Device to store and inject corneal graft

Abstract

Devices and methods for storing and injecting a corneal tissue graft are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a tissue container and an adaptor configured to be coupled to the tissue container. The tissue container defines an interior region configured to receive a precut corneal tissue graft therein. The tissue container is also configured to be coupled to an injector assembly that can be used to move the corneal tissue graft out of the interior region of the tissue container and into an anterior chamber of a recipient's eye. The adaptor can be configured to prevent the tissue graft from migrating out of the tissue container and/or can be configured to be coupled to the injector assembly. The tissue graft can remain within the tissue container during storage, transport and during the implantation procedure until it is injected into the patient's eye.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 passing through an opening in an eye a distal tip of a tissue delivery device in a first configuration, the tissue delivery device containing a tissue graft; and   changing the tissue delivery device from the first configuration to a second configuration such that the tissue graft is advanced out of an interior region of the tissue delivery device and into the eye, the tissue graft being in a rolled configuration when the tissue delivery device is in the first configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 injecting a fluid from the tissue delivery device to the anterior chamber of the recipient's eye.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the changing includes moving a plunger within the interior region of the tissue delivery device, the method further comprising:
 conveying a fluid via an irrigation channel defined by the plunger to the tissue graft.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue graft is a precut corneal tissue graft. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 prior to the passing, making an incision in a cornea of the eye.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the moving includes moving a plunger disposed within the tissue delivery device distally from a proximal portion of the tissue delivery device to a distal portion of the tissue delivery device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a fluid via a fitting that is in fluid communication with an irrigation channel that is disposed within the tissue delivery device.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 prior to the changing, inducing the tissue graft into the rolled configuration within the interior region of the tissue delivery device via a tapered portion of the tissue delivery device.   
     
     
         9 . A method, comprising:
 inserting into an incision of a cornea a distal end of a tissue delivery device having a precut corneal tissue graft; and   actuating an injector assembly to advance the precut corneal tissue graft out of an interior region of the tissue delivery device, through a tapered portion of the tissue delivery device, and into an anterior chamber of the eye.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 conveying a fluid from a syringe to an irrigation channel defined by the injector assembly.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the actuating includes inducing the precut corneal tissue graft into a rolled configuration when the precut corneal tissue graft is advanced through the tapered portion of the tissue delivery device. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a tissue container defining an interior region, the interior region containing a corneal tissue in a rolled configuration; and   an injector assembly configured to be coupled to the tissue container, the injector assembly including a plunger configured to move within the tissue container to move the corneal tissue out of the interior region of the tissue container, the plunger defining an irrigation channel through which a fluid can be conveyed to the corneal tissue.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a transport member defining an interior chamber containing an optical transplant medium and configured to receive the tissue container.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the injector assembly includes a fitting in fluid communication with the irrigation channel, the fitting configured to be releasably coupled to a source of the fluid. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the tissue container includes a tapered portion configured to induce the corneal tissue into the rolled configuration within the interior region of the tissue container. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the plunger of the injector assembly includes an end surface configured to contact the corneal tissue in the rolled configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein a distal end portion of the plunger of the injector assembly includes a plug defining an opening through which the fluid can be conveyed to the corneal tissue graft.