Abstract: For use in ophthalmic surgery, the surgeon has available a supply of "spare parts" which are artificial members, possibly simulating different components of the eye, that are suited, depending on their structural forms and shapes, for surgical implantation in the eye as and/or in connection with repair and/or reinforcement and/or replacement structures for damaged or diseased eye components. The members basically are made of cohesive sheet materials of biocompatible substances such as cross-linked hyaluronic acid, PMMA, or other equivalents thereof. Certain of such "spare parts" are particularly well suited for dealing with the problem of the torn posterior capsule when encountered during an extracapsular cataract extraction.

Abstract: A method of making an intraocular lens including providing a fixation member having a proximal end portion with the proximal end portion including an elongated filament, converting a region of said filament at said proximal end portion from a first configuration into a second configuration which is adapted to provide a mechanical interlock and molding an optic about the proximal end portion of the fixation member to form a mechanical interlock between the second configuration and the optic and to attach the fixation member to the optic.

Abstract: An intraocular lens includes an optic for implantation in a human eye and first and second fixation members attached to the optic for supporting the optic from the capsular bag of the eye, each of the fixation members having inner and outer legs. The inner legs extend radially outwardly and circumferentially from first and second attachment sites on the optic to intermediate portions of the fixation members. Each of the outer legs extend along an arc from the intermediate portion of the fixation member to a distal end portion of the fixation member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for implanting synthetic lenses into a human eye in which the capsular bag is first evacuated of the natural lens substance and thereafter a peripheral spreader is inserted into the evacuated capsular bag within which an expandable lens sack is received. In one alternative the spreader forms the exterior position of the lens and is thus inserted as a collapsed structure into the capsular bag and in the other alternative the spreader comprises a plurality of arcuate segments expelled through a needle into the lens capsule.

Abstract: A flexible posterior chamber lens for implantation within an eye comprising a disc-shaped lens body having a front face, a convex rear face, and an outer peripheral edge. A flexible fixation element extends from the lens body and extends substantially around the entire peripheral edge of the lens body for engagement with substantial portion of the capsular equator when the lens is implanted. The convex rear face of the lens body engages the posterior capsule to stretch the same rearwardly so that cellular migration onto, and the opacification of the posterior capsule is substantially reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: A method of making an intraocular lens including providing a fixation member having a proximal end portion with the proximal end portion including an elongated filament, converting a region of said filament at said proximal end portion from a first configuration into a second configuration which is adapted to provide a mechanical interlock and molding an optic about the proximal end portion of the fixation member to form a mechanical interlock between the second configuration and the optic and to attach the fixation member to the optic.

Abstract: An intraocular lens assembly used to replace the natural lens in the eye. The assembly comprises a preferably soft optical lens, a resilient housing having an aperture through which the lens can be inserted into or removed from the housing, and a resilient support comprising a central ring coupled to the housing and a pair of support arms extending outwardly from the ring. The assembly is readily foldable for insertion into the eye through a small incision, can support the soft optical lens without sagging and distortion, and allows the optical lens to be easily replaced.

Abstract: The cardiac valve comprises an annular body, at one end of which there are pivoted valve members, adapted to operate as a closing element, the annular body consisting of an outer ring member and an inner ring member which are mutually coupled, one of the ring members defining the pivot seats of the valve members, whereas the other ring member is adapted to delimit these seats, in order to provide a stable pivoting coupling of the valve members to the annular body.

Abstract: An intraocular disc lens is provided that is fully foldable and unfoldable for intercapsular plantation in the aphakic capsular sac. The lens when thus folded is well suited for insertion through an incision such as an endophakeoemulsification incision and for unfolding with autocentration in the sac. The lens includes a posterior capsule supporting ridge for purposes of postoperative corrective laser surgery and/or barrier protection against unwanted invasive cell growth into the visual axis.

Abstract: A posterior chamber lens implant comprising a flexible, substantially ring-shaped position fixation member which extends around a lens body. A pair of posts extend oppositely from the lens body to the position fixation member to cause the lens body to be centrally positioned with respect to the lens body. The relationship of the position fixation member and the posts permits the fixation member to be compressed towards the lens body to enable the implant to be inserted in the eye.

Abstract: A heart valve of the bi-leaflet or monoleaflet type having improved reductions in drag on blood flow through the fully opened heart valve. The leaflets are pivotally mounted in a heart valve body for movement between closed and opened positions. The leaflets have opposed inflow and outflow surfaces. The inflow surface includes a concave region located downstream of the leaflet pivot axis, and a convex region located downstream of the concave region. The outflow surface of the leaflets is generally convex, at least in that portion directly opposing the concave and convex regions of the inflow surface. The angle of leaflet opening is controlled to values ranging between 70.degree. and about 89.degree..

