INTRAOCULAR RING

Abstract: This invention is an intraocular ring (12) for insertion into a human eye (10) istalled in place of the original lens capsule (16). Lens capsule (16), from which the original lens material has been removed includes an outer edge (18), and a posterior wall (19) which remain intact. At least a portion of anterior wall of the lens capsule (16) is removed leaving an opening (20) through which the intraocular ring (12) is inserted. It is a particular feature of the present invention that the width of the intraocular ring (12) is sufficient to overlie the band of living cells (22) so as to suffocate such cells (22), thereby preventing cell growth onto an intraocular optic system inserted into the lens capsule (16) after the intraocular ring (12) has been inserted.

Description: INTRAOCULAR RING FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to intraocular optics generally and more particularly to intraocular optic mounting rings and to intraocular optic assemblies incorporating such rings. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Intraocular optics are well known in the patent literature. A particularly advantageous accommodating intraocular lens implant is described and claimed in applicant's published PCT patent application WO 96/15734, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. This published PCT patent application, including specifically the discussion in the Background section thereof, as well as European Patents EP 478929 and 592813, Published European Patent Applications EPA 0507292; EPA 0337390; EPA 047S929. EPA 0592813 and the following U. S. Patents are believed to represent the state of the an in the patent literature: 5,593,436, 5,578,082, 5,496.366, 5,476,514, 5,366,501 , 5,275,624. 5.275,623, 5. 152,789; 4,994,082. 4.963, 148. 4,902,293 , 4,892,543 , 4.888,012. 4,842.601 . 4.790,847, 4,575,373; 4,464,448, 4,463,458, 4,426,741. 4,409,691 , 4,254,509, 4.253, 199 Reference is also made to the following publications in the non-patent literature. Ronald A Schachar, CAUSE AND TREATMENT OF PRESBYOPIA WITH A METHOD FOR INCREASING THE .AMPLITUDE OF ACCOMMODATION, .Ann. Ophthal. 1992; 24 445-452. Ronald A Schachar et al. EXPERIMENTAL SLTPORT FOR SCHACHAR'S HYPOTHESIS OF ACCOMMODATION. .Ann. Ophthal 1993 , 25 404-409. Ronald A. Schachar et al, A PHYSICAL MODEL DEMONSTRATING SCHACHAR'S HYPOTHESIS OF ACCOMMODATION. .Ann. Ophthal 1994; 26 4-9; D A. Grinberg. QUESTIONING OUR CLASSICAL UNDERSTANDING OF ACCOMMODATION AND PRESBYOPIA, .American Journal of Opto etry &. Physiological Optics, Vol. 63, No 7, pp. 571 - 580. The use of a ring for suppoπing the capsular bag after continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis and for preventing aftercataract is described in U. S. Patent 5,275,624, European Published Patent Application EP 0507292 Al and in the following publication: A ring to support the capsular bag after continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis, by T. Nagamoto et al. J. Cataract Refract Surg, Vol. 20, July, 1994, pp 41 7 - 420. The rings proposed in the foregoing publications range in width from 0.3 to 1.0 mm and in thickness from 0 4 mm to 2.0 mm. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention seeks to provide an improved intraocular ring and an optic assembly including such ring, which, by virtue of its width dimensions inhibits cell growth and kills existing cells at the equator of the lens capsule. There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention an intraocular ring for location in a lens capsule having living cells located within a band of a given width extending about a periphery thereof, the ring being formed of a biologically compatible material and being of a width at least as great as said given width. There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention an intraocular optic assembly including an intraocular optic, a ring for location in a lens capsule having living cells located within a band of a given width extending about a periphery thereof, the ring being formed of a biologically compatible material and being of a width at least as great as said given width, and haptics for mounting the intraocular optic. There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a method for inhibiting cell growth about an implanted optic comprising providing an intraocular ring in a lens capsule having living cells located within a band of a given width extending about a periphery thereof, the ring being formed of a biologically compatible material and being of a width at least as great as said given width, and mounting an implanted optic within the lens capsule. The biologically compatible material may be, for example, hyaluronic acid (including the sodium, potassium and other salts thereof), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), silicone. collagen, hydrogel and the like. The ring may be a closed ring or alternatively may be an open ring, preferably in an at least particularly overlapping arrangement. The ring may be formed of latex. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ring has a width of at least 1.5 mm and preferably at least 2.5 mm. For the purposes of the present specification and claims, width of the ring refers to the width of the ring in its relaxed state, prior to any curvature being applied thereto after insertion in the capsule. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an eye having therein a lens capsule containing an intraocular ring constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention: Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of an eye having therein a lens capsule containing an intraocular optic assembly constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, Figs. 3 A and 3B are sectional illustrations of the intraocular πng of Fig. 1, taken along lines III - III in Fig 1 respectively pπor to and following insertion in the capsule, Figs 4A and 4B correspond to Figs 3 A and 3B and show an alternative configuration of intraocular πng, Figs 5 A and 5B are sectional illustrations of the intraocular optic assembly of Fig. 2, taken along lines V - V in Fig 2 respectively pπor to and following insertion in the capsule, and Fig 5C is a planar view of the intraocular optic assembly of Figs 5 A and 5B DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Fig 1 shows a cross-section of a human eye 10 having an intraocular πng 12, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, installed in place of the original material in a lens capsule 16 In this and all other cross-sectional diagrams of the eye and structures therein, the cornea- and other anterior pomons of the eye are at the left of the figure, and the retina and posteπor portions of the eye are to the πght Lens capsule 16, from which the original lens material has been removed, includes an outer edge 18, which is left intact and, optionally, a posteπor wall 19 at least a portion of which may be left intact At least a portion of the original anterior wall of the capsule is generally removed during the operation for removal of the lens material leaving an opening 20, through which the intraocular πng 12 and normally an intraocular lens system (not shown) is installed The outer edge 18 of the capsule is termed the "'equator " Normally there is present along an inteπor surface of the equator a band of living cells 22 It is a pamcular feature of the present invention that the width of intraocular ring 12 is sufficient to overlie the band of living cells 22 with sufficient margin as to suffocate such cells, thereby preventing cell growth onto an intraocular optic system inseπed into the capsule and to kill existing cells in band 22 As shown more clearly in Figs 3A and 3B, intraocular πng 12 includes a generally cylindrical portion 24 and a pair of spaced ribs 26 for providing structural support to cylindrical portion 24 As seen particularly in Fig 3B. upon insertion of the ring 12 in the capsule 16, the capsule tends to bend the outer edges of the cylindrical portion 24 inwardly As shown in Fig 3B. one end of zonular fibers 28. also known as zonules. is attached to edge 18 of lens capsule 16 As seen in Fig 1, the other end of the zonules is attached to the sclera 30 of the eve Intermediate their ends, the zonular fibers are acted upon by ligaments or the like 32 which are controlled by ciliary muscle 34 The portion of the eye comprising the ciliary muscle and the volume it encloses is also known as the ciliary body Figs. 4 A and 4B correspond to Figs. 3 A and 3B and illustrate an alternative ring configuration which may be identical to that of Figs. 3 A and 3B, with the elimination of ribs 26. Thus, it can be seen from a consideration of Figs. 4A and 4B that the ring comprises a generally cylindrical portion 38, at least a portion of which is typically somewhat thicker than the corresponding cylindrical portion 24 of the ring of Figs. 3 A and 3B. Fig. 2 shows a cross-section of a human eye 40 having an integrated intraocular lens system 42, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, installed in place of the original material in a lens capsule 56 As seen in Figs. 5A - 5C, intraocular lens system 42 comprises an optic 46 mounted via integrally formed haptics 48 on an intraocular ring 50, all preferably formed as one piece and placed within lens capsule 56 Lens capsule 56. from which the original lens material has been removed, includes an outer edge 58, which is left intact and, optionally, a posterior wall 59 at least a portion of which may be left intact. At least a portion of the original anterior wall of the capsule is generally removed during the operation for removal of the lens material leaving an opening 60, through which the lens system is installed. Ring 50 preferably comprises a cylindrical portion 62, from interior central surface locations thereof extend haptics 48 which support optic 46 As seen particularly in Fig. 5B, insertion of the ring 50 in the capsule 56, tends to bend the outer edges of the cylindrical portion 62 inwardly As shown in Fig 2, one end of zonular fibers 68. also known as zonules, is attached to edge 58 of lens capsule 56 The other end of the zonules is attached to the sclera 70 of the eye. Intermediate their ends, the zonular fibers are acted upon by ligaments or the like 72 which are controlled by ciliary muscle 74 The portion of the eye comprising the ciliary muscle and the volume it encloses is also known as the ciliary body. The intraocular lens system may be formed as one piece from plural materials or reinforced, so as to cause various portions thereof to have greater or lesser rigidity It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove Rather the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of the features described hereinabove as well as variations and modifications thereof which would occur to a person of skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description, and which are not in the prior art

