Accommodating Intraocular Lens (Aiol) and Discrete Components Therefor
Accommodating intraocular (AIOL) assemblies (31) for enabling post implantation in situ manual selective displacement of an AIOL (33) along a human eye's visual axis relative to stationary anchor points. Axial displacement may be over a continuous range or alternatively at discrete axial stopping positions typically from about 100 μm to about 300 μm apart. Novels AIOLs designed to be at least partially folded for facilitating insertion into a human eye through a relatively small incision.
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The invention pertains to accommodating intraocular lens assemblies.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONCommonly owned PCT International Application No. PCT/IL02/00693 entitled Accommodating Lens Assembly and published on 27 Feb. 2003 under PCT International Publication No. WO 03/015669 illustrates and describes accommodating intraocular lens (hereinafter AIOL) assemblies, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. The AIOL assemblies each include a haptics system adapted to be securely fixed in a human eye's annular ciliary sulcus at least two spaced apart stationary anchor points so that it may act as a reference plane for an AIOL of continuously variable Diopter strength affected by a human eye's capsular diaphragm under control of its sphincter-like ciliary body and acting thereagainst from a posterior direction. The haptics systems include a rigid planar haptics plate with a telescoping haptics member for sliding extension. The haptics plate and the haptics member are preferably self-anchoring as illustrated and described in commonly owned PCT International Application No. PCT/IL02/00128 entitled Intraocular Lens and published on 29 Aug. 2002 under PCT International Publication No. WO 02/065951, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Commonly owned PCT International Application No. PCT/IL2005/000456 entitled Accommodating Intraocular Lens Assemblies and Accommodation Measurement Implant and published on 10 Nov. 2005 under PCT International Publication No. WO 2005/104994 illustrates and describes AIOL assemblies enabling post implantation in situ manual selective displacement of an AIOL along a human eye's visual axis relative to at least two spaced apart stationary anchor points to a desired position to ensure that an AIOL assumes a non-compressed state in a human eye's constricted ciliary body state. Such in situ manual selective displacement can be effected post implantation to correct for capsular contraction which is a natural reaction which typically develops over a few months following extraction of the contents of a human eye's natural crystalline lens, and also a subject's changing eyesight overtime with minimal clinical intervention. Such in situ manual selective displacement can be achieved as follows: First, a discrete haptics system for retaining a discrete AIOL which is manually displaceable relative thereto. And second, a haptics system with at least two haptics having radiation sensitive regions capable of undergoing plastic deformation for in situ manual displacement of an integrally formed AIOL.
Commonly owned PCT International Application No. PCT/IL2005/001069 entitled Accommodating Intraocular Lens (AIOL), and AIOL Assemblies Including Same illustrates and describes an AIOL including a biasing mechanism for elastically deforming an elastically deformable shape memory disk-like optical element for affording the AIOL a natural positive Diopter strength for near vision. The AIOL is intended to be implanted in a human eye such that relaxation of its ciliary body causes its capsular diaphragm to apply an external force for overcoming the biasing mechanism to reduce the AIOL's natural positive Diopter strength for distance vision.
