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US 4,575,372 AGranted
Intraocular lens and method of manufacture using ultrasonic bonding
AssigneeIolab Corporation
InventorIvan Gundersen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An intraocular lens loop, with an eyelet formed on the loop, and a method of forming the eyelet employing ultrasound energy. There is also disclosed a special fixture for use in manufacturing the eyelet loop.
Claims39
A method of forming an eyelet on a haptic loop of an intraocular lens comprising the steps of:
- (a) forming loop material into a desired shape with a portion of said material coiled in overlapping relationship providing an overlapping portion and an overlapped portion of said loop to form an eyelet wherein the confronting surfaces of the overlapped loop material define an overlapped region for providing a bonding site;
- (b) placing at least said overlapped region of said loop on an anvil of an ultrasonic bonder;
- (c) contacting at least said overlapped region with the horn of an ultrasonic bonder;
- (d) compressing the overlapped region with the horn of an ultrasonic bonder so that the resulting thickness of the compressed overlapped region is not less than the thickness of the loop material in the region of said loop that is not overlapped;
- and,
- (e) energizing the ultrasonic bonder to bond the confronting surface of the overlapped region.
3 more elements
A method of forming an eyelet on a haptic loop of an intraocular lens, said loop having a body portion and an eyelet portion comprising the steps of:
- (a) coiling a portion of said loop material in overlapping relationship to the adjacent body portion to provide an overlapping portion and an overlapped portion of said loop to form an eyelet wherein the confronting surfaces of the overlapped loop material define an overlapped region for providing a bonding site;
- (b) placing said body of said loop in a desired shape;
- (c) holding said loop material into position to hold its shape;
- (d) forming said loop material to maintain said shape when said holding is released;
- (e) trimming and cutting said formed loop to a desired length;
- (f) placing said eyelet portion in at least said overlapped regions of said cut loop on an anvil of an ultrasonic bonder;
- (g) contacting said eyelet portion in at least said overlapped region with the horn of an ultrasonic bonder;
- (h) compressing said eyelet portion in at least said overlapped region with said horn so that the resulting thickness of the compressed overlapped region is not less than the thickness of the adjacent body portion of the loop;
- and,
- (i) energizing said ultrasonic bonder to provide a bond at said bonding site.
7 more elements
A fixture for use in forming an eyelet on a haptic loop of an intraocular lens comprising:
- a base;
- a form mounted on said base a part of the perimeter of said form defining the desired shape of said loop;
- a first projection extending from said base about which said loop material may be wrapped in overlapping relationship to provide an overlapping portion and an overlapped portion of said loop to form an eyelet;
- positioning means extending from said base and positioned with respect to said first projection and said form to determine the angle at which said overlapping portion crosses said overlapped portion of said eyelet;
- first guide means on said fixture to facilitate cutting said loop material to a desired length.
2 more elements
A haptic loop for an intraocular lens comprising:
- a body adapted for connection to the optic of an intraocular lens;
- an integral and continuous portion of said body disposed in overlapping relationship to define an eyelet portion of the loop material;
- the confronting surfaces of said overlapped region bonded together ultrasonically;
- wherein said ultrasonically bonded area of said loop is substantially continuous with said adjacent body, and the transition area from said body to said bonded area is substantially smooth and is substantially without excess material.
1 more element
A haptic loop for an intraocular lens comprising:
- a body adapted for connection to the optic of an intraocular lens;
- an integral and continuous portion of said body disposed in overlapping relationship to define an eyelet portion of the loop material;
- the confronting surfaces of said overlapped region bonded together ultrasonically;
- wherein said confronting surfaces of the overlapping loop material define an overlapped region to provide a bonding site which is bonded ultrasonically by:
- placing at least said eyelet region of said loop on an anvil of an ultrasonic bonder;
- contacting at least said overlapped region with the horn of an ultrasonic bonder;
- compressing said overlapped region with said horn so that the resulting thickness of the compressed overlapped region is not less than the thickness of said loop body;
- and,
- then energizing the ultrasonic bonder for a predetermined period of time.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.