BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the lens delivery system of the present invention shown in an open position.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lens delivery system of the present invention shown in an open position.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lens delivery system of the present invention shown in a closed position, ready to fold a lens.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lens delivery system of the present invention shown in a closed position, with the front, or distal folding mechanism having already folding a stabilizing ring portion of an intraocular lens system.
FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a handpiece that may be used with the lens delivery system of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged elevational view of the distal tip of the handpiece taken at circle 6 in FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a handpiece that may be used with the lens delivery system of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is an enlarger perspective view of the lens delivery system of the present invention being inserted into the distal end of the handpiece illustrated in FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As best seen in FIG. 1, lens delivery system 10 of the present invention generally includes cartridge housing 12, ring pusher 14, plunger 16 and shipping lock 18. Housing 12 generally contains distal nozzle 20, open ring folding platform 22 and open lens folding platform 24. Ring portion 26 of a multi-component intraocular lens is placed in ring folding platform 22 and secured by ring pusher 14 and by folding ring platform lid 28 over ring folding platform 22 and holding lid 28 in place by clasps 36, thereby encasing ring portion 26 within ring folding platform 22, as seen in FIG. 3. Lens portion 30 of a multi-component intraocular lens is placed in lens folding platform 24 and secured by stop 32 on shipping lock 18 and by folding lens folding platform lid 34 over lens folding platform 24, as seen in FIG. 3. Lid 34 is held in place in the folded position by clasp 38.
Nozzle 20 preferably is hollow on the inside and is of a size suitable for inserting ring portion 26 and lens portion 30 through a relatively small (e.g., on the order of 2 mm or less) incision. Lid 28 and lid 34 may contain ports 40 and 42, respectively, for allowing a viscoelastic material to be introduced into ring folding platform 22 and lens folding platform 24 and around ring portion 26 and lens portion 30.
As best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, handpiece 100, which may be used as part of lens delivery system 10 generally consists of tubular body 102, plunger rod 104 and finger ring 106. As been seen in FIG. 6, distal end 108 of body 102 contains notched portion 110 sized and shaped to receive and securely retain housing 12, for example, by the use of locking tabs 50 on housing 12. Distal end 108 also contains bumper 112, which has the function described below. Plunger rod 104 reciprocates within body 102 by pushing on finder ring 106. Plunger rod 104 may be mounted within body 102 on a spring (not shown) for providing tactile feedback.
In use, shipping lock 18 and plunger 16 are installed on body 12 in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Ring portion 26 and lens portion 30 are placed in body 12 as shown in FIG. 2 and lids 28 and 34 closed, as shown in FIG. 3. Shipping lock 18 prevents movement of ring pusher 14 during shipment and tab 60 on ring pusher 14 prevents forward movement of plunger 16. Stop 32 and plunger rod guide 70 prevent movement of lens portion 30 during shipment. When ready to be used, shipping lock 18 is removed and ring pusher 14 is pressed inward, as shown in FIG. 4 and locked in place by clasp 19. Such movement of ring pusher 14 collapses or folds ring portion 26, allowing ring portion 26 to fit through nozzle 22. Such movement also aligns notch 62 in tab 60 with plunger 16, allowing plunger 16 to be moved forward. A viscoelastic material is injected through ports 40 and 42 and into nozzle 22. Body 12 is installed within notched portion 110 of distal end 108 of handpiece 100 as shown in FIG. 8. Such installation causes plunger rod 16 to contact and be pushed forward slightly by bumper 112. Such movement pushed lens portion 30 forward slightly, initiating folding of lens portion 30. Plunger rod 104 is advanced and is guided to contact lens portion 30 by rod guide 70. Further movement of plunger rod 104 pushes lens portion 30 through inner bore 80 of body 12 so as to contact compressed ring portion 26 and push ring portion 26, followed by lens portion 30, out of nozzle 22 in a serial manner.
While certain embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these descriptions are given for purposes of illustration and explanation. Variations, changes, modifications and departures from the systems and methods disclosed above may be adopted without departure from the scope or spirit of the present invention.
Patent Application
20080039862