Other AIOLs are illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,254,509 to Tennant, U.S. Pat. No. 4,409,691 to Levy, U.S. Pat. No. 4,888,012 to Horn et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,892,543 to Turley, U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,966 to Christie et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,476,514 to Cumming, U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,302 to Skottun, U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,366 to Cumming, U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,891 to Klaas, U.S. Pat. No. 5,674,282 to Cumming, U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,171 to Skottun, U.S. Pat. No. 6,197,059 to Cumming, U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,641 to Woods, U.S. Pat. No. 6,342,073 to Cumming et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,387,126 to Cumming, U.S. Pat. No. 6,406,494 to Laguette et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,423,094 to Sarfarazi, U.S. Pat. No. 6,443,985 to Woods, U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,725 to Skotton, U.S. Pat. No. 6,494,911 to Cumming, U.S. Pat. No. 6,503,276 to Lang et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,638,306 to Cumming, U.S. Pat. No. 6,645,245 to Preussner, US Patent Application Publication No. US 2004/0169816 to Esch, and EP 1 321 112.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONOne aspect of the present invention is directed towards accommodating intraocular (AIOL) assemblies each including at least one shape memory optical element resiliently elastically deformable between a non-compressed shape with a first Diopter strength and a compressed shape with a second Diopter strength different than its first Diopter strength such that an AIOL has a continuously variable Diopter strength between a minimum Diopter strength for distance vision purposes and a maximum Diopter strength for near vision purposes. The AIOL assemblies are intended for in situ manual selective displacement of an AIOL along a human eye's visual axis relative to stationary anchor points after implantation for enabling accurate AIOL deployment to take full advantage of the reciprocal movement of a human eye's capsular diaphragm between its constricted ciliary body position and its relaxed ciliary body position. Axial displacement may be over a continuous range in a similar manner to aforesaid WO 2005/104994 or alternatively at discrete axial stopping positions typically from about 100 μm to about 300 μm apart. Stepwise axial displacement is preferably enabled by a so-called “push and twist” bayonet arrangement similar to a conventional light bulb fitting having a single stopping position. The AIOL assemblies each include a haptics system also suitable for self-anchoring implantation of a fixed Diopter strength IOL in a human eye as opposed to an AIOL having a variable Diopter strength.
Another aspect of the present invention is directed towards AIOLs which lend themselves to be at least partially folded under reasonable forces as can be applied using conventional ophthalmic surgical tools, for example, tweezers, for facilitating insertion into a human eye through a relatively small incision. The AIOLs can be provided as discrete components for use with discrete haptics systems for enabling aforesaid in situ axial displacement. The discrete AIOLs are provided with typically two or more manipulation apertures accessible from an anterior side for receiving the tip of a handheld manipulation tool for enabling in situ manipulation. The manipulation apertures may be in the form of peripheral disposed manipulation rings, blind manipulation notches, and the like. Alternatively, the AIOLs can be integrally formed with a haptics system including at least two elongated haptics having radiation sensitive regions capable of undergoing plastic deformation for enabling aforesaid in situ axial displacement.
In order to understand the invention and to see how it can be carried out in practice, preferred embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which similar parts are likewise numbered, and in which:
The haptics system 32 is made from suitable rigid bio-compatible transparent polymer material such as PMMA, and the like. The haptics system 32 has a longitudinal axis 39 intended to be co-directional with a human eye's visual axis. The haptics system 32 includes a tubular main body 41 with a diameter D1 in the region of 4 mm-5 mm corresponding to a human eye's pupil, and an axial length L1 of 1 mm±0.5 mm along the longitudinal axis 39 (see
The main body 41 has an internal surface 51 formed with two or more equidistant stepped tracks 52 only one of which is visible in
The AIOL 33 includes a rigid tubular casing 67 having an axial length L2 and a leading end 67A for facing in an anterior direction in a human eye, and a trailing end 67B for facing in a posterior direction in a human eye (see
The housing 57, the optical element 64 and the casing 67 are preferably formed from suitable biocompatible transparent polymer material of different consistencies which can be elastically deformed under reasonable forces as can be applied using conventional ophthalmic surgical tools, for example, tweezers 74, and the like, for facilitating insertion of the AIOL 33 into a human eye through a relatively small incision (see
Implantation of the AIOL assembly 31 in a human eye 10 after removal of its natural crystalline lens 27 to leave its double layered capsular diaphragm 29 including remnants of its anterior capsule 24 overlying its still intact posterior capsule 26 is now described with reference to
The ring 94, the anterior member 97, the posterior member 99, and the optical elements 102 and 103 are preferably formed from suitable polymer based biocompatible transparent material of different consistencies. The ring 94 is typically formed from a relatively rigid polymer material, for example, PMMA, whilst the anterior member 97 and the posterior member 99 are formed from less rigid silicone or acrylic based polymer material, and the optical elements 102 and 103 are formed from still softer silicone gel or softer acrylic based polymer material. For example, the anterior member 97 and the posterior member 99 can be formed from aforesaid MED6400 polymer material and the optical elements 102 and 103 can be formed from aforesaid MED3-6300 polymer material. Alternatively, the ring 94 can be formed with a membrane for dividing the AIOL 91 into two compartments which can be injected with a suitable silicone or water based gel. The anterior member 97 and the posterior member 99 can be formed as flat optical members without any optical power or preferably as plano-convex optical members as shown.
