Intraocular lens and method

Abstract

Novel intraocular lenses comprising at least one haptic having a shape memory alloy with a transition temperature substantially higher than the human body temperature, the shape memory alloy being post-surgically, selectively adjustable with a laser beam.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . An intraocular lens implant for the correction of vision comprising:
 an optical body with a default refractive power; and   a haptic operably connected to the optical body, the haptic comprising at least one shape memory alloy having a segment with a transition temperature substantially higher than the body temperature of a human.   
     
     
         2 . The intraocular lens implant of  claim 1 , wherein the segment is non-linear at temperatures below the transition temperature and linear at temperatures above the transition temperature. 
     
     
         3 . The intraocular lens implant of  claim 2 , wherein the optical body comprises a monofocal region. 
     
     
         4 . The intraocular lens implant of  claim 2 , wherein the optical body has a multifocal region. 
     
     
         5 . The intraocular lens implant of  claim 1 , wherein the segment is linear at temperatures below the transition temperature and non-linear at temperatures above the transition temperature. 
     
     
         6 . The intraocular lens implant of  claim 5 , wherein the optical body has a monofocal region. 
     
     
         7 . The intraocular lens implant of  claim 5 , wherein the optical body comprises a multifocal region. 
     
     
         8 . The intraocular lens implant of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second haptic operably connected to the optical body, the second haptic comprising a second shape memory alloy having a second segment with a transition temperature substantially higher than the body temperature of a human.   
     
     
         9 . The intraocular lens implant of  claim 1 , wherein the transition temperature is between 50 degrees Celsius and 500 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         10 . A method for non-surgically adjusting the position of an implanted intraocular lens:
 providing an intraocular lens implant for the correction of vision comprising:
 an optical body with a default refractive power; 
 a haptic operably connected to the optical body, the haptic comprising at least one shape memory alloy having a segment with a transition temperature substantially higher than the body temperature of a human; 
   implanting the intraocular lens within the eye of a patient;   post-surgically dilating the eye;   providing an electromagnetic wave delivery means;   delivering electromagnetic waves with the delivery means to a predetermined section of the segment until the segment reaches the transition temperature, whereby the haptic is deformed so as to exert a desired biasing force within the eye.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the biasing force secures the intraocular lens implant within the eye. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the biasing force repositions the intraocular lens implant within the eye. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the biasing force adjusts the focus of the intraocular lens implant within the eye. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the biasing force aligns the intraocular lens implant to a desired position within the eye. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the laser is an argon laser. 
     
     
         16 . An intraocular lens implant for the correction of vision comprising:
 an optical body with a default refractive power; and   a haptic operably connected to the optical body, the haptic including an expansion zone and at least one shape memory bar provided in or proximate to the expansion zone, a segment of the memory bar having a transition temperature greater than 50 degrees Celsius,   wherein the expansion zone of the haptic is deformable when the at least a portion of the memory bar has reached its transition temperature.   
     
     
         17 . The intraocular lens implant of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 an additional haptic connected to a side of the optical body opposing the haptic, the additional haptic including an expansion zone and at least one shape memory bar provided in or proximate to the expansion zone, a segment of the memory bar having a transition temperature greater than 50 degrees Celsius,   wherein the expansion zone of the additional haptic is deformable when the at least a portion of the memory bar has reached its transition temperature.   
     
     
         18 . The intraocular lens implant of  claim 17 , wherein the haptic includes a plurality of shape memory bars provided in or proximate to the expansion zone of the haptic, and the additional haptic includes a plurality of shape memory bars provided in or proximate to the expansion zone of the additional haptic. 
     
     
         19 . The intraocular lens implant of  claim 18 , wherein the memory bars in both the haptic and the additional haptic are composed of a shape memory alloy, the shape memory alloy comprising nickel titanium. 
     
     
         20 . The intraocular lens implant of  claim 19 , wherein the expansion zone of the haptic is crinkled, and wherein the expansion zone of the additional haptic is crinkled.