Abstract: An intraocular lens having a sheet-like support member which can be trimmed by a surgeon to modify the overall diameter of the lens to fit into different sizes of eye chambers. Several sets of support feet are formed on the perimeter of the support member so that the feet at the desired diameter are left untouched by the surgeon's trimming.

Abstract: An intraocular lens, comprising an optic lens and supporting elements made of a material possessing the effect of plastic memory in hot and cold states.

Abstract: Corrective intraocular lens for use with an intact natural eye lens, by insertion through an incision into the eye and implantation therein in spaced relation to the natural lens, including a lens body having a pair of opposed haptics constituting a first insertable leading haptic and a last insertable trailing haptic, each outwardly terminating in a transverse edge having a pair of laterally spaced apart and outwardly projecting contact lobes for engaging an adjacent eye tissue portion at a corresponding pair of spaced apart tissue points, the trailing haptic transverse edge having a 2-3 mm length, and the leading haptic transverse edge having a length larger than 2-3 mm and preferably about as large as the lens body diameter, such that the 2-3 mm length transverse edge of the last inserted haptic may be passed inwardly of the incision under minimum deflection of the intraocular lens and minimum risk of contact with the natural lens by the intraocular lens during implantation.

Abstract: An assembly comprising a prosthetic heart valve having a plurality of commissure supports which are deflectable radially inwardly and a valve holder which includes inner and outer holder members mounted for movement toward and away from each other. The valve holder is attached to the heart valve by sutures which extend from the outer holder member to the commissure supports and then between the commissure supports. When a handle is attached to the other holder member, the holder members are forced apart to tension the sutures to deflect the commissure supports radially inwardly. Portions of the sutures extend between the commissure supports to form a suture loop guard.

Abstract: A heart valve prosthesis having an annular valve body, a pair of leaflet occluders mounted therein for pivoting and translational movement between closed and open positions. The leaflet occluders have mating diametrical edges and arcuate edges which engage the valve body when the leaflets are closed. Generally part spherical mounting ears extend outwardly from the leaflet edge, adjacent the diametrical edge thereof. The ears are received in crescent-shaped recesses formed in the annular body. The recesses have opposed upstream and downstream surfaces for guiding the mounting ears during opening and closing of the leaflet.

Abstract: An artificial intra-ocular lens to be substituted for a natural lens which has been clouded by cataract. The lens is designed to be placed in the capsular bag from which the nucleus and cortex of the clouded lens have been removed. According to the invention the lens has a closed ring (3) extending concentrically about an optic component (2). The ring is connected to the periphery of the optic component (2) by means of two arms (4, 4') each extending circumferentially between the optic component (2) and the circumferential ring (3) and being connected to the periphery of the optic component (2) and to the ring (3) by means of arm ends (6, 6') and (5, 5'), respectively. These arm ends extend in fan-shaped configuration perpendicularly to the periphery of the optic component (2) and to the circumferential ring, respectively. Each arm end (6, 6') connected to the periphery of the optic component (2) is offset by an angle of 15.degree.-20.degree.

Abstract: A universally adjustable telescopic spectacle assembly for use with an implanted intraocular lens employs an objective lens which has positioned in front of the objective lens a cylindrical lens to provide cylindrical correction to the handicapped user. The telescopic assembly employs universal motion in that the assembly can be moved with respect to a spectacle frame so that one is able to shift the objective lens axis about a central point while further having the capability of moving the objective lens in a spiral motion away from or towards the eye of the user and further having means for providing a pivotal joint mechanism to permit maximum oblique adjustment of the entire telescopic assembly as related to the optical or central axis of the objective lens. In this manner any change in conditions of vision or a misalignment of the intraocular lens as inserted during surgery can be compensated for by the universal adjustable telescopic assembly as disclosed.

Abstract: An intraocular lens having one or more flexible haptic support loops connected to an optic. Each haptic support loop includes a first segment connected to the optic and extending therefrom at an acute angle relative to the optic periphery, a second segment extending from the first segment in an arc having at least one radius of curvature smaller than the radius of the optic and at least one radius of curvature on the side of the haptic opposite the acute angle formed by the first segment, and a third segment extending from the second segment in an arc having one or more radii of curvature greater than the radius of the optic which terminates in a free end spaced outwardly from the optic periphery.

Abstract: A heart valve prosthesis having an annular valve body, a pair of leaflet occluders mounted therein for pivoting and translational movement between closed and open positions. Leaflet occluders have mating diametrical edges and arcuate edges which engage the valve body when the leaflets are closed. Generally frustoconical mounting ears extend outwardly from the leaflet edge, adjacent the diametrical edge thereof. The ears are received in recesses formed in the annular body. The recesses have an upper section extending in the direction of blood flow and a downstream section inclined thereto in a direction extending outwardly. The leaflets each have a flat upstream surface and a generally cylindrical downstream surface.