Abstract:
A lens delivery system having a two folding mechanisms. The first mechanism is structured to fold an intraocular lens stabilizing ring, and the second mechanism is designed to fold an intraocular lens.

Description:
This invention relates to intraocular lenses (IOLs) and more particularly to devices use to inject IOLs into an eye. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The human eye in its simplest terms functions to provide vision by transmitting and refracting light through a clear outer portion called the cornea, and further focusing the image by way of the lens onto the retina at the back of the eye. The quality of the focused image depends on many factors including the size, shape and length of the eye, and the shape and transparency of the cornea and lens. 
     When trauma, age or disease cause the lens to become less transparent, vision deteriorates because of the diminished light which can be transmitted to the retina. This deficiency in the lens of the eye is medically known as a cataract. The treatment for this condition is surgical removal of the lens and implantation of an artificial lens or IOL. 
     While early IOLs were made from hard plastic, such as polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), soft, foldable IOLs made from silicone, soft acrylics and hydrogels have become increasingly popular because of the ability to fold or roll these soft lenses and insert them through a smaller incision. Several methods of rolling or folding the lenses are used. One popular method is an injector cartridge that folds the lenses and provides a relatively small diameter lumen through which the lens may be pushed into the eye, usually by a soft tip plunger. The most commonly used injector cartridge design is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,102 (Bartell), and includes a split, longitudinally hinged cartridge. Similar designs are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,494,484 and 5,499,987 (Feingold) and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,616,148 and 5,620,450 (Eagles, et al.). In an attempt to avoid the claims of U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,102, several solid cartridges have been investigated, see for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,604 (Rheinish, et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,715 (Reich, et al.). 
     These devices are designed to implant a single piece or unitary lens. IOL&#39;s currently under development include multi-component lenses, such as a lens system having a separate lens and stabilizing ring. Both components must be implanted in the capsular bag and assembled to complete the system. No prior art injection cartridge is capable of injecting all of the components of a multi-component lens system into the capsular bag. 
     Accordingly, a need continues to exist for a lens delivery system capable of injecting all of the components of a multi-component lens system into the capsular bag. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention improves upon prior art by providing a lens delivery system having a two folding mechanisms. The first mechanism is structured to fold an intraocular lens stabilizing ring, and the second mechanism is designed to fold an intraocular lens. 
     It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a lens delivery system suitable for the storage, shipment and delivery of a lens into an eye without the use of any additional devices. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a lens delivery system that is suitable for folding lenses made from a soft acrylic material. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a lens delivery system having a two folding mechanisms. 
     Other objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent with reference to the drawings, and the following description of the drawings and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of the lens delivery system of the present invention shown in an open position. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the lens delivery system of the present invention shown in an open position. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the lens delivery system of the present invention shown in a closed position, ready to fold a lens. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the lens delivery system of the present invention shown in a closed position, with the front, or distal folding mechanism having already folding a stabilizing ring portion of an intraocular lens system. 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of a handpiece that may be used with the lens delivery system of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged elevational view of the distal tip of the handpiece taken at circle  6  in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a handpiece that may be used with the lens delivery system of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarger perspective view of the lens delivery system of the present invention being inserted into the distal end of the handpiece illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As best seen in  FIG. 1 , lens delivery system  10  of the present invention generally includes cartridge body  12 , ring pusher  14 , plunger  16  and shipping lock  18 . Body  12  generally contains distal nozzle  20 , ring folding platform  22  and lens folding platform  24 . Ring portion  26  of a multi-component intraocular lens is placed in ring folding platform  22  and secured by ring pusher  14  and by folding ring platform lid  28  over ring folding platform  22  and holding lid  28  in place by clasps  36 , thereby encasing ring portion  26  within ring folding platform  22 , as seen in  FIG. 3 . Lens portion  30  of a multi-component intraocular lens is placed in lens folding platform  24  and secured by stop  32  on shipping lock  18  and by folding lens folding platform lid  34  over lens folding platform  24 , as seen in  FIG. 3 . Lid  34  is held in place in the folded position by clasp  38 . 
     Nozzle  20  preferably is hollow on the inside and is of a size suitable for inserting ring portion  26  and lens portion  30  through a relatively small (e.g., on the order of 2 mm or less) incision. Lid  28  and lid  34  may contain ports  40  and  42 , respectively, for allowing a viscoelastic material to be introduced into ring folding platform  22  and lens folding platform  24  and around ring portion  26  and lens portion  30 . 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , handpiece  100 , which may be used as part of lens delivery system  10  generally consists of tubular body  102 , plunger rod  104  and finger ring  106 . As been seen in  FIG. 6 , distal end  108  of body  102  contains notched portion  110  sized and shaped to receive and securely retain body  12 , for example, by the use of locking tabs  50  on body  12 . Distal end  108  also contains bumper  112 , which has the function described below. Plunger rod  104  reciprocates within body  102  by pushing on finder ring  106 . Plunger rod  104  may be mounted within body  102  on a spring (not shown) for providing tactile feedback. 
     In use, shipping lock  18  and plunger  16  are installed on body  12  in the manner shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Ring portion  26  and lens portion  30  are placed in body  12  as shown in  FIG. 2  and lids  28  and  34  closed, as shown in  FIG. 3 . Shipping lock  18  prevents movement of ring pusher  14  during shipment and tab  60  on ring pusher  14  prevents forward movement of plunger  16 . Stop  32  and plunger rod guide  70  prevent movement of lens portion  30  during shipment. When ready to be used, shipping lock  18  is removed and ring pusher  14  is pressed inward, as shown in  FIG. 4  and locked in place by clasp  19 . Such movement of ring pusher  14  collapses or folds ring portion  26 , allowing ring portion  26  to fit through nozzle  20 . Such movement also aligns notch  62  in tab  60  with plunger  16 , allowing plunger  16  to be moved forward. A viscoelastic material is injected through ports  40  and  42  and into nozzle  20 . Body  12  is installed within notched portion  110  of distal end  108  of handpiece  100  as shown in  FIG. 8 . Such installation causes plunger rod  16  to contact and be pushed forward slightly by bumper  112 . Such movement pushed lens portion  30  forward slightly, initiating folding of lens portion  30 . Plunger rod  104  is advanced and is guided to contact lens portion  30  by rod guide  70 . Further movement of plunger rod  104  pushes lens portion  30  through inner bore  80  of body  12  so as to contact compressed ring portion  26  and push ring portion  26 , followed by lens portion  30 , out of nozzle  20  in a serial manner. 
     While certain embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these descriptions are given for purposes of illustration and explanation. Variations, changes, modifications and departures from the systems and methods disclosed above may be adopted without departure from the scope or spirit of the present invention.