Abstract:
An intraocular lens assembly for increased depth of focus has a frame configurated to vault posteriorly in an eye and an optic attached thereto. Pressure from ciliary muscle contraction moves the optic anteriorly to focus the eye for near vision.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a divisional of and claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 10/856,313 filed May 27, 2004, which is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/574,441 filed May 19, 2000, the disclosure of which is fully incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The natural human lens provides only limited depth of focus, with clear vision only over a limited range of distance. 
         [0003]    The present invention provides increased depth of focus by positioning an optic posteriorly in the eye by disposing it on a substantially rigid frame which is configurated to vault posteriorly, thus enabling accurate viewing over a. wider range of distances with greater distance between the cornea and the optic, and the further posteriorly the positioning of the optic, the higher the power of the optic, and the less the lens movement required for a given power change. 
         [0004]    The frame may preferably have plate haptics with transversely extending loops at the outer ends of the haptics to engage peripheral portions of the capsular bag of the eye and center the lens. The haptics may preferably be such as that shown and described in Applicant&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 6,051,024, “Intraocular Lenses with Fixated Haptics”. 
         [0005]    The optic utilized with the invention is substantially smaller than the natural human lens. Whereas the natural human lens is about 5.0 mm in thickness, an optic utilized with the invention may typically be 1.0 mm, and may range between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm. The optic may preferably be similar to that shown and described in Applicant&#39;s application Ser. No. 09/370,235, “Lens For Increased Depth of Focus.” 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the invention disposed in an eye; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is an elevational view of a frame utilized with the invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken at line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is an elevational view of an lens utilized with the invention and having extensions with transverse ridges thereon; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the lens of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken at line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is an elevational view of the components of  FIGS. 2 and 4  in assembled relation; 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view taken at line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is a sectional view, similar to that of  FIG. 8 , further showing a modified form with extending edge portions of haptics; 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  is a sectional view of the lens in  FIG. 5 , extended and unassembled; 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  is an elevational view of a modified form of the frame of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view showing the lens assembly of  FIG. 7  folded along its longitudinal axis; 
           [0018]      FIG. 13  is an elevational view of a modified form of the lens assembly of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 14  is a sectional view taken at line  14 - 14  in  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 15  is an edge view of the frame of  FIGS. 13 and 14 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 16  is an elevational view of the frame portion of the assembly of  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 17  is an exploded view of a frame with a modified lens wherein hand ridge portions thereof have passages therethrough for axial compression; 
           [0023]      FIG. 18  shows a modified form of the lens assembly of  FIG. 13 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 19  is an elevational view showing the frame component of the lens of  FIG. 18 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 20  is an elevational view of a lens of the invention wherein frame members are joined with a web having an optic thereon; 
           [0026]      FIG. 21  is a sectional view taken at line  21 - 21  in  FIG. 20 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 22  is a perspective view of the lens of  FIG. 20 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 23  is an elevational view of a modified form of the lens of  FIG. 20 , wherein oppositely extending web portions are bifurcated and engaged with the frame members; 
           [0029]      FIG. 24  is a sectional view taken at line  24 - 24  in  FIG. 23 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 25  is an edge side view of the lens of  FIG. 23 ; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 26  is a partial elevational view of a portion of the lens of  FIG. 23 , showing lug portions at the outer ends of a bifurcated web portion. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0032]    The present invention provides increased depth of focus by providing a relatively rigid frame with haptics extending oppositely to engage a perimeter or equator of a capsular bag, and having a central opening to accommodate an optic engaged on the frame and movable anteriorly relative to the frame. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 8 , frame  10  comprises a central portion  12  which defines a relatively large opening  14 , and baptics  16 ,  18  extending oppositely from the central portion with fixation loops  20 ,  22  extending transversely from their outer portions, as shown, to engage peripheral portions of capsular bag  23 . Slots  24 ,  26  extend from outer edges of the respective haptics and across a major width of each haptic. 
         [0034]    A lens  30  comprises an optic  32  from which extend relatively short extensions  34 ,  36  which terminate in generally cylindrical ridges  38 ,  40 . The ridges are adapted to be engaged and retained in the slots  24 ,  26 , as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , wherein they are retained in position by shoulders  27  which define enlarged portions of the slots  24 ,  26  ( FIG. 2 ). 
         [0035]    In the modified form of  FIGS. 9  and io, posteriorly extending frame portions or bumps  42 , position the optic  32  further posteriorly than it would otherwise be, thus to effect additional, enhanced depths of focus, as will be understood from the geometry of the components. 
