Patent ID: 8273123
Filing Date: 2012-09-25
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. An accommodating intraocular lens (AIOL) system, comprising: (a) a unitary AIOL for self-anchoring implantation in a human eye having a visual axis, a sclera of tough connective tissue, an annular ciliary sulcus, and a sphincter-like ciliary body for tensioning a capsular diaphragm in an anterior direction along the visual axis on its relaxation from a contracted ciliary body state to a relaxed ciliary body state, the unitary AIOL having a longitudinal axis intended to be co-directional with the human eye's visual axis on implantation therein, said unitary AIOL comprising a generally disc-like resiliently elastically compressible shape memory optical element having a leading surface, an exposed trailing surface opposite said leading surface, and a peripheral surface with a trailing edge, said optical element having a continuously variable Diopter strength ranging between a first Diopter strength in a non-compressed state and a second Diopter strength different than said first Diopter strength in a compressed state on application of an axial compression force against said trailing surface by said discrete base member from a posterior direction along the unitary AIOL's longitudinal axis, the unitary AIOL further comprising a haptics system including a tubular haptics main body housing said optical element and including a leading inwardly directed annular flange and a trailing end face, said optical element's leading surface bulging through said annular flange on application of said axial compression force, said haptics main body having at least two elongated generally C-shaped haptics extending therefrom in opposite directions in a plane perpendicular to the unitary AIOL's longitudinal axis, each said haptics having at least one pointed puncturing member for penetrating the tough connective tissue of the human eye's sclera for self-anchoring implantation of the unitary AIOL in the human eye's annular ciliary sulcus at at least two spaced apart stationary anchor points for retaining the unitary AIOL in the human eye, said haptics each including a heat deformable region adjacent said haptics main body deformable on localized heating by an external energy source for enabling post implantation in situ selective axial displacement of said optical element along the human eye's visual axis relative to said at least two spaced apart stationary anchor points; and (b) a discrete base member which is previously implanted in the eye prior to implantation of the unitary AIOL, said discrete base member having a longitudinal axis intended to be co-directional with the human eye's visual axis on implantation thereof, said unitary AIOL being shaped and dimensioned so that said unitary AIOL, upon implantation, will receive axial compressive force from said discrete base member, wherein the capsular diaphragm acting, in use, pushes against the discrete base member to impart said axial compression force to said unitary AIOL.