Device for inserting a flexible intraocular lens
AssigneeChiron Vision Corporation
InventorsDennis Alexander Figueroa, Alok Nigam, Thomas Michael Heyman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for inserting a flexible intraocular lens into an eye comprising a tubular member and a plunger. The tubular member includes a staging area, a lumen and an open distal end. The staging area supports the lens in an unstressed state prior to engagement by the plunger. In the unstressed state, the optic of the lens is suspended in a pocket to avoid any substantial contact with interior portions of the tubular member. The plunger includes a slot in its distal tip for receiving and gripping the lens. With this construction, the lens can be inserted into the eye in one continuous motion. Further, the plunger holds the lens when the lens is moved out of the tubular member.
Claims7
A device for inserting a flexible intraocular lens having an optic portion and a haptic portion into an eye, said device comprising:
- a tubular member including a passage for receiving a lens, said passage having an open distal end for inserting the lens into an eye and a staging area for supporting the lens in a substantially unstressed state, said staging area including proximal and distal supporting surfaces for supporting the haptic portion of the lens so that the optic portion of the lens is suspended to substantially avoid contact of the optic portion with interior portions of said tubular member in said substantially unstressed state;
- and
- a plunger being movably received within said passage of said tubular member for moving the lens through said open distal end of said tubular member and into the eye.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.