The optical element 102 preferably has a refractive index n2 which is greater than the optical element's refractive index n1 whereby the curved surface 104B acts as a concave lens with a negative optical power such that the AIOL 91 is suitable for near vision in its non-compressed state (see
The housing 121 houses a pair of shape memory disc-like optical elements 133 and 134 in a similar fashion as the AIOL 91 insofar that the optical elements 133 and 134 have a flat surface 136A in a compressed state of the AIOL 120 (see
While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications, and other applications of the invention can be made within the scope of the appended claims. The discrete AIOLs 120, 140, 170, and 180 can be readily formed as unitary AIOL assemblies similar to the unitary AIOL assemblies 80 and 110.
Claims
1. An accommodating intraocular lens (AIOL) assembly for self-anchoring implantation in a human eye having a visual axis, a sclera of tough connective tissue, an annular ciliary sulcus, and a sphincter-like ciliary body for tensioning a capsular diaphragm in an anterior direction along the visual axis on its relaxation from a contracted ciliary body state to a relaxed ciliary body state, the AIOL assembly comprising:
- (a) an accommodating intraocular lens (AIOL) having a longitudinal axis intended to be co-directional with the human eye's visual axis, a leading surface, a trailing surface, and at least one shape memory optical element resiliently elastically deformable between a non-compressed shape with a first Diopter strength in a non-compressed state of said AIOL and a compressed shape with a second Diopter strength different than said first Diopter strength in a compressed state of said AIOL whereby said AIOL has a continuously variable Diopter strength between a minimum Diopter strength for distance vision and a maximum Diopter strength for near vision; and
- (b) a haptics system having a longitudinal axis intended to be co-directional with the human eye's visual axis, and a main body with at least two elongated haptics extending therefrom in opposite directions in a plane perpendicular to its longitudinal axis, each said haptics having at least one pointed puncturing member for penetrating the tough connective tissue of the human eye's sclera for self-anchoring implantation of said haptics system in the human eye's annular ciliary sulcus at at least two spaced apart stationary anchor points for retaining said AIOL along the human eye's visual axis at an in situ manually selectively displaceable desired position therealong relative to said at least two stationary anchor points for urging said trailing surface against the human eye's capsular diaphragm from an anterior direction for determining said AIOL's Diopter strength at said desired position whereupon relaxation of the human eye's ciliary body tensions its capsular diaphragm against said trailing surface from a posterior direction for affecting said AIOL's Diopter strength.
2. The AIOL assembly according to claim 1 wherein said haptics system is a discrete component for selectively retaining a discrete AIOL therein.
3. The AIOL assembly according to claim 2 wherein said discrete haptics system and said discrete AIOL have a push and twist bayonet arrangement for enabling stepwise axial displacement of said discrete AIOL at least two discrete axial stopping positions along the human eye's visual axis relative to said at least spaced apart two stationary anchor points.
4. The AIOL assembly according to claim 3 wherein said main body has an internal surface with at least two equidistant stepped tracks and said discrete AIOL has a corresponding number of lugs for push and twist travel along their associated stepped tracks.
5. The AIOL assembly according to claim 2 wherein said discrete haptics system and said discrete AIOL have a screw thread arrangement for enabling continuous axial displacement of said discrete AIOL along the human eye's visual axis relative to said at least two spaced apart stationary anchor points.
6. The AIOL assembly according to claim 1 wherein said main body has an axial length L1 along its longitudinal axis and said discrete AIOL has an axial length L2 along its longitudinal axis where L2>L1 for enabling in situ manual selective axial displacement of said discrete AIOL along the human eye's visual axis relative to said at least two spaced apart stationary anchor points along an adjustment stroke longer than said discrete haptics system's axial length L1.
