Intraocular lens insertion instrument

[0002] The present application is related to Applicant's pending application Ser. No. 08/751,181 which shows and describes some related features.

[0003] The present invention addresses problems related to the insertion of an intraocular lens through a small incision in the human eye.

[0004] Reference is made to Applicant's related application Ser. No. 08/751,181, wherein are illustrated and described certain relevant features and components, which application is incorporated herein by reference.

[0005] In recent years, foldable intraocular lenses have largely replaced hard, rigid lenses, the foldable lens being insertable through an incision of approximately ½ the size of an incision required for rigid lenses. A small incision enables more rapid recovery, less discomfort for a patient, and avoids many of the possible adverse complications of cataract surgery. Further, the procedure requires less time because suturing is not required.

[0006] The problems addressed include undesirable rotation of a folded, compressed lens during passage through a lumen or tubular passage, the maintaining of the correct orientation of a lens relative to an insertion instrument, sudden expansion of unfolding of a compressed lens as it exits the insertion instrument into the eye, and difficulty in insertion of a tip of an insertion instrument into a small incision in the eye of a patient.

[0007] Although various folding forceps have been provided for folding flexible lenses, it has generally been preferred by surgeons to utilize insertion devices whereby a lens enters the eye through a tube. Folding forcep devices generally comprise two components in addition to a lens, thus requiring two hands for their utilization.

[0008] The improvements according to the invention include a plunger with stabilizing components thereon to exert forces on a folded lens to maintain the lens in folded configuration and to prevent rotation of the lens relative to a lumen wall.

[0009] One or more slits in the nozzle end portion enable the spreading of the end portion by passage therethrough of the folded lens after insertion in the eye of a patient, thus to provide ease of admission of the folded lens into the eye of a patient.

[0010] Ridges extend longitudinally of the lumen wall to aid in prevention of rotation of a folded lens relative to the lumen wall, these including ridges extending along opposite edges of at least one slit in the nozzle end portion of the insertion instrument to aid in the prevention of rotation of a folded lens relative to the lumen wall.

[0011] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an insertion instrument of the present invention showing its receptacle actuator, tubular portion and nozzle;

[0012] FIGS. 2 and 3 are sectional views of the instrument of FIG. 1, showing a lens optic and haptics in folded configuration in the lumen with the nozzle tip inserted through an incision in the eye of a patient;

[0013] FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the nozzle portion, showing the nozzle tip portion inserted via an incision in the eye of the patient, and the lens expanding within the eye;

[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a plunger and stabilizer components thereon, according to the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 6 is a perspective cutaway view of the plunger and stabilizers thereof in relation to a folded lens optic and haptics in the lumen of the instrument of FIGS. 2 and 3;

[0016] FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial sectional view, taken at line 7—7 in FIG. 6;

[0017] FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 are sectional views taken at lines 8—8, 9—9, and 10—10 in FIG. 1, showing a folded lens in different configurations in the plunger at successive positions in moving through the lumen; and

[0018] FIGS. 11A and 11B are sectional views showing the interrelationship among the ram, lumen and lens in the folding of the lens into folded configuration in a pre-insertion position in the lumen-tube.

[0019] Referring to the drawings, there is shown an improved insertion instrument 10 for inserting an intraocular lens into a patient's eye via a small incision. The instrument generally includes a lens insertion assembly 12 and an insertion actuator 14. The lens insertion instrument is adapted to receive a foldable intraocular lens 16 in an unfolded configuration.

[0020] As utilized herein for purposes of description, the terms “horizontal”, “vertical”, “upward” and “downward” are defined in relation to preferred orientation normally employed by a surgeon in using the instrument in the insertion of an intraocular lens into the eye of a patient. In this context, “horizontal” is a longitudinal direction of the instrument and plunger as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 5, and “vertical” is the direction perpendicular to such horizontal orientation. However, the insertion instrument may be utilized in other orientations.

[0021] The lens insertion assembly 10 includes a receptacle 18 and an elongate tubular portion 20 which has an interior passage or lumen 21, a nozzle 22, and a tip 24 for insertion into the eye, the nozzle having a longitudinal slit 25, as shown. The nozzle and tubular portion may typically be fabricated of polycarbonate, polyethylene, polystyrene, or other plastic with adequate flexibility.

[0022] The lumen or bore 21 extends axially through tubular portion 20, and has a longitudinal central axis. The receptacle 18 is preferably formed integrally with the tubular portion and has a lens storage chamber 26 extending laterally of the bore 24 through an opening (not shown) in the wall of the bore.

[0023] The foldable lens 16 is formed of appropriate flexible optical lens material, and has a central optic 28 and generally flat plate haptics 30 joined to opposite edges of the optic in a generally common plane transverse to the optic axis. Other types of foldable lenses may be utilized.

[0024] The lens storage chamber 26 receives the lens in its unfolded configuration. A ram 32 serves as lens transfer and folding means, and cooperates with the chamber and receptacle 18 to define the lens storage space. The ram is operable by the user to move the unfolded lens from this storage position into the lumen or bore 21 (FIG. 11A) via the opening in the bore wall, and to fold the lens into a compact folded configuration with the lens in a pre-insertion position in the bore or lumen (FIG. 11B).

[0025] The ram and receptacle have mating interfitting male and female configurations of slots 34 and ram wing portions 36.

[0026] Referring to FIGS. 11A and 11B, the inner end of the ram has an arcuate end face 38 across which extends a transverse ridge 33 which is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the bore or lumen 21. The inner curvature 38 of the ram is curved like the inner surface of the bore or lumen (FIG. 11B). The end surface or face 38 of the ram is flush with the inner wall surface of the lumen and faces the opposing wall surface of the bore.

[0027] A plunger 40 (FIG. 5) constitutes a lens insertion device for moving the folded lens 28, 30 (FIG. 6) through the lumen and the nozzle tip 24 to urge the lens through the tip and into the eye of the patient. The lens is wrapped about the end portion of the plunger as it moves through the lumen, as indicated in FIG. 6.

[0028] A reduced, flat portion 44 of the plunger has extending therefrom a generally vertical stabilizer 46 and a horizontal stabilizer having oppositely extending wing portions 48, 50, as shown. A generally vertical reinforcing rib 56 extends from the vertical stabilizer 46 to provide rigidity. The end portion 54 of the plunger is recessed and concave, thus to better engage the end portion of a folded lens for accurately urging of the lens through the lumen.

[0029] Manual operation of insertion actuator 14, which is preferably a rack and pinion arrangement, as shown, causes the end of plunger 40 to engage the lens in its pre-insertion position, and to urge the lens along the lumen toward nozzle 22 and tip 24, and thence into the eye of the patient.

[0030] A longitudinal ridge 58 is defined on the lumen wall (FIG. 8) and is aligned with ridge 33 on the inner ram surface to prevent rotation of the lens relative to the lumen wall.

[0031] Ridges 60, 62 are defined at opposite edges of slit wall. These ridges retain the lens against rotation relative to the lumen wall during movement along the lumen.

[0032] In moving through the lumen and nozzle, the folded lens has the successive configurations indicated in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, the lens being gradually opened to the configuration of FIG. 10.

[0033] In passing through the nozzle and the outlet or tip 24, the slitted end portions of the nozzle and tip are spread open, the spreading being limited by the size of the incision in the eye.

[0034] Thus there has been shown and described an intraocular lens insertion instrument which fulfills all the objects and advantages sought therefor. Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the subject invention will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering this specification together with the accompanying drawings and claims. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.