Ocular Irrigation Device and Method

Abstract

An ocular irrigation device and method are provided including an ocular lens having selected structural features that facilitate flow of irrigation fluid to the eye through the ocular lens introduced by a source of irrigating fluid. The selected structural features achieve one or more objectives with respect to control of irrigation fluid so that selected portions of the eye and eyelids may be more effectively irrigated and treated. Control of the irrigation fluid by the invention includes variables of fluid flow characteristics to include control of flow velocity, flow volume, flow direction, and flow turbidity. Selected structural features of the ocular lens may address one or more of these variables alone or in selected combinations to provide an optimal method for treating a patient.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ocular lens, comprising:
 a body having a shape with a convex curvature;   an irrigation stem connected to said body and having a passageway for fluid to pass through said irrigation stem and to enable the fluid to communicate with a lower surface of said body; and   a body feature formed on said body, said body feature including at least one depression formed on an upper surface of said body, a lower surface of said body, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         2 . An ocular lens, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said at least one depression includes a dimple.   
     
     
         3 . An ocular lens, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said at least body feature further includes a protuberance, said protuberance including a plurality of concentric ridges formed on said upper surface or lower surface of said body.   
     
     
         4 . An ocular lens, as claimed in  claim 1 , further including:
 at least one directional fin extending from an upper surface of said body.   
     
     
         5 . An ocular lens, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said body has a central convex portion and an outer circumferential body portion that surrounds said central convex portion, said circumferential body portion having a second different convex curvature.   
     
     
         6 . An ocular lens, as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein:
 said at least one depression includes a plurality of dimples arranged in a pattern.   
     
     
         7 . An ocular lens, comprising:
 a body having a shape with a convex curvature;   an irrigation stem connected to said body and having a passageway for fluid to pass through said irrigation stem and to enable the fluid to communicate with a lower surface of said body; and   a body feature formed on said body, said body feature including a plurality of depressions formed on an upper surface of said body, a lower surface of said body, or combinations thereof.   
     
     
         8 . An ocular lens, as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein:
 said plurality of depressions include a plurality of dimples.   
     
     
         9 . An ocular lens, as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein:
 said plurality of depressions includes a plurality of concentric grooves formed on said lower surface.   
     
     
         10 . An ocular lens, as claimed in  claim 7 , further including:
 at least one directional fin extending from said upper surface of said body.   
     
     
         11 . An ocular lens, as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein:
 said body has a central convex portion and an outer circumferential body portion that surrounds said central convex portion, said circumferential body portion having a second different convex curvature.   
     
     
         12 . An ocular lens, comprising:
 a body having a shape with a convex curvature;   a primary irrigation stem connected to said body and having a passageway for fluid to pass through said irrigation stem and to enable the fluid to communicate with a lower surface of said body; and   a body feature formed on said body, said body feature including at least one of:
 (i) at least one interior passageway formed through said body, said at least one interior passageway having a first end communicating with said irrigation stem and a second opposite end having an opening to allow fluid to pass from said irrigation stem into said interior passageway and out through said opening; 
 (ii) a secondary irrigation stem spaced from said primary irrigation stem, said secondary irrigation stem connected to an upper surface of said body and having a secondary passageway for fluid to pass through said secondary irrigation stem and to communicate with said lower surface of said body; 
 (iii) a diffusing element secured to said lower surface of said body; 
 (iv) a secondary lens disposed above and spaced from said body; 
 (v) a surface pattern formed on at least one of said upper or lower surfaces of said body; 
 (vi) at least one score line formed on said body, said score line defining an opening or channel to be formed on said body by separating a portion of said body that resides within said score line; or 
 (vii) one or more openings formed along a height of said irrigation stem such that a selected portion of the fluid flowing through said irrigation stem can be directed onto an upper surface of the lens. 
   
     
     
         13 . An ocular lens, as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein:
 said at least one interior passageway includes a plurality of interior passageways extending radially away from said irrigation stem.   
     
