Intraocular lens insertion instrument

Abstract

An insertion instrument provides improved features for insertion of a lens into the eye through a small incision. A tubular member has a lumen and a split nozzle end portion for spreading after insertion. Ridges on the lumen wall prevent rotation of the lens, and stabilizer components extend from a plunger end portion to maintain the lens compressed and to prevent lens rotation in moving through the lumen.

1 . An insertion instrument for delivery of an intraocular lens into a human eye through a small incision, said apparatus including: 
 an elongate generally tubular member having a longitudinal axis and defining a lumen,    said tubular member having a tapered nozzle portion defining an outlet end opening for release of the lens into the eye, and having a lens insertion opening spaced from said outlet end opening,    a lens receptacle defining a lens chamber communicating with said lens insertion opening in said tubular member, said lens receptacle having oppositely laterally extending slot portions,    a ram slidable in said lens chamber and having laterally oppositely extending wing portions slidable in said lens receptacle slot portions,    said ram having an end portion contoured to cooperate with an inner lumen wall to fold the lens into a folded pre-insertion configuration, and    a plunger for urging the lens through said lumen and outwardly therefrom into the eye.    
     
     
         2 . An insertion apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 at least one slit is defined in the tapered nozzle portion to facilitate the spreading of the nozzle portion upon movement therethrough of the lens.    
     
     
         3 . Canceled.  
     
     
         4 . Canceled.  
     
     
         5 . An insertion apparatus according to  claim 1 , and further including: 
 a ridge on said end portion of the ram and positioned and adapted to retain the folded lens against rotation relative to said inner lumen wall.    
     
     
         6 . Canceled.  
     
     
         7 . An insertion apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the plunger has a forward portion recessed and configurated to engage the end portion of a folded lens haptic to accurately urge the lens through the lumen.    
     
     
         8 . An insertion apparatus for delivery of an intraocular lens into a human eye through a small incision, said apparatus including: 
 an elongate generally tubular member having a longitudinal axis and defining a lumen,    said tubular member having a tapered nozzle portion defining an outlet end opening for release of the lens into the eye,    ram means for insertion into the lumen of said lens via an insertion opening in the tubular member with said lens in a folded condition,    plunger means for urging the lens through the lumen and outwardly therefrom into the eye, and    at least one stabilizer extending outwardly from a forward end portion of the plunger to exert force on the folded lens to maintain the lens in predetermined orientation and in folded configuration during movement of the lens through the lumen.    
     
     
         9 . A lens insertion apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein: 
 the stabilizer element is an optic stabilizer extending upwardly and forwardly of the forward end portion of the plunger to engage the folded optic of the lens to urge it downwardly and forwardly toward the nozzle portion.    
     
     
         10 . A lens insertion apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the stabilizer element slidably engages the lumen wall.  
     
     
         11 . A lens insertion apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said stabilizer is a plate stabilizer extending laterally outwardly from the forward end portion of the plunger to overlay and exert pressure on a folded lens haptic for maintaining a haptic in folded configuration and correctly oriented during movement through the lumen.    
     
     
         12 . A lens insertion apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein: 
 two plate stabilizers extend oppositely from said plunger end portion to act on a lens haptic to maintain it in folded configuration and correctly oriented during movement through the lumen.    
     
     
         13 . An insertion apparatus for delivery of an intraocular lens into a human eye through a small incision, said apparatus including: 
 an elongate generally tubular member having a longitudinal axis and defining a lumen,    said tubular member having a tapered nozzle portion defining an outlet end opening for release of the lens into the eye,    ram means for insertion into the lumen of said lens via an insertion opening in the tubular member with said lens in a folded condition,    a plunger for urging the lens through the lumen and outwardly therefrom into the eye,    said tapered nozzle portion having defined therein at least one longitudinal slit extending to said outlet opening for resilient spreading of the tapered nozzle portion upon movement therethrough of the lens,    an optic stabilizer extending forwardly and upwardly of the forward end portion of the plunger to engage the folded optic of the lens to urge it downwardly and forwardly, and    at least one plate stabilizer extending laterally outwardly from the forward end portion of the plunger to overlay and exert pressure on a lens haptic to aid in maintaining the haptic in folded configuration and properly oriented during movement through the lumen.    
     
     
         14 . An insertion apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein: 
 the plunger has a forward end face recessed and configurated to engage the trailing end portion of a folded lens haptic for accurate engagement to urge the lens through the lumen from its pre-insertion position through the lumen and outwardly in to the eye of a patient.    
     
     
         15 - 20 . Canceled.  
     
     
         21 . An insertion apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said ram means comprises a ram member slidably mounted for movement through said insertion opening, and    said ram means has an end portion contoured to cooperate with an inner wall of said lumen to fold the lens into a folded pre-insertion configuration.    
     
     
         22 . An insertion apparatus according to  claim 13 , and further including: 
 a lens receptacle defining a lens chamber communicating with said lens insertion opening in said tubular member, and    said ram means is slidable in said lens chamber.    
     
     
         23 . An insertion apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein: 
 said ram means has an end portion contoured to cooperate with an inner lumen wall to fold the lens into a folded pre-insertion configuration.    
     
     
         24 . An insertion instrument according to  claim 1 , and further comprising: 
 means comprising a pinion engaging a rack connected with the plunger to urge the lens through the lumen and outwardly therefrom into the eye.    
     
     
         25 . An insertion instrument according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said contoured rain end portion has a curvature similar to a curvature of a confronting tubular member wall and extends to engage the lens to roll and fold the lens between the ram contoured end portion and the curved tubular member.