized (by a tool or by hand), and a tool that is used to advance an IOL through IOL insertion cartridge 100 may be engaged with IOL interface 120.
• a tool that is used to advance an IOL through IOL insertion cartridge 100 may be engaged with IOL interface 120.
• an IOL insertion tool may be inserted into port 126 of IOL interface 120, and a friction fit may be formed between the two components due to the insertion.
• An IOL insertion tool may, for example, be a plunger-style system that includes an outer shell and a plunger.
• the outer shell may have passage therethrough, and the plunger may be adapted to move in the passage, the plunger movements causing the IOL to move.
• the shell and plunger may, for example, be generally cylindrical in shape.
• the plunger system may be made of plastic, metal, or any other appropriate material.
• An example IOL insertion tool is a Monarch® handpiece produced by Alcon Laboratories, Inc., of 6201 South Freeway, Fort Worth, TX 76134. However, other types of IOL insertion tools may be used.
• the IOL interface 120 may be removed from system 100.
• the IOL interface 120 may be pulled from the cavity formed between IOL insertion cartridge 1 10 and detachable bracket 130.
• the detachable bracket 130 may then be detached from the IOL insertion cartridge.
• the detachable bracket 130 may be slid relative to the longitudinal axis of the IOL insertion cartridge 1 10 such that a friction fit between wings 1 17 and wings 134 is released. Thereafter, the detachable bracket 130 may be discarded.
• the IOL interface 120 may be used for advancing an IOL through IOL insertion cartridge 1 10 for insertion into an eye.
• System 100 provides a variety of features.
• system 100 allows IOL interface 120 to be co-located with IOL insertion cartridge 1 10. Because the IOL interface 120 may be small in size, being co-located with the IOL insertion cartridge 1 10 may aid in preventing the IOL interface 120 from being lost.
• system 100 allows IOL interface 120 to be positioned relative to IOL insertion cartridge 1 10 in a stable manner. Thus, by grasping IOL insertion cartridge 1 10, which is typically much larger than IOL interface 120 and, hence, easier to grasp (whether by hand or tool), control may be had over the IOL interface 120.
• the IOL interface 120 may be small in size in some instances, manual grasping of the IOL interface 120, particularly while wearing surgical gloves, may be difficult. This difficulty may be further exasperated if the gloves are wet.
• co-locating the IOL interface 120 with the IOL insertion cartridge 1 10 eliminates a handling operation, and a separate assembly device for handling the IOL interface 120 is not required.
• IOL interface 120 may be readily presented for engagement with an IOL insertion tool, which may ease the engagement process. Moreover, the presentation may be quite intuitive, which may ease mental burden.
• detachable bracket 130 may be easily detached from IOL insertion cartridge 1 10 once the IOL interface 120 is removed from system 100.
• IOL interface 120 is able to be implemented while increasing packaging space a relatively small amount. Moreover, additional packagings are not required.
• FIGs. 1 -2 illustrate one example implementation of an IOL surgical system 100
• other implementations may include fewer, additional, and/or a different arrangement of components.
• IOL insertion cartridge 1 10 may not include wings 1 17.
• the detachable bracket 130 may engage IOL insertion cartridge 1 10 by different techniques. For instance, the detachable bracket 130 may engage the sides and/or the top and/or bottom of an IOL insertion cartridge 1 10.
• the passage 1 14 may have other configurations.
• the passage 1 14 may round, elliptical, or other desired or suitable cross-sectional shapes.
• the IOL insertion cartridge 1 10 may not include protuberances 1 19.
• the IOL interface 120 may be secured to system 100 in other manners.
• a cavity in which the IOL interface 120 is disposed may be formed between body 1 12 and body 132.
• IOL interface 120 may be engaged primarily with detachable bracket 130.
• FIG. 3 illustrates an example process 300 for using a system for IOL surgery.
• process 300 may, for instance, be performed using a system similar to system 100.
• Process 300 calls for positionally stabilizing an assembly that includes an IOL insertion cartridge, an IOL interface, and a detachable bracket that holds the IOL interface stable relative to the IOL insertion cartridge (operation 304).
• the assembly may be positionally stabilized by being grasped (e.g., by a tool or hand).
• Process 300 also calls for engaging an IOL insertion tool with the IOL interface (operation 308).
• an IOL insertion tool may be inserted into a port of the IOL interface and a friction fit may be formed between the two components due to the insertion.
• Process 300 additionally calls for removing the IOL interface from the assembly (operation 3 12).
• the IOL interface may be pulled from a cavity formed between the IOL insertion cartridge and the detachable bracket.
• Process 300 further calls for detaching the detachable bracket from the IOL insertion cartridge (operation 316).
• the detachable bracket may be slid relative to the IOL insertion cartridge such that a friction fit between the two is released. In some instances, the released detachable bracket may be discarded.
• process 300 illustrates one example of a process for using a system for IOL surgery
• other processes for using an IOL surgical system may include fewer, additional, and or a different arrangement of operations.
• a process may not include detaching the detachable bracket.
• a process may include using the IOL interface to advance an IOL through the IOL insertion cartridge.
• a process may include advancing the IOL interface against a detent to build energy for removing the IOL interface.
• FIG. 4 illustrates an example process 400 for making a system for IOL surgery.
• process 400 may be used to form a system similar to system 100.
• Process 404 calls for positionally stabilizing a bracket adapted to engage an IOL interface (operation 404).
• the bracket may, for example, be stabilized by tool or manually.
• Process 400 also calls for detachably attaching an IOL insertion cartridge to the bracket (operation 408).
• a detachable attachment may be a friction fit.
• process 400 illustrates one example of a process for making a system for IOL surgery
• other processes for making an IOL surgical system may include fewer, additional, and/or a different arrangement of operations.
• a process may include positionally stabilizing the IOL insertion cartridge and detachably attaching the bracket to the IOL insertion cartridge.
• the IOL interface may be engaged with the bracket before the bracket is engaged with the IOL insertion cartridge.
• Other operations such as sterilization or packaging, may also be performed in particular implementations.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Ophthalmology & Optometry (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
• Vascular Medicine (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Cardiology (AREA)
• Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (AREA)
• Transplantation (AREA)
• Prostheses (AREA)

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Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Citations (7)

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• 2011
  • 2011-10-04 US US13/252,548 patent/US8690941B2/en active Active
• 2012
  • 2012-09-10 AU AU2012319054A patent/AU2012319054B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2012-09-10 WO PCT/US2012/054413 patent/WO2013052238A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2012-09-10 EP EP12838539.0A patent/EP2717812B1/en active Active
  • 2012-09-10 CA CA2842384A patent/CA2842384A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2012-09-10 JP JP2014534574A patent/JP6122017B2/ja active Active
  • 2012-09-10 CN CN201280036686.9A patent/CN103702642B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2013
  • 2013-11-01 US US14/069,962 patent/US8968397B2/en active Active
• 2014
  • 2014-09-23 US US14/494,273 patent/US9861471B2/en active Active

Patent Citations (7)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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