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AssigneeHarry J. Macey
InventorsDAVID J. SCHANZLIN, STEVEN M. VERITY, THOMAS A. SILVESTRINI, ROBERT A. PROUDFOOT
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The subject invention relates to an intrastromal corneal insert designed to be meridionally situated in an interlamellar pocket or channel made within the cornea of a mammalian eye. The insert has a shape which, when inserted into the cornea, has a significant meridional dimension and may be used to adjust corneal curvature and thereby correct or improve vision abnormalities such as hyperopia. The inserts may also have a circumferential component to their configuration to allow concurrent correction of other vision abnormalities. The radial insert may be made of a physiologically compatible material, e.g., one or more synthetic or natural, soft, firm, or gelatinous polymers. In addition, the insert or segment may be used to deliver therapeutic or diagnostic agents to the corneal interior or to the interior of the eye. One or more of the radial inserts of this invention typically are inserted into the cornea so that each subtends a portion of the meridian of the cornea outside of the cornea's central area, e.g., the area through which vision is achieved, but within the cornea's frontal diameter. Typically, the insert is used in arrays of two or more to correct specific visual abnormalities, but may be used in isolation when such is called for. The invention also includes both a minimally invasive procedure for inserting one or more of the devices into the cornea using procedures beginning within the cornea as well as procedures beginning in the sclera.
An intracorneal insert for introduction into the cornea of a human eye, said insert comprising a physiologically compatible material and being adapted for implantation within a human cornea, said insert having a radius of curvature, measured along its centroidal axis, at least 5.0 mm.
An intracorneal insert for introduction into the cornea of a human eye, said insert comprising a physiologically compatible material and being adapted for implantation within a human cornea, said insert being without curvature along its centroidal axis
An intracorneal insert for introduction into the cornea of a human eye, said insert comprising a physiologically compatible material and being configured and adapted for implantation in a human cornea, said insert having a length measured along its centroidal axis of less than or equal to 2.5 mm.
A procedure for introducing an intrastromal insert into a cornea of a mammalian eye comprising the steps of:
A procedure for introducing a biocompatible gel into a cornea of a mammalian eye comprising the steps of:
An intracorneal insert for introduction into the cornea of a human eye, said insert comprising a physiologically compatible material and being adapted for implantation within a human cornea, said insert having a first elongated portion and a second elongated portion extending therefrom.
An intracorneal insert for introduction into the cornea of a human eye, said insert comprising a physiologically compatible material and being adapted for implantation within a human cornea, said insert having a boomerang shape.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.