Intraocular Lens Insertion Apparatus and Lens Case

Abstract

A lens case for storing an intraocular lens contains a housing for storing an intraocular lens and a support member configured to support the intraocular lens. The support member includes a plurality of jaws, the jaws having a closed configuration for holding the intraocular lens and an open configuration for releasing the intraocular lens. The lens case further comprises a passage formed when the jaws are in the open configuration, the passage including an opening in the lens case for transfer of the intraocular lens into an intraocular lens inserter. The lens case may further comprise an intraocular lens that is disposed between the jaws, the intraocular lens comprising an optic and a haptic coupled to the optic. The lens case may be configured to maintain the haptic in either a first position in which a distal portion of the haptic is disposed farther from the optic or a second position in which the distal portion of the haptic is disposed closer to optic. Preferably, the lens case is configured to provide the second position during transfer of the intraocular lens into an inserter and/or inserter cartridge.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lens case for storing an intraocular lens, comprising:
 a housing for storing an intraocular lens;   a support member configured to support the intraocular lens, the support member comprising a plurality of jaws, the jaws having a closed configuration for holding the intraocular lens and an open configuration for releasing the intraocular lens; and   a passage formed when the jaws are in the open configuration, the passage including an opening in the lens case for transfer of the intraocular lens into an intraocular lens inserter.   
     
     
         2 . The lens case of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of jaws comprise a first jaw and a second jaw that move from the closed configuration to the open configuration upon engagement between the lens case and the inserter. 
     
     
         3 . The lens case of  claim 2 , further comprising a locking mechanism to maintain the jaws in the open configuration upon engagement between the lens case and the inserter 
     
     
         4 . The lens case of  claim 3 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a projection protruding from the first jaw having a distal end, the distal end of the projection configured to engage a portion of the second jaw when the first and second jaws are in the open configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The lens case of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second jaws have a bias toward the closed configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The lens case of  claim 5 , wherein the first jaw is pivotally attached to a first arm and the second jaw is pivotally attached to a second arm, the bias being produced by a spring force between the first arm and the second arm. 
     
     
         7 . The lens case of  claim 5 , wherein the first jaw has a first proximal end and the second jaw has a second proximal end, the first and second proximal ends being fixed relative to one another, the first jaw and the second jaw being made of a resilient material and disposed relative to one another so as to produce the bias. 
     
     
         8 . The lens case of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of jaws comprise a top jaw, a bottom jaw, a right jaw, and a left jaw, at least one of the top and bottom jaws or the left and right jaws move from the closed configuration to the open configuration upon engagement between the lens case and the inserter. 
     
     
         9 . The lens case of  claim 1 , further comprising an intraocular lens disposed between the jaws, the intraocular lens comprising an optic configured to focus light onto the retina of the eye when placed inside the eye and a haptic coupled to the optic for holding the optic within the eye. 
     
     
         10 . The lens case of  claim 9 , wherein the lens case is configured to transfer the intraocular lens to inserter upon engagement of the lens case and the inserter. 
     
     
         11 . The lens case of  claim 9 , further comprising a triggering device configured to transfer the intraocular lens into the inserter upon engagement between the lens case and the inserter. 
     
     
         12 . The lens case of  claim 11 , wherein the triggering device is a push member configured to be pushed during transfer of the intraocular lens into the inserter. 
     
     
         13 . The lens case of  claim 11 , wherein the triggering device is a tab configured to be moved during transfer of the intraocular lens into the inserter. 
     
     
         14 . The lens case of  claim 11 , wherein the triggering device is a cap configured to be moved during transfer of the intraocular lens into the inserter. 
     
     
         15 . The lens case of  claim 9 , wherein the lens case is configured to maintain the haptic in either a first position in which a distal portion of the haptic is disposed farther from the optic or a second position in which the distal portion of the haptic is disposed closer to optic, the lens case configured to provide the second position during transfer of the intraocular lens into an inserter. 
     
     
         16 . The lens case of  claim 15 , wherein first position is a storage position and the second position is a transfer position. 
     
     
         17 . The lens case of  claim 15 , wherein the lens case is configured to maintain the haptic in the second position during transfer of the intraocular lens into the inserter. 
     
     
         18 . The lens case of  claim 15 , wherein the lens case is configured to automatically move the haptic from the first position to the second position as the lens case engages the inserter. 
     
     
         19 . The lens case of  claim 15 , wherein the distal portion of the haptic is disposed either above or below at least a portion of the optic when the haptic is in the second position. 
     
     
         20 . The lens case of  claim 15 , wherein the first position is configured to maintain the haptic in a lower stress condition for storage of the intraocular lens and the second position is configured to place the haptic in a higher stressed condition for transferring the intraocular lens into the inserter. 
     
