Intraocular lens injector

Abstract

An intraocular lens injector compresses an intraocular lens by rolling the lens into a tight spiral and injects the compressed lens though a relatively small incision in the eye, approximately 2-3 millimeters in length, resulting from a phacoemulsification procedure. The intraocular lens is inserted into a receiving channel of the injector in an uncompressed state and is urged into a cylindrical passageway. As the intraocular lens advances into the cylindrical passageway, the lens will roll upon itself into a tightly rolled spiral within the confines of the cylindrical passageway. An insertion rod is inserted into an open end of the cylindrical passageway and advances the compressed lens down the passageway. The insertion rod includes a cup shaped recess on the distal end of the insertion rod. The cup shaped recess cradles the haptic portion of the lens and enables a majority of the insertion force applied by the insertion rod to be directly applied to the optic portion of the lens. A venting system is also included in the insertion rod which vents out the excess visco-elastic lubricant, thereby reducing the buildup of compression forces which act on the lens during expulsion of the lens from the passageway and enabling a smooth insertion of the lens into the eye. As the lens exits the passageway and enters the eye, the lens will expand back to its uncompressed state.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.