Segmented scleral band for treatment of presbyopia and other eye disorders

Abstract

A segmented scleral expansion band adapted for implantation within or fastening to a segment of the sclera of an eye lying outside of and adjacent to the ciliary body of the eye, is formed from a number of arcuate segments, curved to match the curvature of the globe of the eye, and joined together at each end to form a complete scleral expansion band. The band is implanted in the sclera of the eye by forming circumferential tunnels, inserting the band segments through the tunnels, and joining the ends of the segments to form a complete scleral expansion band. The scleral expansion band is useful in treating presbyopia and other ocular disorders.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A segmented scleral expansion band adapted for implantation within or fastening to a zone of the sclera of an eye lying outside of and adjacent to the ciliary body of the eye, said segmented scleral expansion band comprising 
 a plurality of adjacent arcuate segments, each segment having a curved anterior edge and a curved posterior edge and structural spacing means extending between said anterior edge and said posterior edge and rigidly spacing said edges apart,    each segment having lateral ends provided with means for fastening said ends of said adjacent segments together to form a band,    said anterior edges and said posterior edges forming, when assembled into said band, an anterior rim and a posterior rim, respectively, of said band, and    said segments being sized so that said anterior rim of said band will lie outside at least a portion of an anterior portion of said scleral zone and said posterior rim will lie outside at least a portion of a posterior portion of said scleral zone,    at least one of said anterior rim, said posterior rim and said spacing means having a diameter greater than the exterior diameter of said scleral zone adjacent thereto.    
     
     
         2 . The scleral expansion band of  claim 1  wherein said fastening means comprises a tongue adapted to engage a recess on an adjacent segment.  
     
     
         3 . The scleral expansion band of  claim 2  wherein said recess is a groove.  
     
     
         4 . The scleral expansion band of  claim 1  wherein said band is made of a synthetic resin.  
     
     
         5 . The scleral expansion band of  claim 4  wherein said synthetic resin is selected from the group consisting of poly(methyl methacrylate), polyethylene, polypropylene, poly(tetrafluoroethylene) and silicone resins.  
     
     
         6 . The scleral expansion band of  claim 1  wherein said band is made of a reinforced composite material.  
     
     
         7 . The scleral expansion band of  claim 6  wherein said reinforced composite material is a glass-fiber reinforced synthetic resin.  
     
     
         8 . The scleral expansion band of  claim 6  wherein said reinforced composite material is a carbon-fiber reinforced material.  
     
     
         9 . The scleral expansion band of  claim 6  wherein said reinforced composite material is carbon-fiber reinforced carbon.  
     
     
         10 . The scleral expansion band of  claim 1  wherein said band is made of a physiologically acceptable metal.  
     
     
         11 . The scleral expansion band of  claim 10  wherein said band is made of metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, platinum, gold, tantalum, stainless steel, shape-memory alloys, and physiologically acceptable alloys.  
     
     
         12 . The scleral expansion band of  claim 1  wherein said band is made of a ceramic material.  
     
     
         13 . The scleral expansion band of  claim 12  wherein said ceramic is selected from the group consisting of porcelain, alumina, silica, silicon carbide, and high-strength glasses.  
     
     
         14 . A segment of a scleral expansion band adapted to be assembled to form a scleral expansion band, said segment comprising 
 a curved anterior edge and a curved posterior edge and structural spacing means extending between said anterior edge and said posterior edge and rigidly spacing said edges apart,    said segment having lateral ends provided with means for fastening said ends to adjacent segments to form a band.    
     
     
         15 . The segment of  claim 14  wherein said fastening means comprises a tongue on one of said lateral ends and a groove on another of said lateral ends.  
     
     
         16 . The segment of  claim 14  wherein said anterior edge has a radius of curvature of about 8.0 to about 8.5 millimeters.  
     
     
         17 . The segment of  claim 16  wherein said anterior edge has a radius of curvature of about 8.3 millimeters.  
     
     
         18 . The segment of  claim 14  wherein said posterior edge has a radius of curvature of about 10.0 to about 10.5 millimeters.  
     
     
         19 . The segment of  claim 18  wherein said posterior edge has a radius of curvature of about 10.3 millimeters.  
     
     
         20 . The segment of  claim 14  wherein said segment is made of a synthetic resin.  
     
     
         21 . The segment of  claim 20  wherein said synthetic resin is selected from the group consisting of poly(methyl methacrylate), polyethylene, polypropylene, poly(tetra-fluoroethylene) and silicone resins.  
     
     
         22 . The segment of  claim 14  wherein said segment is made of a reinforced composite material.  
     
     
         23 . The segment of  claim 22  wherein said reinforced composite material is a glass-fiber reinforced synthetic resin.  
     
     
         24 . The segment of  claim 22  wherein said reinforced composite material is a carbon-fiber reinforced material.  
     
     
         25 . The segment of  claim 24  wherein said reinforced composite material is carbon-fiber reinforced carbon.  
     
     
         26 . The segment of  claim 14  wherein said segment is made of a physiologically acceptable metal.  
     
     
         27 . The segment of  claim 26  wherein said segment is made of metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, platinum, gold, tantalum, stainless steel, shape-memory alloys, and physiologically acceptable alloys.  
     
     
         28 . The segment of  claim 14  wherein said segment is made of a ceramic material.  
     
     
         29 . The segment of  claim 28  wherein said ceramic is selected from the group consisting of porcelain, alumina, silica, silicon carbide, and high-strength glasses.  
     
     
         30 . A method for restoring the amplitude of accommodation of an eye comprising forming at least one circumferentially oriented tunnel in the tissue of the sclera of an eye in a circumferential zone of the sclera lying outside the ciliary body of said eye, inserting in said tunnels segments of a scleral expansion band, and joining said segments to form a scleral expansion band, 
 each of said segments of said scleral expansion band having a curved anterior edge and a curved posterior edge and structural spacing means extending between said anterior edge and said posterior edge and rigidly spacing said edges apart,    each of said segments of said scleral expansion band having lateral ends provided with means for fastening said ends of said adjacent segments together to form a band,    said anterior edges and said posterior edges forming, when assembled into said scleral expansion band, an anterior rim and a posterior rim, respectively, of said band, and    said segments of said scleral expansion band being sized so that said anterior rim of said band will lie outside at least a portion of an anterior portion of said scleral zone and said posterior rim will lie outside at least a portion of a posterior portion of said scleral zone,    at least one of said anterior rim, said posterior rim and said spacing means having a diameter greater than the exterior diameter of said scleral zone adjacent thereto.