Patent Description:
Cataract surgery involves the removal of a cloudy crystalline lens by ultrasonic emulsification followed by implantation on an intraocular lens into an eye. Currently, an intraocular lens made of a soft material such as silicone elastomer is used and is injected into an eye using an intraocular lens injector.

Patent document <NUM> discloses an intraocular lens injector with the following configuration: an injector main body containing an injection tube which in turn contains a nozzle portion. At the time of an actual surgery, the nozzle portion of the injection tube is injected into an incisional wound of an eyeball, and the intraocular lens is released from the nozzle portion by a rod contained within the intraocular lens injector.

Meanwhile, patent document <NUM> discloses a configuration of a cartridge used for injecting the intraocular lens, in which a circumferential protrusion is formed on an outer surface of the nozzle portion. When the nozzle portion is inserted into the incisional wound of the eyeball, the circumferential protrusion is brought into contact with the surface of the eyeball, thereby preventing the nozzle portion from being completely inserted into the incisional wound. <CIT> discloses a device for delivering intraocular lens into an incision on an eye of a patient which comprises a tubular member defined by a hollow elongate passageway, a front and a back through opening of the passageway; a secured nozzle having an expanded base, which is mounted to the front through opening of the tubular member, tapering towards a pointed end fashioned to be inserted into the incision; the secured nozzle enclosing a lumen substantially tapered from the base to the pointed end and aligned with the passageway that the lens is disposed within the lumen to be readily delivered; an elongate probe, at least partially housed within the passageway, having a bifurcated tip which is configured to telescopically slide out from the pointed end of the secured nozzle pushing the disposed lens into the eye; and a plunger assembly having a shaft inserted into and moveable within the passageway to anteriorly engage with the probe to move the probe in relative to the tubular member, wherein the bifurcated tip forks into a first and second prongs, which are irregular in size, forming a substantially U-shaped or V-shaped construct thereof for manipulating a configuration and/or and orientation of the delivered lens in the eye. <CIT> discloses a shipping system for a medical device, such as implantable lens for an eye, that may be reconfigured from a shipping mode into an injection mode without manually handling the contained lens or other device.

Regarding the above-described technologies described in patent documents <NUM> and <NUM>, each has a different merit.

Namely, in the technique described in patent document <NUM>, the nozzle portion can be inserted deeply into the incisional wound of the eyeball since there is no circumferential protrusion on the outer surface of the nozzle portion. When the nozzle portion is inserted deeply into the incisional wound of the eyeball, the intraocular lens can be guided into a lens capsule in a more reliable manner as compared to a shallow insertion. Accordingly, it is possible to forgo the trouble of using forceps or the like for housing the intraocular lens in the lens capsule, the intraocular lens being injected into the eye by the intraocular lens injector.

In the technique described in patent document <NUM>, the nozzle portion can be inserted shallowly into the incisional wound of the eyeball due to the presence of a circumferential protrusion on the outer surface of the nozzle. In this instance the intraocular lens can be injected through a smaller incisional wound as compared with a case of a deep insertion. Accordingly, it is possible to use a Wound-assisted method, which reduces the size of the incisional wound and improves healing after surgery. The Wound-assisted method makes it possible to reduce the size of the incisional wound necessary for passage of the intraocular lens by using a tunnel portion of the incisional wound as an injection path for the intraocular lens.

Both techniques described above have their own advantages and benefits. Thus it is not surprising that among intraocular lens injector users (principally surgeons such as ophthalmologists), some will prefer a procedure to insert the nozzle portion deeply into the incisional wound of the eyeball while some will prefer the procedure to insert the nozzle portion shallowly, when performing cataract surgery. In order to cater to the preference of each user's technique, it is necessary to prepare both of having a nozzle portion with a circumferential protrusion or the like formed thereon, and an injector having the nozzle portion with no circumferential protrusion formed thereon.

A main object of the present invention is to provide the intraocular lens injector capable of flexibly responding to differences in intraocular lens injection procedure and technique.

