Abstract: Soft, flexible highly lubricious coatings for polymeric IOL insertion cartridges that allow IOLs to be easily inserted through small bore cartridges suitable for use with small (less than 3 mm) incisions are provided. These lubricious coatings allow IOLs to be inserted into the eye of a patient without the risk of lens damage or transfer of lubricants to the lens surface during implantation. Specifically, polymeric coatings comprising a matrix polymer having an equivalent weight greater than 5000 g/eq are used to form interpenetrating networks (IPN) on the surface of hydrophobic structural polymers. The IPNs thus formed entrap highly lubricious hydrophilic compounds within the IPN using multi-functional cross linkers.

Abstract: A haptic is provided for use in an accommodating intraocular lens. The haptic has multiple filaments, each connected to the edge of the optic at one end. Each filament has a shape that conforms to an equatorial region of the capsular bag. The haptic couples the forces exerted by the capsular bag of the eye during accommodation radially to the edge of the optic, produce a diametric expansion or compression of the optic. This diametric motion distorts the optic, producing a change in any or all of the anterior radius, the posterior radius, and the thickness. These changes affect the power of the lens and/or location of the image. The haptic may optionally have a thin membrane joining the filaments at the optic end, and may optionally have a connecting ring that joins the filaments at the end opposite that of the optic.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are ophthalmic cleaning systems and methods for their use, which comprise an ophthalmic solution and lens case, wherein the solution includes dual disinfectants and the lens case includes silver. When the lens case is combined with the solution according to the system of the present invention, it surprisingly exhibits synergistic activity which results in a faster antimicrobial activity.

Abstract: Control apparatus for an ultrasonic phacoemulsification handpiece utilizes flow rates and temperature measurements as well as power provided to a handpiece for calculating a matrix of power level duty cycle combination that would not generate sufficient heat to create a burn in eye tissue and either prevent operation of handpiece in the matrix or alert a surgeon of such use.

Abstract: A method and system of establishing communications between at least two independent software modules in a safety critical system, such as a medical system, is provided. The design comprises providing a media connection between software modules, wherein the software modules employ a communications protocol and participate in a bi-directional master-slave relationship between a master module and a slave module. The design further comprises sending an arbitrary length of data between the master and slave modules, wherein the arbitrary length of data is used by the master module to control and obtain status from the slave module, and sending arbitrary data further enables the slave module to return data and status information to the master module. The design also employs a safety critical communications watchdog between the master and slave modules, wherein the safety critical communications watchdog monitors communications quality between the master and slave modules.

Abstract: The present embodiments relate to a novel method of making quaternary ammonium polymers comprising the steps of: a) mixing 1,4-bis-dimethylamino-2-butene, triethanolamine, water and an acid; and b) introducing a 1,4-dihalo-2-butene to the mixture so as to initiate a reaction resulting in the quaternary ammonium polymer.

Abstract: An intraocular lens for correcting or reducing the astigmatism of a cornea includes a pupil that is spatially divided into discrete zones, with each zone having a particular astigmatism magnitude and astigmatism orientation. In one embodiment, the zones all have the same astigmatism magnitude, which is equal and opposite the cornea astigmatism magnitude to within a particular tolerance, such as 0.25 diopters. In one embodiment, some or all of the zones all have different astigmatism orientations, with the angular separation between astigmatism orientations being on the order of the rotational misalignment tolerance of the lens to the cornea. The visual performance of such a lens deteriorates more slowly with rotational misalignment, when compared to a comparable lens having a uniform astigmatism orientation across its entire pupil, leading to more relaxed tolerances for a surgeon that implants the lens.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering energy during a surgical procedure such as phacoemulsification is provided. The method and apparatus include applying energy during at least one pulsed energy on period, typically sufficient or intended to rapidly induce and beneficially employ transient cavitation. Applying energy during the pulsed energy on period comprises applying energy during a first high energy period, and applying energy during a second nonzero lower energy period.

Abstract: Ophthalmic devices are provided having a violet-light vertical cut-off filter abruptly absorbs light between the wave lengths of between approximately and 400 nm and 450 nm such that a curve when plotted as percent transmission versus wavelength has the shape as depicted in FIG. 2. In one embodiment the ophthalmic devices are made from acrylates and the light absorbing compound is an Eastman Yellow 035 MA dye.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a multi-purpose phacoemulsification needle comprises a needle body disposed about a centerline and has a lumen disposed therein. The lumen has a first cross-sectional area that is normal to the centerline. The needle further comprises a distal tip comprising an arcuate surface and a face with a port therein. The port has a second cross-sectional area in a plane generally parallel to the face and is in fluid communication with an internal cavity that has a third cross-sectional area normal to the centerline, the internal cavity being in fluid communication with the lumen. The needle is configured such that the third cross-sectional area is greater than either the first cross-sectional area or the second cross-sectional area. In another aspect of the invention, the needle comprises a plurality of fins projecting inwardly from the lumen.

Abstract: The invention is generally directed to systems and methods for medical care, and more particularly to systems and methods for historical display of surgical operating parameters. A first embodiment is a surgical system that includes a surgical instrument having a plurality of associated surgical parameters, each parameter having a value at each instant during an associate surgical procedure. The system further includes a computer system configured to record the values of each associated surgical parameter at each instant during an associate surgical procedure and display the values of each associated surgical parameter at each instant in a human readable form.

