Intraocular lens insertion system
OwnerCharles D. Fritchinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for folding a soft, plastic intraocular lens (IOL) for use by surgeons as a replacement for a person's cataractic lens. The lens is placed on a jig. The surgeon inserts a pair of forceps into a hollow soft plastic tube which is stretched by opening the forceps. The stretch plastic tube is placed over the lens while the surgeon releases the forceps and folds the tube about the lens thereby folding the lens within the stretched hollow tube. The folded lens and tube is inserted through a suitable incision within the eye and the lens allowed to unfold. The hollow tube is removed and the lens positioned as determined by the surgeon.
Claims28
A method for protecting and folding an IOL for insertion into an eye comprising the steps of:
- placing a soft IOL on a flat surface;
- then inserting the operating ends of a pair of forceps into a hollow plastic tube and separating the forceps thereby stretching the tube;
- then placing the stretched tube over the IOL;
- and
- then closing the forceps about the IOL thereby folding the IOL within the stretched tube.
A method for protecting and folding an IOL for insertion into an eye comprising the steps of:
- placing a soft IOL on a movable cylinder encompassing a fixed centrally located plunger having a knife edge;
- locating the IOL on the movable cylinder over the knife edge;
- then inserting the operating ends of a pair of forceps into a hollow plastic tube and separating the forceps thereby stretching the tube;
- then placing the stretched tube over the IOL and pushing the stretched tube in a downward direction against the IOL thereby causing the cylinder to move in a downward direction causing the IOL to fold about the knife edge located on the fixed plunger;
- and
- then closing the forceps about the knife edge thereby folding the plastic tube about the folded IOL.
A system for protecting and folding an IOL for insertion into an eye comprising:
- means for placing a soft IOL on a flat surface;
- means for inserting the operating ends of a pair of forceps into a hollow plastic tube and separating the forceps thereby stretching the tube;
- means for placing the stretched tube over the IOL;
- and
- means for closing the forceps thereby folding the lens within the stretched tube.
A system for protecting and folding an IOL for insertion into an eye comprising:
- means for placing a soft IOL on a movable cylinder encompassing a fixed centrally located plunger having a knife edge;
- means for locating the IOL on the movable cylinder over the knife edge;
- means for inserting the operating ends of a pair of forceps into a hollow plastic tube and separating the forceps thereby stretching the tube;
- means for placing the stretched tube over the IOL and pushing the stretched tube in a downward direction against the IOL thereby causing the cylinder to move in a downward direction causing the IOL to fold about the knife edge located on the fixed plunger;
- and
- means for closing the forceps about the knife edge thereby folding the plastic tube about the folded IOL.
A method for folding and inserting a folded IOL into an eye comprising the steps of:
- placing a soft IOL on a flat surface;
- then inserting the operating ends of a pair of forceps into a hollow plastic tube and separating the forceps thereby stretching the tube;
- then placing the stretched tube over the IOL;
- then closing the forceps about the IOL thereby folding the IOL within the stretched tube;
- then inserting the forceps containing the folded lens and the tube into the eye through a suitable incision;
- then opening the forceps thereby allowing the lens and the hollow tube to unfold;
- and
- then using the forceps to remove the plastic tube and reposition the lens.
A method for folding and inserting an IOL into an eye comprising the steps of:
- placing a soft IOL on a movable cylinder encompassing a fixed centrally located plunger having a knife edge;
- locating the IOL on the movable cylinder over the knife edge;
- then inserting the operating ends of a pair of forceps into a hollow plastic tube and separating the forceps thereby stretching the tube;
- then placing the stretched tube over the IOL and pushing the stretched tube in a downward direction against the IOL thereby causing the cylinder to move in a downward direction causing the IOL to fold about the knife edge located on the fixed 14 plunger;
- then closing the forceps about the knife edge thereby folding the plastic tube about the folded OL;
- then inserting the folded lens and the tube through a suitable incision in the eye;
- then opening the forceps allowing the lens and the hollow tube to unfold;
- and
- then removing the hollow tube and repositioning the lens.
A system for folding and inserting a folded IOL into an eye comprising:
- means for placing a soft IOL on a flat surface;
- means for inserting the operating ends of a pair of forceps into a hollow plastic tube and separating the forceps thereby stretching the tube;
- means for placing the stretched tube over the IOL;
- means for closing the forceps about the IOL thereby folding the IOL within the stretched tube;
- means for inserting the forceps containing the folded lens and the tube into the eye through a suitable incision;
- means for opening the forceps thereby allowing the lens to unfold;
- and
- means for removing the plastic tube and reposition the lens.
A system for folding and inserting an IOL into an eye comprising :
- means for placing a soft IOL on a movable cylinder encompassing a fixed centrally located plunger having a knife edge;
- means for locating the IOL on the movable cylinder over the knife edge;
- means for inserting the operating ends of a pair of forceps into a hollow plastic tube and separating the forceps thereby stretching the tube;
- means for placing the stretched tube over the IOL and pushing the stretched tube in a downward direction against the IOL thereby causing the cylinder to move in a downward direction causing the IOL to fold about the knife edge located on the fixed plunger;
- means for closing the forceps about the knife edge thereby folding the plastic tube about the folded IOL;
- means for inserting the folded lens and the tube through a suitable incision in the eye;
- means for opening the forceps allowing the lens and the hollow tube to unfold;
- and
- means for removing the hollow tube and repositioning the lens.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.