In particular it is provided an intraocular lens injector having the features defined in claim <NUM>. Further preferred arrangements are defined in the dependent claims.

According to the present invention, it is possible to respond flexibly to differences in procedures of intraocular lens injection surgery.

The first arrangement disclosed in <FIG> and a second arrangement disclosed in <FIG> are embodiments of the present invention. The third arrangement shown in <FIG> is helpful for understanding the present invention. However, the scope of protection is defined by the claims.

Arrangements will be described hereafter, with reference to the drawings.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing a configuration example of an intraocular lens injector according to a first arrangement n. Further, <FIG> is a plan view showing a configuration example of the intraocular lens injector according to the first arrangement, <FIG> is a side view, <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along the line E1 -E1.

An intraocular lens injector <NUM> is used for injecting an intraocular lens into an eye. In this arrangement, as an example of the intraocular lens, there is provided an intraocular lens <NUM> as a one-piece type intraocular lens <NUM> (see <FIG>) made of a soft material such as silicone elastomer or soft acrylic, including a circular optical portion 4a which performs an optical function and two supporting portions 4b that curve outward from two positions on the outer circumferential portion of the optical portion 4a and extend outward.

Further, in this arrangement, in describing a relative positional relationship and a direction of movement and the like of each part of the intraocular lens injector <NUM>, one of the X axis directions is defined as X1 direction, the other direction is defined as X2 direction, and one of the Y axis directions is defined as Y1 direction, the other direction is defined as Y2 direction, and one of the Z axis directions is defined as Z1 direction and the other direction is defined as Z2 direction, and X1 direction is defined as a front side (frontward), X2 direction is defined as a rear end side (rearward), Y1 direction is defined as a left side (leftward), and Y2 direction is defined as a right side (rightward), Z1 direction is defined as an upper side (upward), and Z2 direction is defined as a downside (downward). Among them, the X axis direction (X1 direction and X2 direction) corresponds to a length direction of the intraocular lens injector <NUM>, and the Y axis direction (Y1 direction and Y2 direction) corresponds to a width direction of the intraocular lens injector <NUM>, and the Z axis direction (Z1 direction and Z2 direction) corresponds to a height direction of the intraocular lens injector <NUM>.

The intraocular lens injector <NUM> has a configuration including an injector main body <NUM>, a slider <NUM>, an injection tube <NUM>, a rotary member <NUM>, a plunger <NUM>, a rod <NUM> (see <FIG>), and an attachment member <NUM>. These constituent elements are preferably constituted by resin molded products, respectively. The injector main body <NUM> and the injection tube <NUM> have a hollow structure and are coupled to each other to thereby constitute a hollow body. The slider <NUM> is attached to the injector main body <NUM>. The injection tube <NUM> is coupled to the tip part of the injector main body <NUM>. The rotary member <NUM> is rotatably connected to a rear end portion of the injector main body <NUM>. The plunger <NUM> is disposed coaxially with the injector main body <NUM>. Apart of the plunger <NUM> is disposed inside of the injector main body <NUM> through the rotary member <NUM>, and the other part of the plunger <NUM> is disposed to protrude rearward from the rotary member <NUM>. The rod <NUM> is disposed inside of the hollow body which is composed of the injector main body <NUM> and the injection tube <NUM>. The attachment member <NUM> is a member attached to the hollow body so as to provide a predetermined additional function.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing the configuration of the injector main body. Further, <FIG> is a side view showing a configuration of an injector main body, <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along the line F1 - F1 in <FIG> is an enlarged view of a portion F2 in <FIG>.

The injector main body <NUM> is formed in a cylindrical shape as a whole. A lens installing portion <NUM> is provided at the tip part of the injector main body <NUM>. The intraocular lens <NUM> is installed on the lens installing portion <NUM>. The lens installing portion <NUM> is formed so as to protrude forward from an outer circumferential wall on a lower side of the injector main body <NUM>.