     
         14 . An ocular lens, as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein:
 said at least one interior passageway has said opening formed at a peripheral edge of said body.   
     
     
         15 . An ocular lens, as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein:
 said at least one interior passageway has said opening formed on at least one of (i) a peripheral edge of said body, (ii) said upper surface of said body, (iii) said lower surface of said body, or (iv) combinations thereof.   
     
     
         16 . An ocular lens, as claimed in  claim 12 , further including:
 at least one directional fin extending from an upper surface of said body.   
     
     
         17 . An ocular lens, as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein:
 said body has a central convex portion and an outer circumferential body portion that surrounds said central convex portion, said circumferential body portion having a second different convex curvature.   
     
     
         18 . An ocular lens, as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein:
 said secondary irrigation stem is spaced radially outward from said primary irrigation on said body.   
     
     
         19 . A method of irrigating an eye by use of an ocular irrigation device to improve predetermined fluid flow irrigation parameters, said method comprising:
 providing an ocular lens including a convex shaped body and a primary irrigation stem connected to said body, said irrigation stem having a passageway for irrigation fluid to pass through said primary irrigation stem;   determining at least one irrigation parameter to be improved, said at least one irrigation parameter being defined by fluid flow characteristics of fluid flowing through said ocular lens, said at least one irrigation parameter including at least one of fluid velocity, fluid volume, fluid direction, fluid turbidity, or combinations thereof; and   selecting a feature to be incorporated on said ocular lens to achieve an improvement associated with at least one selected parameter.   
     
     
         20 . A method, as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein:
 said irrigation parameter is fluid velocity or fluid turbidity, and said selected feature is at least one depression or protuberance formed on said lens to slow velocity of fluid flow as it passes through said lens or to increase fluid turbidity.   
     
     
         21 . A method, as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein:
 said irrigation parameter is fluid direction and said selected feature is at least one interior passageway formed in said lens to re-direct fluid flow through said passageway in a direction of said passageway.   
     
     
         22 . A method, as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein:
 said irrigation parameter is fluid volume and said selected feature is a secondary irrigation stem spaced from said primary irrigation stem, said secondary irrigation stem connected to an upper surface of said body and having a secondary passageway for fluid to pass through said secondary irrigation stem to increase fluid volume delivered to the eye.   
     
     
         23 . A method, as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein:
 said irrigation parameter is fluid speed or fluid turbidity, and said selected feature is a diffusing element secured to a lower surface of said body to increase turbidity or to slow fluid speed, or both.   
     
     
         24 . A method, as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein:
 said irrigation parameter is fluid direction or fluid turbidity, and said selected feature is a secondary lens disposed above and spaced from said body;   
     
     
         25 . A method, as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein:
 said irrigation parameter is fluid speed or fluid turbidity, and said selected feature is a surface pattern formed on at least one of said upper or lower surfaces of said body to slow speed of the fluid or to increase fluid turbidity, or both.   
     
     
         26 . A method, as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein:
 said irrigation parameter is fluid direction or fluid turbidity, and said selected feature is at least one score line formed on said body, said score line defining an opening or channel to be formed on said body by separating a portion of said body that resides within said score line.   
     
     
         27 . An ocular lens, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said irrigation stem has a helical arranged interior channel form on an interior surface of said irrigation stem to induce a vortex type flow patter of the fluid.   
     
     
         28 . An ocular lens, as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of weakened areas formed on said body and especially adapted for creating openings in the lens to selectively control fluid flow characteristics.   
     
     
         29 . An ocular lens, as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein:
 said plurality of weakened areas is defined by corresponding score lines, and portions of said body within said score lines are separated from said body along said score lines.   
     
     
         30 . An ocular lens, as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a peripheral border integral with a peripheral edge of said body to increase a size of said body.   
     
     
         31 . An ocular lens, as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein:
 said body has a first thickness, and said peripheral border has a second thinner thickness.   
     
     
         32 . An ocular lens, as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein:
 said plurality of dimples is arranged in a pattern.