Haptic attachment system for intraocular lenses using diode laser

Abstract

A system for staking a haptic to an optic to form an intraocular lens using a laser beam operating near the infrared range with a coaxial aiming laser beam operating in the visible range. A portion of the haptic is inserted into the optic through a radial bore and is exposed through an axial bore spanning from the optic upper surface to the radial bore. The coaxial laser beams are collimated and then focused using a microscope objective through the axial bores, onto the exposed haptic. Aiming of the coaxial beams onto the optic and haptic is aided by the use of a magnifying CCD camera positioned with its optical axis at a 45.degree. angle to the optic horizontal plane. The coaxial lasers, which are typically focused to a minor diameter which is greater than or equal to the inner diameter of the axial bore, make contact with the exposed haptic. Consequently, the haptic is melted and is then allowed to cool, coalescing into a bead staking the haptic to the optic.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.