Apparatus for inserting a pupil expander

A pupil expander insertion system for eye surgery includes a pupil expander insertion tool and an iris retracting glide. The insertion tool includes a housing having forward and rearward ends, a hollow chamber in which a piston is axially movable, and an aperture formed in the forward end that communicates with the hollow chamber. A retractable blade for holding a pupil expander in an elongated condition is journaled within the aperture and connected to the piston for longitudinal movement therewith. The forward end of the blade has a slot extending rearwardly, defining a pair of tines wherebetween the expander can be slidably inserted. A stationary hollow spatula surrounds the blade in the retracted position, contacting the pupil expander to slidingly urge it off the retracting blade. The glide has an elongated tongue with a folded tab on one end slidably inserted through a slot means in the other end.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
The present invention relates generally to instruments and methods utilized 
during eye surgery and more particularly to improved instruments and 
methods for retracting an iris and inserting a pupil expander within the 
interior chamber of the eye. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The pupil expander of my issued U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,553 comprises a ring of 
silicone or other suitable soft plastic tubular material (e.g. 
Silastic.RTM., Silicone, Dow Corning, Durometer Value of about 80) with an 
outside diameter of 8.2 mm and an inside diameter of 7.0 mm. The ring has 
a C-shaped cross-sectional configuration with the peripheral opening at 
the outside edge. The ring is formed into an incomplete circular shape, 
having a gap approximately 3.5 mm wide to permit surgical maneuvers with 
the ring. That gap is bridged by a strap between the open ends of the 
ring. There are also two ears therein with holes, which are used for 
manipulation of the device inside and outside of the eye. 
In operation, when one desires to insert the pupil expander into the eye 
during a surgical procedure, the expander is first mounted on a carrier 
block or delivery case, as described in my issued U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,054 
with said description being incorporated by reference herein. The pupil 
expander is then stretched into an elongated condition wherein the pupil 
expander is in a convenient position for removal and handling. 
My previous U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,553 and 5,322,054 describe the use of 
forceps to manipulate the pupil expander. Because of the extremely small 
size of the pupil expander, the handling thereof is very delicate and 
sensitive, and ordinary forceps are not adapted for easy manipulation of 
the pupil expander. When forceps are used, a second tool, known as a 
spatula or lens manipulator, is required to hold the expander in place 
against the iris sphincter while the forceps tips are withdrawn so as to 
deposit the expander in the eye. Coordinated withdrawal of the forceps and 
spatula is a difficult and tedious task. There is a need for a single 
insertion tool that will both hold (or store) and slidably deposit the 
expander in the eye. 
My co-pending application Ser. No. 07/959,055 describes a pupil expander 
inserting apparatus that combines the spatula and holding tool into one 
device. The apparatus for inserting a pupil expander disclosed therein 
provides selectively slidable movement of a blade with respect to a 
spatula fixed on a housing, but does not provide for smooth infinitely 
variable blade movement. Furthermore, because this apparatus is designed 
to be durable and reusable, it must be cleaned, sterilized, and loaded 
with another pupil expander before the next use. This apparatus is also 
composed almost entirely of specialized components which are generally 
expensive to produce. 
It is therefore a principle object of this invention to provide a 
disposable apparatus for easily grasping and manipulating the pupil 
expander of my U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,553 so as to insert the expander into 
an eye without the need for a second instrument to manipulate the pupil 
expander. 
A further object of this invention is to provide an improved storing and 
insertion tool for inserting a pupil expander into an eye. 
A further object of this invention is to provide a self-retaining tool for 
holding the iris in a retraced position while a pupil expander is inserted 
into the eye. 
A further object of this invention is to provide an insertion tool with a 
blade having a securing hole in which the strap of the pupil expander can 
be tucked so as to hold the expander without assistance from other 
structures on the insertion tool such that the assembly of the insertion 
tool, especially the loading of the pupil expander on the blade, can be 
broken down into subtasks and modules which facilitate more economical 
production and convenient surgical use. 
These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention involves a system for inserting a pupil expander in 
the eye. The system includes a pupil expander insertion tool and an iris 
retractor and methods of using the same. 
The insertion tool includes an housing having forward and rearward ends, a 
hollow chamber in which a piston is axially movable, and an aperture 
formed in the forward end that communicates with the hollow chamber. 
Preferably, the housing and piston comprise a disposable syringe. A 
retractable blade for holding a pupil expander in an elongated condition 
is journaled within the aperture and connected to the piston for 
longitudinal movement therewith. The forward end of the blade has a slot 
extending rearwardly, defining a pair of substantially rigid parallel 
tines wherebetween the expander can be slidably inserted. A stationary 
hollow spatula surrounds the blade in the retracted position, contacting 
the pupil expander to slidingly urge it off the retracting blade. 