7. The AIOL assembly according to claim 1 wherein said discrete AIOL is inserted into said discrete haptics system from a posterior direction.
8. The AIOL assembly according to claim 1 wherein said haptics system is integrally formed with said AIOL acting as said main body and said at least two elongated haptics each have a plastically deformable radiation sensitive region for enabling in situ manual selective axial displacement of said AIOL along the human eye's visual axis relative to said at least two spaced apart stationary anchor points.
9. The AIOL assembly according to claim 8 wherein said radiation sensitive regions are adjacent said AIOL and remote from their respective pointed puncturing members.
10. The AIOL assembly according to claim 1 wherein each said haptics has a thin profile in a plane perpendicular to said haptics system's longitudinal axis such that each said haptics is sufficiently flexible for encircling around said main body in said plane perpendicular to its longitudinal axis, and a wide profile along its longitudinal axis such that each said haptics is rigid against a compression force therealong.
11. The AIOL assembly according to claim 10 wherein said wide profile tapers from a haptics' proximal end adjacent said main body towards its distal end remote therefrom.
12. The AIOL assembly according to claim 1 wherein said AIOL includes a hollow flattened sphere shaped housing having an annular anterior member with said leading surface having an internal rim defining an aperture, a posterior member with said trailing surface, and said at least one shape memory optical element has a leading surface including a central portion exposed through said aperture, and a tubular casing mounted on said housing for reciprocation relative to said posterior member for selectively compressing said at least one shape memory optical element from its non-compressed shape to its compressed shape for bulging into said casing relative to said non-compressed shape whereby said AIOL has a continuously variable Diopter strength from a minimum Diopter strength for distance vision and a maximum Diopter strength for near vision.
13. The AIOL assembly according to claim 1 wherein said AIOL includes a housing with an anterior member with a leading surface, a posterior member with a trailing surface, a leading shape memory optical element resiliently elastically deformable between a non-compressed shape in a non-compressed state of the AIOL and a compressed shape in a compressed state of the AIOL, and a trailing shape memory optical element elastically deformable between a non-compressed shape in the AIOL's said non-compressed state and a compressed shape in the AIOL's said compressed state for selectively bulging into said leading shape memory optical element on application of a compression force along said longitudinal axis against said trailing surface from a posterior direction for modifying the shape of said leading shape memory optical element with respect to its non-compressed shape in the AIOL's said non-compressed state.
14. The AIOL assembly according to claim 13 wherein said housing includes a ring between said leading shape memory optical element and said trailing shape memory optical element, and said leading shape memory optical element and said trailing shape memory optical element each have a bellows-like shape whereupon said leading shape memory bellows-like optical element expands in an anterior direction for distancing said anterior member away from said ring in the AIOL's compressed state.
15. The AIOL assembly according to claim 13 wherein the AIOL includes a cylindrical housing with at least one peripheral aperture relative to the AIOL's longitudinal axis whereupon said leading shape optical element bulges radially through said at least one peripheral aperture in the AIOL's compressed state.
16. An accommodating intraocular lens (AIOL) for implantation in a human eye having a visual axis, a sclera of tough connective tissue, an annular ciliary sulcus, and a sphincter-like ciliary body for tensioning a capsular diaphragm in an anterior direction along the visual axis on its relaxation from a contracted ciliary body state to a relaxed ciliary body state, the AIOL having a longitudinal axis intended to be deployed co-directional with the human eye's visual axis, the AIOL comprising:
- (a) a hollow flattened sphere shaped housing including an annular anterior member with a leading surface having an internal rim defining an aperture, a posterior member with a trailing surface, and a shape memory optical element resiliently elastically deformable between a non-compressed shape with a first Diopter strength in a non-compressed state of the AIOL and a compressed shape with a second Diopter strength different than said first Diopter strength in a compressed state of the AIOL, said at least one shape memory optical element having a leading surface including a central portion exposed through said aperture; and
- (b) a tubular casing mounted on said housing for reciprocation relative to said posterior member for selectively compressing said shape memory optical element from its non-compressed shape to its compressed shape for bulging into said casing relative to said non-compressed shape whereby said AIOL has a continuously variable Diopter strength from a minimum Diopter strength for distance vision and a maximum Diopter strength for near vision.
