Iol insertion apparatus and method for making and using same

Abstract

Apparatus for inserting intraocular lenses (IOLs) into eyes include a hollow tube including a material and having an interior wall defining a hollow space through which an IOL is passed and an outlet through which the IOL is passed from the hollow space into an eye, and a lubricity enhancing component physically secured to said hollow tube and concentrated at or near the interior wall in an amount effective to facilitate the passage of the IOL through the hollow space.

1 . An intraocular lens (IOL) insertion apparatus comprising: 
 an insertion tube for inserting an IOL through an incision of 3.5 mm or less wherein said insertion tube is integrally formed of a polymer to define an at least partially tapering hollow tube having an interior wall defining a hollow space through which an intraocular lens is passed and an outlet through which said intraocular lens is passed from said hollow space into an eye; and; 
 a lubricity enhancing component physically secured, other than by covalent bonding, to said hollow tube and concentrated at or near said interior wall and being effective to facilitate the passage of said intraocular lens through said hollow space.  
   
     
     
         2 . The IOL insertion apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said polymer is a polyolefin.  
     
     
         3 . The IOL insertion apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said lubricity enhancing component is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, poly (N-vinyl lactams), polyacrylic acid, polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide, polyvinyl pyridine, polyvinyl alcohol, polysaccharides, carboxy methyl cellulose, hydroxy alkyl celluloses, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, polymethacrylic acid, polyacrylamide, polypeptides, poly sodium styrene sulfonate, polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate, heparin and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The IOL insertion apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said lubricity enhancing component is polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP).  
     
     
         5 . The IOL insertion apparatus as in claims  1 ,  3  or  4  wherein said insertion tube further comprises a covalently bonded lubricity enhancing component.  
     
     
         6 . An intraocular lens (IOL) insertion apparatus comprising: 
 an insertion tube for inserting an IOL through an incision of 3.5 mm or less wherein said insertion tube is integrally formed of a polyolefin to define an at least partially tapering hollow tube having an interior wall defining a hollow space through which an intraocular lens is passed and an outlet through which said intraocular lens is passed from said hollow space into an eye;    a first lubricity enhancing component physically secured, other than by covalent bonding, to said hollow tube and concentrated at or near said interior wall and being effective to facilitate the passage of said intraocular lens through said hollow space; and 
 a second lubricity enhancing component covalently bonded to said hollow tube at said interior wall in an amount effective to assist in facilitating the passage of said intraocular lens through said hollow space.  
   
     
     
         7 . The IOL insertion apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said polyolefin is polypropylene.  
     
     
         8 . The IOL insertion apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said lubricity enhancing component is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, poly (N-vinyl lactams), polyacrylic acid, polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide, polyvinyl pyridine, polyvinyl alcohol, polysaccharides, carboxy methyl cellulose, hydroxy alkyl celluloses, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, polymethacrylic acid, polyacrylamide, polypeptides, poly sodium styrene sulfonate, polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate, heparin and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The IOL insertion apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said first lubricity enhancing component is polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP).  
     
     
         10 . An intraocular lens (IOL) insertion apparatus comprising: 
 an insertion tube for inserting an IOL through an incision of 3.5 mm or less wherein said insertion tube is integrally formed of polypropylene to define an at least partially tapering hollow tube having a plasma treated interior wall defining a hollow space through which an intraocular lens is passed and an outlet through which said intraocular lens is passed from said hollow space into an eye; 
 a lubricity enhancing component comprising polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) physically secured, other than by covalent bonding, to said hollow tube and concentrated at or near said interior wall and being effective to facilitate the passage of said intraocular lens through said hollow space; and  
 a surface coating covalently bonded to said hollow tube at said interior wall in an amount effective to assist in facilitating the passage of said intraocular lens through said hollow space.  
   
     
     
         11 . An intraocular lens (IOL) insertion apparatus comprising: 
 an insertion tube for inserting an IOL through an incision of 3.5 mm or less wherein said insertion tube is integrally formed of polypropylene to define an at least partially tapering hollow tube having a plasma treated interior wall defining a hollow space through which an intraocular lens is passed and an outlet through which said intraocular lens is passed from said hollow space into an eye; 
 PVP physically secured, other than by covalent bonding, to said interior wall and being effective to facilitate the passage of said intraocular lens through said hollow space; and  
 a surface coating covalently bonded to said hollow tube at said interior wall in an amount effective to assist in facilitating the passage of said intraocular lens through said hollow space.