The iris retractor-glide is formed from sheet plastic approximately 0.07 mm 
thick that is transparent, tinted for visibility and relatively stiff in 
consistency. It must be biocompatable and approved for use in contact with 
human tissue. The device will be dye cut from the plastic sheeting and 
formed by a heat process to achieve the folds and contours shown (FIG. 
12). It will be packaged with the pupil expander and loading tool, ready 
for use. 
The modular construction of the insertion tool provides flexibility in the 
manufacture, assembly, and loading of the tool. The methods of assembly 
and loading are described in greater detail herein. The loaded needle 
module (cap, spatula, and blade with pupil expander loaded thereon) is 
preferably attached to a commercially available disposable syringe, thus 
reducing the cost of the tool. 
The following method is employed for inserting a pupil expander. First, the 
iris retractor or glide is inserted through the incision already made by 
the surgeon. The retractor-glide is advanced through the incision until 
the folded end is in the space of the pupil. It is retracted, engaging the 
edge of the sphincter opposite the wound and retracting the iris sphincter 
toward the incision until the edge of the retracted pupil is adjacent to 
the internal aspect of the incision. The wedge shaped external portion of 
the retractor-glide fixes the device at the external wound and the natural 
elasticity of the plastic provides a force which retracts the iris as the 
retractor glide resumes its natural shape as the two surfaces again come 
into close proximity. The iris retractor is thereby self-retaining in the 
incision and frees the surgeon's hands for use elsewhere. 
Next, the surgeon takes the pupil expander insertion tool of this invention 
in one hand and inserts the blade having a pupil expander loaded thereon 
through the incision and along the top surface of the iris retracting 
glide. The glide protects the retracted portion of the iris from being 
damaged by the insertion tool and eases the travel of the tool toward the 
counter pressure side of the iris. When the tool is in position adjacent 
the counter pressure side of the iris, the piston of the syringe is slowly 
withdrawn and the stationary spatula gently dislodges the pupil expander 
and deposits it on the iris sphincter muscle, which engages its C-shaped 
outer periphery. The insertion tool is withdrawn from the incision. When 
the retraction is no longer desired, the process of retracting the iris is 
reversed in order to release the glide.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The present invention involves improvements to the basic slidable blade 
concept disclosed in my copending application Ser. No. 08/077,273, now 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,088. As will be understood from the following 
description, these improvements make it possible to conveniently produce 
and assembled components of the insertion tool in high volume. 
Furthermore, the present invention makes it possible to load the pupil 
expander on the blade separately, before the blade is assembled into the 
insertion tool. Thereafter, the complete device can be delivered in a 
sterile condition ready for use with the pupil expander fully loaded. 
Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, the pupil 
expander insertion tool of the present invention is generally denoted by 
reference numeral 10. The tool 10 includes syringe 12 (having a vent hole 
13), preferably a disposable sixteen gauge needle and disposable syringe 
that is well known in the art of medical instruments. 
The disposable syringe 12 includes a piston 16 having a rubber stopper 18 
on the forward end thereof. By applying force on piston 16, stopper 18 can 
be precisely moved axially within a hollow chamber inside tubular housing 
19. The forward end of tubular housing 19 is adapted in a conventional 
manner to have a cap or cone 14 secured thereto. Cone 14 has a rearward 
end proximate to the stopper 18 and tapers inwardly to a forward end into 
which an elongated hollow spatula 20 is inserted and then fixed by 
conventional means. 
The insertion tool 10 further comprises an elongated blade 22 having a 
generally flat, forked, forward portion or end 24 and a cylindrical rear 
portion or end 26 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The end 26 may also be referred to 
hereinafter as a shaft. The shaft 26 has a plurality of barbs 28 thereon. 
Preferably, barbs 28 extend in a generally radial direction from shaft 26. 
As seen in FIG. 1, the shaft 26 extends through the stopper 18 on the 
piston 16 of the syringe 12. Preferably, a predrilled hole 30 in the 
forward end of the piston 16 and through the stopper 18 accommodates the 
shaft 26. The barbs 28 engage the stopper 18 of the piston 16 so as to 
secure the blade 22 for concurrent axial movement therewith. Thus, when 
the piston 16 with stopper 18 attached thereto is pulled back or withdrawn 
to the left in FIG. 1, the blade 22 is also withdrawn or pulled to the 
left into spatula 20, which is stationary. Conversely, when the piston 16 
is pushed to the right, the blade 22 moves to the right. 