17. The AIOL according to claim 16 wherein said casing has a leading end and a trailing end formed with a groove for receiving said internal rim whereupon said casing is reciprocal with respect to said posterior member.
18. The AIOL according to claim 16 wherein said housing has a diameter of at least 6 mm and said casing has a diameter of at least 4 mm in a plane perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.
19. An accommodating intraocular lens (AIOL) assembly comprising:
- (a) an AIOL according to claim 16; and
- (b) a haptics system having a longitudinal axis intended to be deployed co-directional with the human eye's visual axis and a main body with at least two elongated haptics extending therefrom in a plane perpendicular to said haptics system's longitudinal axis, each haptics having at least one pointed puncturing member for penetrating the tough connective tissue of the human eye's sclera for self-anchoring implantation of said haptics system in the human eye's annular ciliary sulcus at at least two spaced apart stationary anchor points for retaining said AIOL at a manually selected axial position along the human eye's visual axis whereupon relaxation of the human eye's ciliary body from its constricted ciliary body state to its relaxed ciliary body state tensions its capsular diaphragm for applying a compression force against said trailing surface along the direction of the human eye's visual axis from a posterior direction for compressing said AIOL from its non-compressed state to its compressed state.
20. The AIOL assembly according to claim 19 wherein said haptics system is a discrete component for selectively retaining a discrete AIOL therein.
21. The AIOL assembly according to claim 20 wherein said discrete haptics system and said discrete AIOL have a push and twist bayonet arrangement for enabling stepwise axial displacement of said discrete AIOL at least two discrete axial stopping positions along the human eye's visual axis relative to said at least two spaced apart stationary anchor points.
22. The AIOL assembly according to claim 21 wherein said main body has an internal surface with at least two equidistant stepped tracks and said discrete AIOL has a corresponding number of lugs for push and twist travel along their associated stepped tracks.
23. The AIOL assembly according to claim 20 wherein said discrete haptics system and said discrete AIOL have a screw thread arrangement for enabling continuous axial displacement of said discrete AIOL along the human eye's visual axis relative to said at least two spaced apart stationary anchor points.
24. The AIOL assembly according to claim 20 wherein said main body has an axial length L1 along its longitudinal axis and said discrete AIOL has an axial length L2 along its longitudinal axis where L2>L1 for enabling in situ manual selective axial displacement of said discrete AIOL along the human eye's visual axis relative to said at least two spaced apart stationary anchor points along an adjustment stroke longer than said discrete haptics system's axial length L1.
25. The AIOL assembly according to claim 20 wherein said discrete AIOL is inserted into said discrete haptics system from a posterior direction.
26. The AIOL assembly according to claim 19 wherein said haptics system is integrally formed with said AIOL acting as said main body and said at least elongated two haptics each have a plastically deformable radiation sensitive region for enabling in situ manual selective axial displacement of said AIOL along the human eye's visual axis relative to said at least two spaced apart stationary anchor points.
27. The AIOL assembly according to claim 26 wherein said radiation sensitive regions are adjacent said AIOL and remote from their respective pointed puncturing members.
28. The AIOL assembly according to claim 19 wherein each said haptics has a thin profile in a plane perpendicular to said haptics system's longitudinal axis such that each said haptics is sufficiently flexible for encircling around said main body in said plane perpendicular to said haptics system's longitudinal axis, and a wide profile along said haptics system's longitudinal axis such that each said haptics is rigid against a compression force therealong.
29. The AIOL assembly according to claim 28 wherein said wide profile tapers from a haptics' proximal end adjacent said main body towards its distal end remote therefrom.
