# US 2016/0184086 A1 · Corneal implant and method of delivering a corneal implant > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0184086 A1 - Document ID: US20160184086A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/062,781 - Filed: 2016-03-07 - Published: 2016-06-30 - Earliest claimed: 2011-10-21 - Assignees: Endoshield, LLC - Applicants: Endoshield, LLC - Inventors: Jeffrey L. Goldberg; Jean-Marie Parel; Francisco Fantes - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160184086A1 ## CPC - A61F 2/1451: {Inlays or onlays} - A61F 2/142: {Cornea, e.g. artificial corneae, keratoprostheses or corneal implants for repair of defective corneal tissue} - A61F 2/145: {Corneal inlays, onlays, or lenses for refractive correction} - A61F 2/1453: {Corneal lenses connected to distinct attachment means} - A61F 9/00821: {for coagulation} - A61F 9/00834: {Inlays; Onlays; Intraocular lenses [IOL]} - A61F 9/00836: {Flap cutting} - A61F 2/1605: {Anterior chamber lenses for use in addition to the natural lenses of the eyes, e.g. iris fixated, iris floating} - A61F 2/1608: {Iris fixated, e.g. by clamping iris tissue, by suturing to the iris} - A61F 2002/1683: {having filiform haptics} - A61F 2009/00872: {Cornea} - 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 (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract A method of inserting and securing a corneal implant in engaging and fluid-flow limiting relation to the posterior cornea, such as to treat edema. The method includes securing a corneal implant in fluid flow limiting relation to the posterior cornea through an incision in the eye and securing it in place by a variety of steps such as corneal insertion or laser bonding, and preferably by inserting a removable corneal implant including a central region and a plurality of retention member(s) disposed on the periphery thereof into the eye so as to releaseably and removably engage a portion of the eye and thereby retain the corneal implant in abutting and engaging relation with the posterior cornea. The retention members of the corneal implant may also comprise haptic leg(s) extending from the central region. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of inserting a corneal implant comprising: creating an incision in the eye in proximity to a cornea, inserting a corneal implant which comprises a central region and at least one haptic leg secured to and extending from a periphery of the central region through the incision, positioning the corneal implant in engaging and fluid-flow limiting relation to the posterior cornea; and securing the corneal implant in said engaging and fluid-flow limiting relation to the posterior cornea by engaging portions of the eye in retaining contact with the at least one haptic leg of the corneal implant by positioning a distal end of the at least one haptic leg in contacting relation to the iris and in biasing relation to the central region of the corneal implant against the posterior of the cornea. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein securing the corneal implant further comprises pressing the at least one haptic leg into the posterior cornea so as to removably retain the corneal implant in position in relation thereto. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein securing the corneal implant further comprises removably pressing the distal end of the at least one haptic leg into the iris. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein positioning the corneal implant further comprises positioning a distal end of the at least one haptic leg in contacting relation to the iridocorneal angle and in biasing relation to the central region of the corneal implant against the posterior of the cornea. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method as recited in claim 4, wherein securing the corneal implant further comprises removably pressing the distal end of the at least one haptic leg into the iridocorneal angle. ### Claim 6 A corneal implant for treating excess corneal fluid, said corneal implant comprising: a region providing an anterior surface and a posterior surface, the posterior surface disposable in facing relation to the interior of the eye upon implantation, the region made of a biocompatible material and configured to correspond to a contour of a posterior cornea, at least one retention member secured to and extending away from a periphery of said region of said corneal implant and structured to removably retain said corneal implant in position in relation to the posterior cornea upon implantation, and each retention member including a contact point disposed distally from said central region of said corneal implant and in contacting relation with an eye of a patient, such that, upon implantation, said contact point is structured to retain said corneal implant in abutting engagement with the posterior cornea, wherein said retention member includes at least one haptic leg secured to and extending away from said central region, said haptic leg including a biased configuration structured to bias said region against the posterior cornea, wherein said contact point of said haptic leg is structured and disposed to releaseably engage a portion of one of an iris or an iridocorneal angle, and wherein said haptic leg is configured to exert pressure on said region against the posterior cornea so as to maintain positioning of said region upon implantation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The corneal implant as recited in claim 6, wherein said region is a central region and comprises an arcuate configuration. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The corneal implant as recited in claim 7, wherein said central region comprises an anterior curvature structured to at least partially conform to a curvature of the posterior cornea. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The corneal implant as recited in claim 7, wherein said central region comprises a vision correcting configuration. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The corneal implant as recited in claim 7, wherein said central region comprises a hydrophobic material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The corneal implant as recited in claim 7, wherein said central region is structured to inhibit the flow of excess corneal fluid. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The corneal implant as recited in claim 6, wherein said contact point of said haptic leg is structured and disposed to releaseably engage a portion of an iris. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The corneal implant as recited in claim 6, wherein said contact point of each of said haptic legs is structured and disposed to releaseably engage a portion of an iridocorneal angle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The corneal implant as recited in claim 7, wherein said at least one haptic leg is configured to exert pressure on said central region against the posterior cornea so as to maintain positioning of said central region upon implantation. ### Claim 15 (depends on 6) The corneal implant as recited in claim 6, wherein the abutting engagement is configured to treat excess corneal fluid. ### Claim 16 A method of inserting a corneal implant comprising: creating an incision in the eye in proximity to the cornea, inserting the corneal implant into the cornea through the incision, positioning the corneal implant in engaging and fluid-flow limiting relation to the posterior cornea, applying a laser at a plurality of locations along a perimeter of the corneal implant, and maintaining the laser application until the corneal implant is bonded to the posterior cornea at least at the plurality of locations along the perimeter of the corneal implant. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method as recited in claim 16, wherein applying the laser further comprises applying the laser along substantially the entire perimeter of the corneal implant. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method as recited in claim 17, wherein applying the laser further comprises applying the laser continuously along the perimeter of the corneal implant. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method as recited in claim 16, wherein inserting the corneal implant further comprises inserting a corneal implant formed of a biocompatible polymer material. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method as recited in claim 16, wherein inserting the corneal implant further comprises inserting a corneal implant formed of a hydrophobic material. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The method as recited in claim 16, wherein inserting the corneal implant comprises inserting a corneal implant having a vision correcting configuration and positioning the corneal implant in vision correcting relation to the posterior cornea. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The method as recited in claim 16, wherein positioning the corneal implant further comprises positioning the corneal implant in the posterior cornea to treat excess corneal fluid.