As best seen in FIG. 3, the blade 22 has forward and rearward portions or 
ends 24 and 26, respectively. The forward end 24 includes a longitudinal 
opening or slot 48 extending rearwardly which is preferably centrally 
located with respect to the longitudinal axis of the blade 22. The slot 48 
defines a pair of forwardly projecting substantially rigid parallel tines 
44 and 46 on the blade 22. The slot 48 extends far enough rearward that 
the elongated expander 32 can be slid into the slot to a point where only 
a very small portion of the elongated expander 32 extends beyond the tip 
of blade 22 (see FIG. 2 and 4). 
As best seen in FIG. 3, a securing hole 50 is provided at the rearward end 
of slot 48. Hole 50 is positioned so as to be generally aligned with strap 
42 when the pupil expander 32 is slid rearwardly as far as possible in the 
slot 48. Other than the securing hole 50, the details of the forked 
portion 24 are described in my co-pending application Ser. No. 08/077,273, 
now U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,088, and that description is incorporated herein 
by reference. 
Referring now to FIG. 3, pupil expander 32 is shown in an elongated 
condition on a carrier block 34, as described in my issued U.S. Pat. No. 
5,322,054, said description being incorporated herein by reference. The 
pupil expander 32 is stretched between a first post 36 and a retention 
post 38. When in the elongated condition shown, the pupil expander 32 can 
be conveniently removed and handled by the insertion tool 10 of the 
present invention. 
The blade 22 can be inserted so that the forked portion 24 straddles the 
pupil expander 32 and extends alongside the peripheral opening 40. In the 
same manner as described in my co-pending application, the peripheral 
opening 40 of pupil expander 32 is engaged by tines 44 and 46 such that 
the pupil expander 32 is trapped in slot 48 of blade 22. The ears 33 and 
35 of the pupil expander 32 extend laterally of transversely across each 
of the respective tines 44 and 46. The expander 32 can be removed from the 
carrier block 34 by moving blade 22 forward until the folded end of 
expander 32 can be raised off of the first post 36. Then blade 22 is moved 
rearwardly and downwardly to disengage a strap 42 of the expander 32 from 
the retention post 38. 
In FIG. 4, a blunt tipped instrument, such as forceps 52, is used to bring 
or tuck the folded strap 42 through the hole 50. This is done so that the 
strap 42 is engaged in securing hole 50 and protrudes on the opposite side 
of the blade 22 than the ears 33 and 35. At any rate, ears 33 and 35 of 
the pupil expander 32 should rest against the top of the blade 22 and the 
strap 42 should protrude from or hang below the bottom of the blade 22. 
The blade 22 having pupil expander 32 loaded thereon in the manner just 
described constitutes a loaded blade module 51. Such a module can be 
easily assembled in a sterile and dust-free environment and placed in a 
sealed package for further assembly later. Preferably, the blade 22 has 
previously been polished in an ultrasound solution that will not cause 
rust to remove any debris from its fabrication. Similarly, the expander 32 
can be pre-sterilized as is known in the art for silicone parts. If 
necessary, the entire module 51 (see FIG. 2) can also be cleaned and 
sterilized by known methods subsequent to assembly. 
When further assembly is desired, the blade 22 is rotated about its 
longitudinal axis so that the strap 42 protrudes upwardly therefrom (see 
FIG. 8). The hollow spatula 20 is inserted and fixed into the forward end 
of the cone 14. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 5-9, the hollow spatula 20 has 
an elongated upper portion 58 and a truncated lower portion 60, each 
having a notch, 62 and 64 respectively, formed in the forward end thereof. 
Preferably, portions 58 and 60 are spaced apart by the side surfaces of 
the spatula and the forward end of the spatula 20 is flattened into an 
oblong cross-section approximately 2.0 mm by 1.15 mm. The optimal spacing 
between portions 58 and 60 for slidingly receiving the expander 32 between 
the spatula 20 and the blade 22 is provided. Preferably, a spacing 
structure interposed therebetween comprising a dent or depression 66 is 
formed in one or more of the portions 58 and/or 60 (see FIGS. 5 and 6). 
The depression 66 is disposed above and adjacent to the forward end of the 
lower truncated portion 60. Therefore, the pupil expander 32 and ears 33 
and 35 thereon can easily slide between blade 22 and the upper portion 58 
of the spatula 20. To help hold the pupil expander 32 on the insertion 
tool 10, the top portion 58 of the spatula 20 has an elongated, generally 
longitudinal top extension 61 that is wider than the (width across both 
tines 44 and 46, and thereby wider than the width of the slot 48 (see FIG. 