An injection tube coupling portion 5a is formed on the outer circumferential portion on the tip side of the injector main body <NUM>. Slits <NUM> are respectively formed on both left and right sides of the injector main body <NUM>. The slits <NUM> are formed on the tip side of the injector main body <NUM>. When the slider <NUM> is attached to the injector main body <NUM>, the slits <NUM> movably support the slider <NUM> in the axial direction (central axis direction) of the injector main body <NUM>.

The rear end of the injector main body <NUM> opens in a circular shape, through which the plunger <NUM> and the rod <NUM> can be inserted into the injector main body <NUM>. A rotation restricting portion <NUM>, a flange portion <NUM>, and a rotation supporting portion <NUM> are formed at the rear end portion of the injector main body <NUM> and in the vicinity thereof. The rotation restricting portion <NUM> restricts a rotation of the plunger <NUM> inserted into the injector main body <NUM>.

<FIG> show the injector main body in a state in which the rotation restricting portion is closed. In contrast, <FIG> is a perspective view showing the injector main body in a state in which the rotation restricting portion is opened, and <FIG> is a view seen from arrow G in <FIG>.

The rotation restricting portion <NUM> is formed slightly forward of the flange portion <NUM>. The rotation restricting portion <NUM> constitutes a part of an outer circumferential wall of the injector main body <NUM>, and is provided so as to be rotatable around a pivotally supporting portion 13a so as to open and close an opening formed on the outer circumferential wall. Further, a pair of sliding guides 13b is formed in the rotation restricting portion <NUM>, and a recessed guide groove 13c is formed between these sliding guides 13b. The pair of sliding guides 13b is disposed in a tube of the injector main body <NUM> when the rotation restricting portion <NUM> is closed, and is disposed outside of the tube of the injector main body <NUM> when the rotation restricting portion <NUM> is opened. A closed state of the rotation restricting portion <NUM> is maintained, for example, by an engagement of recessed and protruded portions (not shown). When the rotation restricting portion <NUM> is rotated around the pivotally supporting portion 13a against a holding force caused by the engagement of the recessed and protruded portions, as shown in <FIG>, the rotation restricting portion <NUM> is opened. Tip surfaces of the respective sliding guides 13b are formed as anti-falloff portions 13d (see <FIG>). The anti-falloff portions 13d prevent the plunger <NUM> from being pulled out from the injector main body <NUM>.

The flange portion <NUM> is a portion for hooking a finger (usually an index finger and a middle finger) of a user's hand, when operating the intraocular lens injector <NUM> by a push system. The rotation supporting portion <NUM> is provided slightly rearward of the flange portion <NUM>. The rotation supporting portion <NUM> is formed in a ring shape having a stepped structure protruding in a ring shape.

As shown in <FIG>, the lens installing portion <NUM> includes a bottom surface portion 11a, a lens receiving portion 11b, and a lens guide portion 11c. The lens receiving portion 11b receives and supports the intraocular lens <NUM> from below. The intraocular lens <NUM> is installed on the lens installing portion <NUM> in a state in which one supporting portion 4b is disposed in front and the other supporting portion 4b is disposed in rear. The intraocular lens injector <NUM> is of a preload type in which the intraocular lens <NUM> is previously installed on the lens installing portion <NUM> of the injector main body <NUM>. Therefore, the intraocular lens <NUM> is one of the components of the intraocular lens injector <NUM>. However, in executing the present invention, the intraocular lens injector <NUM> is not necessarily required to be the preload type.