30. An accommodating intraocular lens (AIOL) for implantation in a human eye having a visual axis, a sclera of tough connective tissue, an annular ciliary sulcus, and a sphincter-like ciliary body for tensioning a capsular diaphragm in an anterior direction along the visual axis on its relaxation from a contracted ciliary body state to a relaxed ciliary body state, the AIOL having a longitudinal axis intended to be deployed co-directional with the human eye's visual axis, the AIOL comprising a housing including an anterior member with a leading surface, a posterior member with a trailing surface, a leading shape memory optical element adjacent said anterior member and resiliently elastically deformable between a non-compressed shape in a non-compressed state of the AIOL and a compressed shape in a compressed state of the AIOL, and a trailing shape memory optical element adjacent said posterior member and elastically deformable between a non-compressed shape in the AIOL's said non-compressed state and a compressed shape in the AIOL's said compressed state for selectively bulging into said leading shape memory optical element on application of a compression force along said longitudinal axis against said trailing surface from a posterior direction for modifying the shape of said leading shape memory optical element with respect to its non-compressed shape in the AIOL's said non-compressed state.
31. The AIOL according to claim 30 wherein said housing includes a ring between said leading shape memory optical element and said trailing shape memory optical element, and said leading shape memory optical element and said trailing shape memory optical element each have a bellows-like shape whereupon said leading shape memory bellows-like optical element expands in an anterior direction for distancing said anterior member away from said ring in the AIOL's compressed state.
32. The AIOL according to claim 30 wherein said housing includes at least one peripheral aperture relative to the AIOL's longitudinal axis whereupon said leading shape optical element bulges radially through said at least one peripheral aperture in the AIOL's compressed state.
33. An accommodating intraocular lens (AIOL) assembly comprising:
- (a) an AIOL according to claim 30; and
- (b) a haptics system having a longitudinal axis intended to be deployed co-directional with the human eye's visual axis and a main body with at least two elongated haptics extending therefrom in a plane perpendicular to said haptics system's longitudinal axis, each haptics having at least one pointed puncturing member for penetrating the tough connective tissue of the human eye's sclera for self-anchoring implantation of said haptics system in the human eye's annular ciliary sulcus at at least two spaced apart stationary anchor points for retaining said AIOL at a manually selected axial position along the human eye's visual axis whereupon relaxation of the human eye's ciliary body from its constricted ciliary body state to its relaxed ciliary body state tensions its capsular diaphragm for applying a compression force against said trailing surface along the direction of the human eye's visual axis from a posterior direction for compressing said AIOL from its non-compressed state to its compressed state.
34. The AIOL assembly according to claim 33 wherein said haptics system is a discrete component for selectively retaining a discrete AIOL therein.
35. The AIOL assembly according to claim 34 wherein said discrete haptics system and said discrete AIOL have a push and twist bayonet arrangement for enabling stepwise axial displacement of said discrete AIOL at least two discrete axial stopping positions along the human eye's visual axis relative to said at least two spaced apart stationary anchor points.
36. The AIOL assembly according to claim 35 wherein said main body has an internal surface with at least two equidistant stepped tracks and said discrete AIOL has a corresponding number of lugs for push and twist travel along their associated stepped tracks.
37. The AIOL assembly according to claim 34 wherein said discrete haptics system and said discrete AIOL have a screw thread arrangement for enabling continuous axial displacement of said discrete AIOL along the human eye's visual axis relative to said at least two spaced apart stationary anchor points.
38. The AIOL assembly according to claim 34 wherein said main body has an axial length L1 along its longitudinal axis and said discrete AIOL has an axial length L2 along its longitudinal axis where L2>L1 for enabling in situ manual selective axial displacement of said discrete AIOL along the human eye's visual axis relative to said at least two spaced apart stationary anchor points along an adjustment stroke longer than said main body's axial length L1.
39. The AIOL assembly according to claim 34 wherein said discrete AIOL is inserted into said discrete haptics system from a posterior direction.
40. The AIOL assembly according to claim 33 wherein said haptics system is integrally formed with said AIOL acting as said main body and said at least two haptics each have a plastically deformable radiation sensitive region for enabling in situ manual selective axial displacement of said AIOL along the human eye's visual axis relative to said at least two spaced apart stationary anchor points.
41. The AIOL assembly according to claim 40 wherein said radiation sensitive regions are adjacent said AIOL and remote from their respective pointed puncturing members.