5). 
The rear portion of the spatula 20 preferably has a generally circular 
cross-section so as to be conveniently inserted in the forward end of cone 
14, but other types of cross-sections can be utilized without detracting 
from the invention. 
In FIGS. 5 and 6, the side surfaces 65 and 67 of the spatula 20 have their 
leading edges equipped with arcuate, rearwardly extending notches 69 and 
71, respectively. The notches are useful for clearance as shown in FIGS. 
5, 8 and 9. Furthermore, the notches 69 and 71 allow the ears 33 and 35 of 
pupil expander 10 to extend laterally without interference or pinching. 
They also help prevent pinching of the expander 32 as the spatula 20 urges 
it longitudinally forward and off of the blade 22. Yet, as best understood 
from FIGS. 5-9, the blade 22 will be retracted into the spatula 20 when 
the piston 16 of syringe 12 is pulled rearwardly. This action causes the 
spatula 20 to contact the ears 33 and 35 and strap 42, which are gently 
moved forwardly until the pupil expander 32 comes out of slot 48 and thus 
off the tines 44 and 46 of blade 22. The clearance provided by depression 
66 ensures that the expander 32 does not bind against the spatula 20 or 
the blade 22 as it comes off of the blade 22. The pulling of strap 42 
through securing hole 50 also ensures that the portion of the pupil 
expander 32 disposed on the other side of the blade will ride closer to 
blade 22 than the spatula 20. 
As seen in FIGS. 2 and 8, the shaft 26 of blade 22 is then inserted into 
the forward end of the hollow spatula 20 until the strap 42 of the pupil 
expander 32 rests in the notch 64 of the truncated lower portion 60. 
Preferably, the strap 42 is not folded back onto itself by the spatula 20. 
With the loaded blade module 51 in the position shown in FIG. 8, the strap 
42 of the expander 32 protrudes upwardly from notch 64. On the other hand, 
ears 33 and 35 rest in the space between the elongated upper portion 58 of 
the spatula 20 and the blade 22. When so assembled, the shaft 26 protrudes 
from the rearward ends of the spatula 20 and the cone 14. A loaded needle 
module 68 has been formed, including the blade 22, the expander 32 
thereon, the cone 14, and spatula 20. 
The protruding shaft 26 is aligned with the pre-drilled hole 30 in the 
stopper 18 and piston 16. Then the loaded needle module 68 is pushed 
through an aperture or fastening bore 74 into the forward end of a 
standard sixteen gauge disposable needle and syringe 12 until the shaft 26 
bottoms out in predrilled hole 30 and barbs 28 engage the stopper 18 of 
the syringe 12, as shown in FIG. 1. The syringe piston 16 is pushed 
forward into the shaft 26 of the blade 22 while the loaded needle module 
68 is held against axial movement by padded pliers 70 or a similar 
suitable conventional holding device. Barbs 28 engage the stopper 18 and 
secure the blade 22 of the loaded needle module 68 for movement with the 
piston 16. Alternately, the shaft might be secured to the piston with an 
adhesive. The cone 14 and the spatula 20 affixed thereto are attached to 
the syringe 12 in a conventional manner by a flange 72 on the base of the 
cone 14. Preferably, the flange 72 tightly and/or threadably engages a 
fastening bore 74 on the syringe 12. Finally, the piston 16 may need to be 
repositioned slightly so that the tool 10 is ready for insertion into the 
eye as shown in FIG. 9. Preferably, the piston 16 should be pushed forward 
fully within the syringe so that the rubber stopper 18 rests against the 
bottom of the syringe 12. 
The lower portion 60 of the spatula 20 has a notch 64 at the forward or 
truncated end thereof. Notch 64 accommodates the strap 42 of pupil 
expander 32 when the blade 22 is fully inserted into the spatula 20. The 
entire insertion tool with the expander in a loaded position will be 
delivered in a formed transparent case that will prevent displacement of 
the expander during shipping and handling or as it is removed from the 
container for use. 
The process of inserting a tool loaded with the pupil expander into the 
patient's eye and depositing the expander is well described, in my 
co-pending application 08/077,273, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,088, and said 
description is incorporated herein by reference. The present invention 
provides a pupil expander insertion tool that can be easily pre-assembled, 
completely or in the modules described. The tool (or modules thereof) can 
be sterilized, and packaged for later use in the operating room. Of 
course, it may be desirable to set a shelf-life in the same conventional 
manner that is done with other sterilized goods. 
