Patent EA-002534-B1 (EA)
Title: Device for the treatment of macular degeneration
Inventor: SCHACHAR RONALD A
IPC: A61F9/007
Filed: 1999-11-02
Abstract: 1. A device to treat the effects of macular degeneration comprising a body adapted for association with an eye and having a shape prescribed to manipulate the retina of the eye to effectively augment the photoreceptor cells proximate the macula of the eye. 2. The device as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said prescribed shape of said body of said device is one of a band, a segment, a partial band, and a plate. 3. The device as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said prescribed shape of said body of said device is capable, when associated with the eye, of altering the optical effect of the clivus. 4. The device as set forth in Claim 3 wherein said prescribed shape of said body of said device is capable of manipulating the retina of the eye to alter the depth of the fovea. 5. The device as set forth in Claim 4 wherein said prescribed shape of said body of said device is capable of manipulating the retina of the eye to alter the convexity of the clivus, effectively augmenting the photoreceptor cells proximate the macula the eye, thereby forming an increased image perception area encompassing the macula to treat the effects of macular degeneration. 6. The device as set forth in Claim 1 wherein said body of said device has at least two surfaces that are sufficiently separated to exert a force with respect to the eye. 7. The device as set forth in Claim 6 wherein said prescribed shape of said body of said device exerts said force inwardly with respect to the eye. 8. The device as set forth in Claim 6 further adapted for association with a surgically formed pocket within the eye whereby said at least two surfaces exert said force inwardly with respect to the eye. 9. A device for association with an eye that is adapted to manipulate the retina of the eye, comprising a body capable of exerting a force with respect to the eye to thereby alter the shape of the retina of the eye and the optical effect of the clivus. 10. The device as set forth in Claim 9 wherein said body having a prescribed shape of one of a band, a segment, a partial band, and a plate. 11. The device as set forth in Claim 9 wherein said body of said device is capable of manipulating the retina of the eye to alter the depth of the fovea. 12. The device as set forth in Claim 9 wherein said body of said device is capable of manipulating the retina of the eye to alter the convexity of the clivus, effectively augmenting the photoreceptor cells proximate the macula the eye and effectively forming an increased image perception area encompassing the macula. 13. The device as set forth in Claim 9 wherein said body of said device is capable of manipulating the retina of the eye to effectively augment the photoreceptor cells proximate the macula of the eye. 14. The device as set forth in Claim 9 wherein said device has at least two surfaces that are sufficiently separated to exert said force with respect to the eye. 15. The device as set forth in Claim 14 further adapted for association with a surgically formed pocket within the eye whereby said at least two surfaces exert said force inwardly with respect to the eye. 16. The device as set forth in Claim 9 wherein said body of said device exerts said force inwardly with respect to the eye. 17. A device for association with an eye to treat the effects of macular degeneration, comprising a plurality of segments, each of said plurality of segments having a body having a prescribed shape that enables said plurality of segments to cooperatively manipulate the retina of the eye to effectively augment the photoreceptor cells proximate the macula of the eye thereby forming an increased image perception area encompassing the macula. 18. The device as set forth in Claim 17 wherein at least one of said plurality of segments is capable of being associated with at least one other of said plurality of segments. 19. The device as set forth in Claim 18 wherein said plurality of associated, segments form one of a band, a combined segment, a partial band, and a plate. 20. The device as set forth in Claim 17 wherein said prescribed shape of at least one said body of said plurality of segments is capable, when associated with the eye, of altering the optical effect of the clivus. 21. The device as set forth in Claim 20 wherein said prescribed shape of at least one said body of said plurality of segments is capable of manipulating the retina of the eye to alter the depth of the fovea. 22. The device as set forth in Claim 21 wherein said prescribed shape of at least one said body of said plurality of segments is capable of manipulating the retina of the eye to alter the convexity of the clivus, effectively augmenting the photoreceptor cells proximate the macula the eye, thereby forming said increased image perception area encompassing the macula to treat the effects of macular degeneration. 23. The device as set forth in Claim 17 wherein at least one said body of said plurality of segments has at least two surfaces that are sufficiently separated to exert a force with respect to the eye. 24. The device as set forth in Claim 23 wherein said prescribed shape of at least one said body of said plurality of segments exerts said force inwardly with respect to the eye. 25. The device as set forth in Claim 23 wherein said at least one said body of said plurality of segments is further adapted for association with a surgically formed pocket within the eye whereby said at least two surfaces exert said force inwardly with respect to the eye. 26. A device for association with an eye and adapted to alter the relative distance between the lens of the eye and the macula of the eye, comprising a body having a shape prescribed to modify the shape of the eye to alter said relative distance between said lens of the eye and said macula of the eye. 27. The device as set forth in Claim 26 wherein said prescribed shape of said body of said device is one of a band, a segment, a partial band, and a plate. 28. The device as set forth in Claim 26 wherein said body of said device has at least two surfaces that are sufficiently separated to exert said force with respect to the eye. 29. The device as set forth in Claim 28 wherein said prescribed shape of said body of said device exerts said force inwardly with respect to the eye. 30. The device as set forth in Claim 29 wherein said prescribed shape of said body of said device exerts said force inwardly with respect to the eye to alter the shape of the retina of the eye to reduce said relative distance between said lens of the eye and said macula of the eye. 31. The device as. set forth in Claim 28 further adapted for association with a surgically formed pocket within the eye whereby said at least two surfaces exert said force inwardly with respect to the eye. 32. The device as set forth in Claim 11 wherein said prescribed shape of said body of said device exerts said force inwardly with respect to the eye to alter the shape of the retina of the eye to reduce said relative distance between said lens of the eye and said macula of the eye.