     
         21 . The lens case of  claim 15 , further comprising a triggering device configured to actuate movement of the haptic from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         22 . The lens case of  claim 21 , wherein the triggering device is a push member configured to be pushed in order to actuate movement of the haptic from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         23 . The lens case of  claim 21 , wherein the triggering device is a tab configured to be moved in order to actuate movement of the haptic from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         24 . The lens case of  claim 21 , wherein the triggering device is a cap configured to cover an opening of the lens case when the haptic is in the first position. 
     
     
         25 . The lens case of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of jaws comprises a top jaw and a bottom jaw. 
     
     
         26 . The lens case of  claim 25 , wherein the top jaw comprises folding means configured to move the haptic from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         27 . The lens case of  claim 26 , wherein the folding means comprises one or more pull line attached to the first jaw and configured to be operably coupled to the first and second haptics so as to change the intraocular lens from the first configuration to the second configuration as the jaws are separated. 
     
     
         28 . The lens case of  claim 26 , wherein the folding means comprises a rotation device rotationally coupled to the intraocular lens, the rotation device configured to rotate and to move the haptic from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         29 . The lens case of  claim 26 , wherein the folding means comprises an insert having first and second ends, at least one of the ends attached to the top jaw and configured to operably engage the haptic so as to move the haptic from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         30 . A lens case for storing an intraocular lens, comprising:
 an intraocular lens comprising an optic configured to focus light onto the retina of an eye when placed inside the eye and a haptic coupled to the optic for holding the optic within the eye;   a housing for storing the intraocular lens;   a support member configure to support the intraocular lens; and   a shuttle configured to move the haptic to a predetermined position relative to the optic;   a transfer mechanism configured to transfer the intraocular lens and the shuttle together into an inserter.   
     
     
         31 . An insertion system for delivering an intraocular lens into the eye of a subject, comprising:
 a lens case comprising:
 a housing for storing an intraocular lens; 
 a support member configured to support the intraocular lens, the support member comprising a plurality of jaws, the jaws having a closed configuration for holding the intraocular lens and an open configuration for releasing the intraocular lens; and 
 a passage formed when the jaws are in the open configuration, the passage configured to allow transfer of the intraocular lens into an inserter for placing the intraocular lens into an eye of a subject; and 
   an inserter comprising:
 a load chamber configured to receive the intraocular lens from the lens case; and 
 an insertion tube coupled to the load chamber for delivering the intraocular lens into an eye. 
   
     
     
         32 . The insertion system of  claim 31 , further comprising an intraocular lens disposed between the jaws, the intraocular lens comprising an optic configured to focus light onto the retina of the eye when placed inside the eye and a haptic coupled to the optic for holding the optic within the eye. 
     
     
         33 . The insertion system of  claim 32 , further comprising a shuttle configured to move the haptic into a predetermined position relative to the optic prior to or during transfer of the intraocular lens from the load chamber. 
     
     
         34 . The insertion system of  claim 33 , wherein the shuttle is further configured to move together with the intraocular lens as the intraocular lens is transferred into the insertion tube. 
     
     
         35 . The insertion system of  claim 33 , wherein the shuttle is configured to maintain the haptic in the predetermined position as the intraocular lens moves into the insertion tube. 
     
     
         36 . The insertion system of  claim 31 , wherein the inserter further comprises:
 a nosepiece disposed at a distal end of the inserter, the nose piece comprising a rotational axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and a load chamber with a transfer interface for receiving an intraocular lens;   the nosepiece adapted to rotate approximately 180 degrees about the rotational axis between a first orientation for loading the intraocular lens and a second orientation for delivering the intraocular lens into the eye of a subject.   
     
     
         37 . The insertion system of  claim 31 , the inserter further comprising an insertion tube having surface that is disposed at an offset angle relative to an axis of travel of an insertion rod axis, the offset angle being between about 1 degree and about 10 degrees. 
     
     
         38 . A method of preparing an intraocular lens for delivery into the eye of a subject, comprising:
 providing an inserter for delivering an intraocular lens into the eye of a subject, the inserter comprising a load chamber for receiving the intraocular lens;   providing a lens case, comprising:
 a housing for storing the intraocular lens; and 
 a support member configured to support the intraocular lens, the support member comprising a plurality of jaws, the jaws having a closed configuration for holding the intraocular lens and an open configuration for releasing the intraocular lens; 
   engaging the lens case with the inserter;   moving the jaws to the open configuration;   disengaging the lens case from the inserter; and   transferring the intraocular lens to the inserter.