FIG. 10 shows an iris retractor and glide 80, which serves as an accessory 
to the pupil expander insertion tool 10. The iris retractor-glide 80 can 
also be used in conjunction with other surgical instruments or tools, or 
whenever the surgeon desires to manipulate, retract, and/or hold the iris 
90 of the patient's eye 92 in a particular position. The iris 
retractor-glide 80 (FIGS. 10-17), as previously indicated is formed from 
sheet plastic approximately 0.07 mm thick that is transparent, tinted for 
visibility and relatively stiff in consistency. It must be biocompatable 
and approved for use in contact with human tissue. The device will be dye 
cut from the plastic sheeting and formed by a heat process to achieve the 
folds and contours shown. It will be packaged with the pupil expander and 
loading tool, ready for use. The glide 80 has a tongue 82 that is 22 mm 
long and 1.25 mm wide except for the elongated triangular portion 84. The 
glide 10 is 0.10 mm thick. An I-shaped slot 86 in portion 84 is best shown 
in FIGS. 10 and 11. A folded tab 88 is formed in tongue 82 at the end 
opposite to portion 84. 
FIGS. 15-17 illustrate the use of the iris retractor-glide 80 of this 
invention. As disclosed in my issued U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,553, a generally 
lateral incision 94 is made in the tissue adjacent the eye 92 at a twelve 
o'clock position with respect to the patient's body. 
The retractor-glide will be picked up with a smooth (tying) forceps and the 
tongue of the retractor will be advanced through the slot as shown in FIG. 
15. Grasping the device will fixate the tongue 82 relative to the 
triangular portion or stop and allow the tongue to be advanced through the 
wound. (FIG. 16). When the folded or redoubled tab 88 at the end of the 
tongue 82 advances into the pupil, the leading edge engages the iris 
sphincter closest to the wound. With the triangular portion 84 of the 
device resting against the outer aspect of the wound, the tongue 82 is 
withdrawn through the slot 86 allowing the natural elasticity of the 
plastic to cause the retractor-glide to flatten so that the device resumes 
the shape shown in FIGS. 13 or 17. That "resting" or unstressed state will 
sustain the forces on the iris sphincter that maintain its retraction 
toward the wound. As the insertion tool containing the pupil expander is 
advanced through the wound and is brought into a horizontal position on 
top of the retractor-glide, it will further fix the glide in place by 
pressure on the tongue 82 and on the redoubled or folded tab 88 beneath 
the iris, preventing displacement of the sphincter from the 
retractor-glide. The retractor-glide will then provide the counter 
traction necessary to allow the advancing pupil expander to stretch the 
miotic pupil until it reaches a size that will accommodate the pupil 
expander's circumference. It will also cause the pupil to elongate until 
it is in close proximity to the slot in the pupil expander, separated only 
the tines of the movable blade. As the blade is withdrawn within the 
cavity of the insertion tool, the slot in the pupil expander will move 
directly onto the adjacent sphincter edge, driven by the natural 
elasticity of the pupil expander as it is freed from the constraints of 
the slide. With guidance from the spatula tip of the tool, the pupil 
expander can be coaxed onto the sphincter until the fenestrated tabs or 
ears rest upon the surface of the iris adjacent to the terminal portion of 
the retractor-glide. At that point, the tool is removed entirely and the 
retractor-glide is again advanced toward the center of the pupil, freeing 
it from the iris. It may then be withdrawn from the eye or alternatively, 
it can be repositioned over the strap of the pupil expander to act as a 
guide for the phacoemulsifier. 
Next, the surgeon takes the pupil expander insertion tool 10 of this 
invention in one hand and inserts the front of the loaded needle module 68 
through the incision 94 and along the top surface of the iris retracting 
glide 80. The glide 80 protects the retracted portion of the iris 90 and 
allows the pupil to be stretched and elongated until the edge of the 
sphincter muscle (pupil) lies in close proximity to the slot in the pupil 
expander. When the tool 10 is in position adjacent the iris sphincter at 
the counter pressure side of the iris 90, the piston 16 of the syringe 12 
is slowly withdrawn and the stationary spatula 20 gently dislodges the 
pupil expander 32 from blade 22 until the expander 32 is deposited on the 
iris sphincter muscle, which engages its C-shaped outer periphery 40. The 
insertion tool 10 is withdrawn from the incision 106. When retraction is 
no longer desired, the process of retracting the iris 90 is reversed in 
order to release the glide 80. 
Whereas the invention has been shown and described in connection with the 
preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that modifications, 
substitutions, and additions may be made which are within the intended 
broad scope of the following claims. From the foregoing, it can be seen 
that the present invention accomplishes at least all of the stated 
objectives.