Optical lens furler and injector

In ophthalmology a cataracted lens is removed from the eye and replaced with an artificial one. Presently, an artificial lens, packaged in a clean room is shipped in a sterile package. The surgeon, after excising the cataracted lens, removes the artificial lens from the package and inserts it into the eye. The success of the operation done in this manner is subject to the skill of the surgeon, and possible contamination. A large incision requiring stitching is necessary unless the lens is folded. Folding tends to exceed the modulus of elasticity of the lens and a lens folded in this manner unfolds uncontrollably in the eye and needs adjustment. The Furler & Injector, which curls or furls the lens, is also the package and the lens is never exposed to the air. A curled or furled lens uncurls gradually and stays put. Further, using elements of this invention, the entire operation including excision may be done mechanically independent of the surgeon's dexterity and not one stitch is required.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention provides methods of and an intra ocular lens tool for transporting, furling, and inserting flexible intra ocular lenses into the eye with a mechanism to accurately position the lens tool after the mechanism has been aligned through the use of an optical positioner which locates and marks by pigmentation or penetration producing a semi circular mark or incision. The mark or incision is then located and completed through the use of a rotating scalpel. Referring to FIG. 3 , Sheet 1, at the factory where the lens is manufactured, under sterile conditions the plunger 40 is assembled with rigid portion 70 and soft flexible portion 80 . Lens of FIG. 1 is placed at the end of the soft flexible portion 80 with one of the haptics 30 cooperating with the groove 90 in the flexible portion 80 . This plunger assembly is then inserted into the syringe shell 60 and advanced to position 1 , FIG. 2A, A lubricant (not shown) is used during the assembly process to facilitate the operation of the device as well as maintain sterile conditions in the syringe assembly. The entire assembly 40 is then packaged in sterile packaging for transport to the physician. In the operating room the Lens Furler and Injector 40 is removed from the sterile packaging after the patient's eye has been prepared to receive the lens. The plunger 50 , as illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B is pushed into the shell portion 60 . FIG. 2B . The lens and tip 80 are being furled up as they make a transition from the rectangular portion 100 into the conical portion 110 and on into the tubular portion 120 .The conical transition portion has a diminishing radius so that it can furl (overlap) to produce an even smaller diameter than if it were merely rolled. See inset FIG. 1A enlarged. When the lens reaches the outer extremity of the shelf portion as illustrated in FIG. 2 c , it shall have already been inserted into the now immobilized eye as in FIG. 5 , Sheet 2. The procedure when the physician elects to use a mechanical means for positioning the instruments is as follows: The patient is prepared. The head brace FIGS. 8,9 and 10 , sheet 4 is finally attached with hook and loop fastening straps and immobilized further by attaching the brace to a chair via the screw 82 . The sterilized optical positioner 61 , a microscope with cross hairs, has been deployed into the head brace as shown in FIG. 8 . Patient not shown. The surgeon locates a perfect path (juxtaposition) by aligning the Optical Positioner's cross hairs, and marks a semi circle with pigment or advances the positioner to produce a semi circular incision. In position 2 , FIG. 9 , the sterilized Rotating Scalpel 81 , which has also been deployed, is indexed to locate the pigmentation or incision made by the Optical Positioner. 61 . The surgeon completes the circular incision by rotating the scalpel to a point less than 360 degrees, leaving a flap. He then enters the eye which is now immobilized by the tubular portion of the scalpel and macerates the diseased lens by rotation and sucks out the remains using a foot operated vacuum pump sump 101 . The Lens Furler and Injector 40 , which has been unpacked and deployed into the head brace, is now indexed to align with the incision for final position FIG. 10 . The surgeon enters the eye with the tubular section. The eye again is immobilized. The plunger is depressed and the new lens is injected and located in the eye. The lens gradually and gently resumes its normal geometry and therefore cannot reenter the syringe and perforce remains precisely where placed when the plunger is easily withdrawn and the lens and haptics require minimum if any post manipulation. The efficiency of the surgical improvements illustrated, especially the gentle release which solves a heretofore difficulty should not only assure more successful results but in addition should shorten the time for these results to take place thereby decreasing the discomfort of the patient. In the future the entire procedure from beginning to end could be automated and done remotely. 
 CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE As the reader can see, the inventor has devised an apparatus and method for transporting, furling, and inserting a lens into the eye of a cataract patient including a method for removal of the cataracted lens. Additional advantages and embodiments will become apparent through the use of the invention and thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents rather than by the examples given.