42. The AIOL assembly according to claim 33 wherein each said haptics has a thin profile in a plane perpendicular to said haptics system's longitudinal axis such that each said haptics is sufficiently flexible for encircling around said main body in said plane perpendicular to said haptics system's longitudinal axis, and a wide profile along said haptics system's longitudinal axis such that each said haptics is rigid against a compression force therealong.
43. The AIOL assembly according to claim 42 wherein said wide profile tapers from a haptics' proximal end adjacent said main body towards its distal end remote therefrom.
44. A haptics system for retaining an intraocular lens in a human eye having a visual axis and including a sclera of tough connective tissue, and an annular ciliary sulcus, the haptics system having a longitudinal axis intended to be co-directional with the human eye's visual axis, the haptics system comprising a main body with at least two elongated haptics extending therefrom in opposite directions in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, each haptics having an attachment plate with at least two pointed puncturing members each terminating at a tip for penetrating the tough connective tissue of the human eye's sclera for self-anchoring implantation of the haptics system in the human eye's annular ciliary sulcus at least two spaced apart stationary anchor points, said at least two pointed puncturing members having a minimum tip separation between their tips of at least 1 mm in said plane perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.
45. The haptics system according to claim 44 wherein said tip separation is between about 2 mm and about 3 mm.
46. The haptics system according to claim 44 wherein said attachment member has a bifurcated shape including a central narrow juncture between a pair of spaced apart pointed puncturing members for enabling a minimum penetration of at least 0.5 mm on abutment against a human eye's sclera on self-anchoring implantation of the haptics system in the human eye's annular ciliary sulcus.
47. The haptics system according to claim 44 for use with a handheld manipulation tool including an elongated handle having a tip wherein said attachment plate includes a manipulation aperture accessible from an anterior direction for selectively receiving the manipulation tool's tip for enabling in situ manipulation of said attachment plate.
48. The haptics system according to claim 44 and integrally formed with an AIOL having a hollow flattened sphere shaped housing having an annular anterior member with said leading surface having an internal rim defining an aperture, a posterior member with said trailing surface, and said at least one shape memory optical element has a leading surface including a central portion exposed through said aperture; and a tubular casing mounted on said housing for reciprocation relative to said posterior member for selectively compressing said at least one shape memory optical element from its non-compressed shape to its compressed shape for bulging into said casing relative to said non-compressed shape whereby said AIOL has a continuously variable Diopter strength from a minimum Diopter strength for distance vision and a maximum Diopter strength for near vision.
49. The haptics system according to claim 44 and integrally formed with an AIOL having a housing with an anterior member with a leading surface, a posterior member with a trailing surface, a leading shape memory optical element resiliently elastically deformable between a non-compressed shape in a non-compressed state of the AIOL and a compressed shape in a compressed state of the AIOL, and a trailing shape memory optical element elastically deformable between a non-compressed shape in the AIOL's said non-compressed state and a compressed shape in the AIOL's said compressed state for selectively bulging into said leading shape memory optical element on application of a compression force along said longitudinal axis against said trailing surface from a posterior direction for modifying the shape of said leading shape memory optical element with respect to its non-compressed shape in the AIOL's said non-compressed state.
50. The haptics system according to claim 49 wherein said housing includes a ring between said leading shape memory optical element and said trailing shape memory optical element, and said leading shape memory optical element and said trailing shape memory optical element each have a bellows-like shape whereupon said leading shape memory bellows-like optical element expands in an anterior direction for distancing said anterior member away from said ring in the AIOL's compressed state.
51. The haptics system according to claim 49 wherein said housing includes at least one peripheral aperture relative to the AIOL's longitudinal axis whereupon said leading shape optical element bulges radially through said at least one peripheral aperture in the AIOL's compressed state.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 30, 2006
Publication Date: Dec 4, 2008
Applicant: NuLens Ltd (Herzliya)
Inventor: Ben Nun Joshua (Vitkin)
Application Number: 11/910,133
International Classification: A61F 2/16 (20060101);