US 6,500,181 B1 · Instrument for folding and inserting anterior chamber intraocular lenses

Abstract

There is described an instrument for double folding an elastically deformable intraocular lens (IOL) into a general C-shape for insertion through a small incision into the anterior chamber of a patient's eye for controlled unfolding. The instrument comprises an elongate, slender IOL insertion tube having an IOL receiving station located in the tube adjacent a cutaway opening. A support element is provided for holding a central optic region of an IOL received in the IOL receiving station against an inner surface of the tube during the double folding of the IOL. An IOL double folding member installed on the tube has a converging recess facing the IOL receiving station, the recess being along the longitudinal tube axis and having an IOL discharge opening facing the insertion tube distal end. In one version, the IOL double folding member is moved along the insertion tube to cause double folding of the IOL held in the IOL receiving station; in another version, the IOL is moved through the insertion tube into the double folding member that is fixed to the tube. A disposal IOL insertion tip is attached at the distal end of the insertion tube and is sized for passing through an ocular incision no greater than about 3.2 mm.

Claims25

Dependent claims

An instrument for double folding an elastically deformable intraocular lens (IOL) and for inserting said double folded IOL into the anterior chamber of a patient's eye for controlled unfolding, said instrument comprising:

a. an elongate, slender IOL insertion tube having a distal end and a longitudinal axis;
b. an IOL receiving station located in said tube adjacent a cutaway opening in the tube;
c. a support element configured for holding a central optic region of an IOL received in said IOL receiving station against an inner surface of said tube during double folding of said IOL;
d. an IOL double folding member installed on said tube, said IOL double folding member having a converging recess facing said IOL receiving station, said recess being along the tube longitudinal axis and having an IOL discharge opening facing the IOL insertion tube distal end;
and
e. means for causing relative axial movement between an IOL received in said IOL receiving station and said IOL double folding member to cause the double folding of said IOL into a general C-shape.

3 more elements

a. an elongate, slender IOL insertion tube having a distal end and a longitudinal axis;
b. an IOL receiving and folding station located inside said tube adjacent a side opening in the tube, said IOL receiving and folding station being configured for receiving an IOL, having an optic and haptics attached to opposing edges of said optic, with said haptics generally aligned with said IOL insertion tube longitudinal axis;
c. an IOL double folding member axially movably mounted on said IOL insertion tube, said IOL double folding member having a converging recess facing said IOL receiving and folding station and an IOL discharge opening facing the distal end of said tube, said recess being along the longitudinal axis of the tube;
d. a driver coupled between said IOL insertion tube and said IOL double folding member for causing movement of said IOL double folding member axially along said IOL insertion tube between a first axial position in which said member is out of engagement with an IOL received in said IOL receiving and folding station and a second axial position in which said member causes the double folding of an IOL received in said station into a general C-shape;
and
e. means for axially pushing a double folded IOL positioned in said IOL receiving and folding station through the IOL double folding member discharge opening and the distal end of said tube.

3 more elements

a. an elongate, slender IOL insertion tube having a distal end and a longitudinal axis;
b. an IOL receiving station located inside said tube adjacent a side opening in the tube, said IOL receiving station being configured for receiving an IOL, having an optic and haptics attached to opposing edges of said optic, with said haptics generally aligned with said IOL insertion tube longitudinal axis;
c. an IOL double folding member fixed on said IOL insertion tube, said IOL double folding member having a converging IOL engaging recess with a wide opening facing said IOL receiving station and a discharge opening facing the distal end of the IOL insertion tube, said recess being along said tube longitudinal axis;
d. a support member configured for holding a central optic region of an IOL received in said IOL receiving station against an inner surface of said IOL insertion tube along a line parallel to said insertion tube longitudinal axis;
and
e. a piston installed in said IOL insertion tube for axially pushing the IOL received in said IOL receiving station along said tube and into said folding member converging recess for causing the double folding of the IOL into a general C-shape, and for thereafter pushing the double folded IOL through the distal end of said tube.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Instrument for folding and inserting anterior chamber intraocular lenses

Life of this patent

Instrument for folding and inserting anterior chamber intraocular lenses

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25