Abstract: Surgical instruments, surgical techniques, grafts, cell and tissue isolation techniques, and a method for transplanting retinal cells, including photoreceptors, retinal pigment epithelium, and choroidea within their normal configuration, or all three tissues in a co-transplantation procedure are provided.

Abstract: An instrument for subretinal implantation comprising an elongate tube having a distal end and a proximal end, the tube having a lumen passing from the proximal end to the distal end, the distal end having a distal tip, wherein the lumen forms an opening in the tip, the instrument further including a plunger, the plunger being capable of sliding motion within and with respect to the tube, wherein the outer diameter of the distal end of the elongate tube is sufficiently small to be inserted through the pars plana area of an eye and the length of the distal end of the elongate tube is sufficient long to permit the opening in said tip to thereafter be inserted beneath the retina through an opening therein, wherein the plunger can express material within the lumen therefrom through the opening in the tip into the subretinal space of an eye into which the tip is inserted.

Abstract: Surgical instruments, surgical techniques, grafts, cell and tissue isolation techniques, and a method for transplanting retinal cells, including photoreceptors, retinal pigment epithelium, and choroidea within their normal configuration, or all three tissues in a co-transplantation procedure are provided.

Abstract: A method of transplanting a graft in the subretinal area of a host eye comprises preparing the graft by harvesting from the donor tissue a population of cells in a manner that maintains the population of cells in the same organization and cellular polarity as is present in normal tissue of that type. The population of cells are of a sheet-like form and are assembled with a relatively thin flexible pliable carrier composed of a non-toxic flexible composition which substantially dissolves at body temperature to form a graft. The graft is sufficiently flexible and pliable to be coiled to form a volute (76) without disturbing the organization and polarity of the cells. The method further comprises coiling the graft to form a volute (76) with the convolutions of the volute (76) free of one another for subsequent uncoiling of the graft substantially to its original sheet-like form. An incision is made in the host eye for insertion of the volute (76).

Abstract: A method of transplanting a graft in the subretinal area of a host eye comprises preparing the graft by harvesting from the donor tissue a population of cells in a manner that maintains the population of cells in the same organization and cellular polarity as is present in normal tissue of that type. The population of cells are of a sheet-like form and are assembled with a relatively thin flexible pliable carrier composed of a non-toxic flexible composition which substantially dissolves at body temperature to form a graft. The graft is sufficiently flexible and pliable to be coiled to form a volute without disturbing the organization and polarity of the cells. The method further comprises coiling the graft to form a volute with the convolutions of the volute free of one another for subsequent uncoiling of the graft substantially to its original sheet-like form. An incision is made in the host eye for insertion of the volute.

Abstract: An instrument for subretinal implantation comprising an elongate tube having a distal end and a proximal end, the tube having a lumen passing from the proximal end to the distal end, the distal end having a distal tip, wherein the lumen forms an opening in the tip, the instrument further comprising a plunger, the plunger being capable of sliding motion within and with respect to the tube, wherein the outer diameter of the distal end of the elongate tube is sufficiently small to be inserted through the pars plana area of an eye and the length of the distal end of the elongate tube is sufficient long to permit the opening in said tip to thereafter be inserted beneath the retina through an opening therein, wherein the plunger can express material within the lumen therefrom through the opening in the tip into the subretinal space of an eye into which the tip is inserted.

Abstract: Surgical instruments, surgical techniques, grafts, cell and tissue isolation techniques, and a method for transplanting retinal cells, including photoreceptors, retinal pigment epithelium, and choroidea within their normal configuration, or all three tissues in a co-transplantation procedure are provided.