Claims: CLAIMS What is claimed is: 1. An intraocular ring for location in a lens capsule having living cells located within a band of a given width extending about a periphery thereof, the ring being formed of a biologically compatible material and being of a width at least as great as said given width. 2. An intraocular optic assembly comprising: an intraocular optic for location in a lens capsule having living cells located within a band of a given width extending about a periphery thereof; a ring formed of a biologically compatible material and being of a width at least as great as said given width, and haptics for mounting the intraocular optic. 3. An intraocular optic assembly according to claim 2 and wherein said intraocular optic and said ring are integrally formed as one piece. 4. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said ring is formed of latex. 5. Apparatus according to any of claims 1-3 and wherein said biologically compatible material is selected from the group consisting of hyaluronic acid, salts of hyaluronic acid, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), silicone, collagen, and hydrogel. 6. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 -3 and wherein the ring has a width of at least 1.5 mm. 7. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 -3 and wherein the ring has a width of at least 2.5 mm. 8. A method for inhibiting cell growth about an implanted optic comprising: providing an intraocular ring in a lens capsule having living cells located within a band of a given width extending about a periphery thereof, the ring being formed of a biologically compatible material and being of a width at least as great as said given width, said ring being mounted so as to at least overlap said band. 9. A method according to claim 8 and wherein said ring is formed of latex. 10. A method according to claim 8 and wherein said biologically compatible material is selected from the group consisting of hyaluronic acid, salts of hyaluronic acid, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), silicone. collagen, and hydrogel. 1 1. A method according to any of claims 8- 10 and wherein the ring has a width of at least 1.5 mm. 12. A method according to any of claims 8- 10 and wherein the ring has a width of at least 2.5 mm.

Inventors: ISRAEL HENRY M, ISRAEL, HENRY, M.
Applicants: ISRAEL HENRY M, ISRAEL, HENRY, M.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A61F2
IPC codes: A61F2