Prosthesis (i.e. – artificial body members) – parts thereof – or ai – Eye prosthesis – Intraocular lens
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-12
2001-03-13
Willse, David H. (Department: 3738)
Prosthesis (i.e., artificial body members), parts thereof, or ai
Eye prosthesis
Intraocular lens
C623S006460, C623S006540
Reexamination Certificate
active
06200343
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an intra-ocular lens including an optical lens part which can be implanted in an anterior chamber of an eye in front of the iris. The lens includes resiliently constructed haptic loops, each of which has a radially interior loop portion connected with the optical lens part and a radially exterior loop portion which can be supported at an intra-ocular supporting point. The radially exterior loop portions are offset, in the direction of the optical axis of the optical lens part with respect to the radially interior loop portions, toward the posterior chamber of the eye. The radially exterior loop portions are guidable through incisions in an area of the outer edge of the iris and supportable on the sulcus ciliaris behind the iris. The radially interior and radially exterior loop portions are situated in two planes which are offset along the optical axis of the optical lens part, with portions of the loops which extend between the radially interior and exterior loop portions being disposed at an angle with respect to the two planes.
One intra-ocular lens is known from International Patent Document WO 97/27,825 and has haptic loops which are molded to the periphery of the lens body. Another lens, known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,796, has small support legs which project through openings on the periphery of the iris. A further lens, known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,986,214, also has small support legs projecting radially from the lens body.
An additional intra-ocular lens known from European Patent Document EP 061,282 B1 has an optical lens part which is implanted in the anterior chamber of the eye in front of the pupil formed by the iris. Resiliently constructed haptic loops, which are supported at three points in the chamber angle of the anterior chamber of the eye by foot plates, are used for support.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide an anterior chamber lens which has a simply constructed haptic system and by which a positionally stable support of the optical lens part is achieved in the eye.
According to the invention, this object is achieved by providing the haptic loops with approximately U-shapes or V-shapes with respective legs which are formed by the radially interior and exterior loop portions. The radially interior loop portions are embedded in the lens body of the optical lens part and the radially exterior loop portions are curved along concentric circular sections.
In the present invention, the haptic system is formed by threads or open loops which, with respect to the optical lens axis, have a radially interior thread portion or loop portion and a radially exterior thread portion or loop portion. The radially interior loop portion is connected with the optical lens part, and the radially exterior loop portion is used for the support in the posterior chamber of the eye, particularly on the sulcus ciliaris (ciliary groove) behind the iris. For this purpose, the radially exterior loop portions are connected with loop portions which extend diagonally with respect to the plane of the optical lens part. During implantation, the radially exterior loop portions are guided through incisions in the area of the outer edge of the iris so that they can be supported on the sulcus ciliaris behind the iris in the posterior chamber of the eye. The radially exterior loop portions are situated in a plane which extends approximately parallel to the plane in which the connection points of the interior loop portions with the optical lens part are provided.
The radially interior loop portions may be cast into the lens body of the optical lens part. However, it is also possible to mold the radially interior thread portions or loop portions to the circumference of the optical lens part. The connection points are situated at diametrical points with respect to the optical axis of the optical lens part. The connection points are preferably situated on circular sections, particularly if the open haptic loops or threads are embedded in or cast into the lens body. The lens body may consist of a foldable material, such as a silicone polymer or a hydrogel polymer. The open haptic loops or threads consist of a harder material, such as polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). The free ends of the haptic loops may be provided with lobar thickenings for a simplified threading of the haptic loops through the incisions placed in the iris.
The invention advantageously provides an anterior chamber lens, and particularly a phakic anterior chamber lens, which is supported in the posterior chamber of the eye, preferably on the sulcus ciliaris.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3986214 (1976-10-01), Krasnov
patent: 4262370 (1981-04-01), Hartstein
patent: 4298996 (1981-11-01), Barnet
patent: 4615702 (1986-10-01), Koziol et al.
patent: 4834751 (1989-05-01), Knight et al.
patent: 4863464 (1989-09-01), Dusek
patent: 5300117 (1994-04-01), Baikoff et al.
patent: 5628796 (1997-05-01), Suzuki
patent: 0061282 (1988-09-01), None
patent: 0 477 109 A1 (1992-03-01), None
patent: 97/27825 (1997-08-01), None
Evenson, McKeown, Edwards & Lenahan P.L.L.C.
Willse David H.
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