Method for rapid implantation of shape transformable optical lenses
AssigneeKabi Pharmacia Ophthalmics, Inc.
InventorStephen Q. Zhou
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A shape transformable medical implant or optical lens capable of substantial recoverable deformation in all dimensions is rapidly inserted and positioned into a target site such as an eye through an ejector having a small diameter, elongate, generally tubular outlet. The medical implant or optical lens is formed of a material having an elongation at break greater than 100% facilitating its ejection into the eye through a tubular outlet having an inner diameter of 3 mm or less. The ejector is provided with a precisely pressurizable chamber for the controlled displacement of the medical implant or optical lens through the small diameter, elongate, generally tubular outlet.
Claims26
A method for performing lens replacement in an eye, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a shape-transformable optical lens capable of substantial recoverable deformation in all dimensions and formed of an optically transparent material having a tensile strength of less than about 70 MPa, an elastic modulus of less than 3,000 MPa, an elongation at break of greater than 100%, and a Durometer Shore A hardness of less than about 100;
- loading said shape-transformable lens into a lens ejector having a small-diameter, elongate, generally tubular outlet configured to receive said shape-transformable optical lens in sliding sealing engagement;
- inserting said small-diameter, elongate, generally tubular outlet into the eye;
- positioning said small-diameter, elongate, generally tubular outlet at a target site within the eye;
- and
- ejecting said shape-transformable optical lens through said small-diameter, elongate, generally tubular outlet at the target site within the eye.
A method of implanting an optical lens into an eye, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a shape-transformable optical lens capable of substantial recoverable deformation in all dimensions and formed of an optically transparent material having a tensile strength of less than about 70 MPa, an elastic modulus of less than 3,000 MPa, an elongation at break of greater than 100%, and a Durameter Shore A hardness of less than about 100;
- loading said shape-transformable optical lens into a lens ejector having a small-diameter, elongate, generally tubular outlet configured to receive said shape-transformable optical lens in sliding sealing engagement;
- inserting said small-diameter, elongate, generally tubular outlet into the eye;
- positioning said small-diameter, elongate, generally tubular outlet at a target site within the eye;
- and
- ejecting said shape-transformable optical lens through said small-diameter, elongate, generally tubular outlet at the target site within the eye.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.