Abstract: An intraocular lens for providing accommodative vision includes an adjustable optic and a haptic that is operably coupled to the optic. The adjustable optic comprises a central zone and an annular zone surrounding the central zone. The optic may also comprise additional annular zones. The haptic comprises a transparent portion protruding into the adjustable optic. The intraocular lens has a disaccommodative configuration in which the central zone has a base optical power and an accommodative configuration in which the central zone has an add optical power that is at least about 1 Diopter greater than the base optical power. The central zone and the annular zone have different optical powers when the adjustable intraocular lens is in the accommodative configuration and/or when the adjustable intraocular lens is in the disaccommodative configuration.

Abstract: A system for easily transferring an intraocular lens (IOL) from an inserter into a patient's eye. The system includes an inserter handpiece with a holding station for receiving or storing an IOL. The IOL may be pre-loaded within the holding station during manufacture, and the inserter handpiece coupled to a delivery tube so that the entire system is ready for use by a surgeon to implant an IOL. The IOL may have an optic and leading and trailing haptics coupled to the optic, and the holding station may be capable of manipulating the haptics as desired to facilitate transfer of the IOL through the delivery tube into the eye. For instance, the holding station may fold one or both of the haptics over the optic. Preferably, the holding station maintains the haptics in their folded positions during transfer of the IOL into the delivery tube. The holding station desirably maintains the IOL in a relaxed configuration during storage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for precisely controlling particle movement relative to a phacoemulsification needle tip is provided. The design monitors actual vacuum present and calculates a pulse shape amplitude waveform proportional to the amount of measured vacuum. An increase in vacuum indicates that the handpiece/needle is becoming occluded by a large particle. The present design determines whether additional power is required to bump or move a large particle away from the needle tip. The present design may employ a control loop that senses and continuously monitors vacuum. The design may dynamically vary the amount of ultrasonic energy delivered to the surgical area in response to the observed actual vacuum, and can actively vary the amount of power delivered to the surgical area based on the size of the particle and the resultant vacuum realized.

Abstract: A pump for moving a fluid through a fluidics system includes a surface and channel disposed along at least a portion of the surface. The pump also includes a driving mechanism having a rotatable shaft and a plurality of haptics operably coupled to the shaft. A closed portion is formed in the channel as the channel is compressed between the surface and at least one of the haptics, the closed portion having a thickness between the surface and the haptic. The pump additionally has a circular path and a shaft path. The surface has a radius of curvature in the vicinity of the closed portion that is greater than the sum of a radius of the circular path and the thickness of the closed portion.

Abstract: An ophthalmic lens for modifying or reducing non-axisymmetric higher order aberrations includes an optic body disposed about an optical axis having a primary meridian and an orthogonal secondary meridian. The optic body comprises an anterior surface and an opposing posterior surface. The optic body includes an optic zone comprising a base shape that is configured to form an image or focus from light incident on the surfaces, either alone or when used within an optical system. The optic body also includes a higher order toric shape that is imposed on or added to one of the surfaces. The higher order toric shape also includes a first profile disposed along the primary meridian and a second profile disposed along the secondary meridian that is different in shape from the first profile. The higher order toric shape is characterized by a profile along at least one meridian of the lens that changes with increasing radius from the optical axis raised to a power that is greater than two.

Abstract: Apparatus for the removal of lens tissue includes a first instrument for inserting into a lens capsule and removing a cataract therein, the first instrument including a lumen for aspiration of cataract tissue and irrigation fluid from the lens capsule and manipulate the cataract until cataract is removed. The second instrument includes an irrigation port for introducing the irrigation fluid into the lens capsule.

Abstract: Implantation of an accommodating intraocular lens in an eye may require the accurate measurement of the size, circumference, or diameter of the capsular bag of the eye. A flexible ring or ring portion may be temporarily or permanently inserted into the capsular bag for measuring the circumference of the capsular bag, for example, after extraction of a natural lens from the capsular bag. The ring or ring portion is generally compressible to fit through a surgical incision, then expands to fill the capsular bag along an equatorial region. The ring or ring portion includes a central component that changes shape and/or angle as the ring or ring portion is compressed. The shape change is generally correlated to the size of the capsular bag and may be visually measured through the cornea, the measurement being generally independent of corneal magnification. The measurement may be used to determine or calculate information about the capsular bag such as its size, elasticity, accommodative range, and so forth.

Abstract: A haptic is provided for use in an accommodating intraocular lens. The haptic has multiple filaments, each connected to the edge of the optic at one end. Each filament has a shape that conforms to an equatorial region of the capsular bag. The haptic couples the forces exerted by the capsular bag of the eye during accommodation radially to the edge of the optic, produce a diametric expansion or compression of the optic. This diametric motion distorts the optic, producing a change in any or all of the anterior radius, the posterior radius, and the thickness. These changes affect the power of the lens and/or location of the image. The haptic may optionally have a thin membrane joining the filaments at the optic end, and may optionally have a connecting ring that joins the filaments at the end opposite that of the optic.

Abstract: A device for achieving high vacuum stability during phacoemulsification surgery includes a main aspiration line connected to a vacuum source which enables a fluid flow from a phacoemulsification handpiece tip to a drainage reservoir. A first tubing segment is provided in the main aspiration line along with a second tubing segment generally parallel to the first tubing section and a valve disposed in the second tubing segment regulates fluid flow through the second tubing segment in order to limit vacuum surge in the main aspiration line upon clearing of an occlusion in the phacoemulsification handpiece tip.