         [0036]    In  FIGS. 7 ,  8  and  9 , the frame  10  and lens  30  are shown retained in assembled relation. 
         [0037]    The optic  32  is thinner than a natural optic of a human eye and may have a thickness between 0.50 mm and 1.5 mm and may typically be about 1.0 mm thickness. The optic may typically be similar to that shown and described in the above-mentioned application of Applicant. 
         [0038]    In operation, the optic  32  is movable anteriorly of the eye under vitreous pressure upon constriction of the ciliary muscle. The contraction of the muscle produces vitreous pressure which tends to urge the optic toward or into the hole  14  of the frame. The optic typically need not extend through the opening  14 , but only extend about 1.0 mm into the opening. The optic need only move 1.0 mm to effect a change of 1.5 to 2.0 diopters of power change. The relatively rigid frame and the vitreous pressure thus effect optic movement relative to the frame. 
         [0039]    It may be noted that an advantage of the present invention is that utilization of the relatively rigid frame substantially eliminates need for administration to a patient of a substance such as atropine during a period following surgery. This eliminates a problem in practice relative to patients not taking atropine, as instructed, during a period following surgery in order to maintain the ciliary muscle in a relaxed condition during fibrosis relative to end portions of haptics. 
         [0040]    The transversely extending loops  20 ,  22  provide centration and to facilitate fixation of the optic in the general manner described in Applicant&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 6,051,024, entitled “Intraocular Lenses With Fixated Haptics”. 
         [0041]    The frame  10  may typically be formed of PMMA, polycarbonate, nylon, other relatively rigid material, platinum or gold. The lens  30  may preferably be formed of a flexible optical material, such as silicone, acrylic, HENNA, hydrogel, etc. 
         [0042]    To provide for the bending or folding of the frame, as shown in  FIG. 12 , for insertion through a relatively short slit in the eye of a patient, the frame may be formed of relatively soft material at portions of the frame which are folded to provide a narrower configuration for insertion through th˜relatively short slit of the eye. These features include notche˜ 46 ,  48  ( FIG. 11 ) which extend from respective slots  24 ,  26  toward the opening  14  of the frame, and substantially reduced portions  50 ,  52  outwardly of the slots  24 ,  26 . 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIGS. 13-17 , a lens  54  has features in common with the embodiment of  FIGS. 7-11 , and differs in having enJarge4pfl˜˜A˜5˜6-, 5-P of the configuration shown, wherein an enlarged rounded portion of the opening extends to define relatively narrow haptic portions  60 ,  62  wherein slots  64 ,  66  are defined to receive ridges  38 ,  40 , as with the embodiment of  FIGS. 7-11 . The defining of the narrow haptics portions facilitates bending of the lens about its longitudinal axis ( FIG. 12 ).  FIG. 17  shows a partial, exploded view of this embodiment. 
         [0044]      FIGS. 18 and 19  show an embodiment similar to that of  FIGS. 13-17  but wherein there is no enlarged opening in haptics  68 ,  70 . 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIG. 17 , a modified form of the ridges  38 ,  40  at the ends of the optic extensions are hollow with passages  76 ,  78  therethrough, as shown in  FIG. 17 . As indicated in the figure, this type of ridge portion enables the ridge portion to be compressed by application of pressure to facilitate installation and retention of the ridge in a slit  64  or  66 . 
         [0046]      FIGS. 20-26  illustrate embodiments in each of which relatively rigid frame members have attached therebetween a web whereon is disposed an optic. 
         [0047]      FIGS. 20-22  show an embodiment  80  wherein web  82  is secured to opposite frame members  84 ,  85 , as by integral molding of the components, by fasteners  86 , or spot-welding. An optic  88  may typically be formed integrally with the web. The rigid frame members include transversely extending end loops  90 ,  92 , as shown, for centration of the optic in the capsular bag of an eye. 
         [0048]      FIGS. 23-26  illustrate an embodiment wherein spaced-apart relatively rigid frame arms  96 ,  98  have attached thereto end portions of arms of webs  100 ,  102  which extend oppositely from a haptic  104 . The webs are typically formed integral with the optic. The webs have retention knobs  110 ,  112  on their end portions ( FIG. 26 ) to engage in slots  106 ,  108  in the frame arms to secure and retain the web portions relative to the frame members. 
         [0049]      FIGS. 24 and 25  are side views, taken respectively at lines  24  and  25  in  FIG. 23 , showing the particular manner in which the lugs  110 ,  112  engage in the slots  106 ,  108 , and the relation of the optic to the frame members. 
         [0050]    It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made from the preferred embodiments discussed above without departing from the scope of the present invention, which is established by the following claims and equivalents thereof.