Method and apparatus for inserting a flexible membrane into an eye
AssigneeBausch & Lomb Surgical, Inc.
InventorsChris Cicenas, George Clark, Thomas M. Heyman, Charles Sherwood
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An instrument for inserting a flexible intraocular lens or other flexible membrane into an eye which includes a compressor for laterally compressing the lens into a small cross-sectional configuration to pass the lens through a narrow incision. The compressor includes retainers along the interior of the inserter to maintain the side edges of the lens in a substantially planar orientation during compression. The retainers preferably extend through the inserter to hold the lens during advancement toward the eye to prevent an uncontrolled rotation of the lens.
Claims40
An instrument for inserting a flexible membrane into an eye, said instrument comprising a tubular member defining a passage adapted to receive and direct a flexible membrane into an eye, a compressor movably attached to said tubular member for laterally compressing the flexible membrane, and retainers in said passage for maintaining opposite side edges of the flexible membrane in a generally planar relationship during compression.
An instrument for inserting a flexible membrane into an eye, said instrument comprising a tubular member defining a passage adapted to receive a flexible membrane such that opposite side edges of the flexible membrane are aligned along a transverse axis of said passage, said passage defining a course through which the flexible membrane is directed into an eye, a compressor movably attached to said tubular member to laterally compress the flexible membrane in said passage, and retainers in said passage to retain the side edges of the flexible membrane generally along said transverse axis during compression.
An instrument for inserting a flexible membrane into an eye, said instrument comprising a pair of interconnected side walls which are movable relative to one another between an open position and a closed position, said side walls being positioned relative to one another in the open position to permit the placement of a flexible membrane in the instrument, said side walls being positioned relative to one another in said closed position to laterally compress the flexible membrane between the side walls and define a passage for directing the flexible membrane toward an eye, each said side wall including a retainer for contacting opposite side edges of the flexible membrane and maintaining the side edges in a generally planar relationship with each other during compression.
An instrument for inserting a flexible membrane into an eye, said instrument comprising a tubular unit including a passage adapted to receive and direct a flexible membrane into an eye, an aperture extending through a wall of said tubular unit, and a pouch attached to said wall of said tubular unit, said pouch being filled with lubricant, the lubricant in said pouch being dispensable through said aperture and into said passage.
A method of implanting a flexible membrane into an eye through an incision, said method comprising:
- placing a flexible membrane into an inserter;
- compressing the flexible membrane with a laterally movable pusher member such that opposite side edges of the flexible membrane are moved toward one another generally along a plane;
- and
- moving the lens from said inserter into an eye such that the flexible membrane is compressed when passed through the incision in the eye.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.