A center portion in a width direction of the bottom surface portion 11a is slightly recessed. The lens receiving portion 11b is formed on both left and right sides of the lens installing portion <NUM>. The lens receiving portion 11b is formed to be one step higher than the bottom surface portion 11a. This is because when the intraocular lens <NUM> is supported on the lens receiving portion 11b, the optical portion 4a of the intraocular lens <NUM> is supported in a floating state from the bottom surface portion 11a without contacting the bottom surface portion 11a. In the same manner as in the lens receiving portion 11b, the lens guide portion 11c is formed on both right and left sides of the lens installing portion <NUM>. The lens guide portion 11c guides the optical portion 4a of the intraocular lens <NUM> supported by the lens receiving portion 11b so as to sandwich the optical portion 4a from both the left and right sides. The lens guide portion 11c is formed in a vertically upright state from the lens receiving portion 11b. On upper end portions of the left and right lens guide portions 11c, an inclined surface 11d and a restricting portion 11e are formed adjacent to each other in the axial direction of the injector main body <NUM>. The inclined surface 11d is formed so as to incline outwardly to easily receive the intraocular lens <NUM> on the lens installing portion <NUM>. The inclined surface 11d is formed on the tip side of the lens installing portion <NUM> with respect to the restricting portion 11e in the axial direction of the injector main body <NUM>. The restricting portion 11e is formed to protrude toward the center in the width direction of the lens installing portion <NUM>. The restricting portion 11e limits a movable range in a vertical direction of the intraocular lens <NUM> which is supported by the lens receiving portion 11b.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the slider <NUM> has a configuration including a lens pressing portion 6a and a pair of wing portions 6b. The lens pressing portion 6a is disposed at the tip part of the slider <NUM>, and the pair of wing portions 6b is disposed in pairs on the left and right sides of the slider <NUM>. When the slider <NUM> is moved forward, as shown in <FIG>, the lens pressing portion 6a is disposed so as to advance to the upper side of the optical portion 4a of the intraocular lens <NUM> which is installed on the lens installing portion <NUM>.

The pair of wing portions 6b is disposed outside of the outer circumferential wall portion of the injector main body <NUM>. The pair of wing portions 6b is the portions with which a user's finger (usually an index finger and thumb) is brought into contact, when the slider <NUM> is moved in the axial direction of the injector main body <NUM> during use of the intraocular lens injector <NUM>. The user is a surgeon such as an ophthalmologist performing surgery or a nurse assisting a surgeon. On the outer surface of each wing portion 6b, unevenness for anti-falloff and a mark (triangular arrow in this arrangement) indicating the moving direction of the slider <NUM> are formed. Further, the outer surface of each wing portion 6b is curved from the rear end side toward the tip side so that the fingers of the user are easily caught, and unevenness for anti-falloff is formed on this curved portion.

<FIG> shows the configuration of an injection tube, wherein <FIG> is a plan view, <FIG> is a side view, and <FIG> is a bottom view. Further, <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along the line H - H in <FIG>.

The injection tube <NUM> is a tube for folding the intraocular lens <NUM> small and guiding it into the eye, when the intraocular lens <NUM> installed on the lens installing portion <NUM> is injected into the eye. The injection tube <NUM> is made of a transparent or translucent material, so that a state of the intraocular lens <NUM> moving inside of the insertion tube <NUM> can be visually recognized from the outside.

The injection tube <NUM> has a hollow injection tube main body 7a and a narrow tubular nozzle portion 7b. The injection tube <NUM> is attached to the tip part of the injection main body <NUM>. At this time, the lens installing portion <NUM> of the injector main body <NUM> is housed and disposed inside of the injector main body 7a of the injection tube <NUM>, together with the intraocular lens <NUM> installed thereon. An injection hole 7c is formed on an upper surface of the injection tube main body 7a. The injection hole 7c is a hole through which a viscoelastic substance (for example, sodium hyaluronate etc.) is injected. The viscoelastic substance injected from the injection hole 7c is supplied to the intraocular lens <NUM> installed on the lens installing portion <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the rear end portion of the injection tube main body 7a is opened, and hooking portions 7d and wedge portions 7e are formed around the opening portion. The hooking portions 7d are disposed in pairs at the top and bottom, and the wedge portions 7e are disposed in pairs on the right and left. The hooking portions 7d are portions to be hooked on the injection tube coupling portion 5a of the injector main body <NUM> when the injection tube <NUM> is attached to the tip part of the injector main body <NUM>. The wedge portions 7e are portions to be inserted into an entrance portion of the slit <NUM> of the injector main body <NUM> when the injection tube <NUM> is attached to the injector main body <NUM>.

The injection tube main body 7a is divided into a first portion 7f and a second portion <NUM> in the axial direction of the injection tube <NUM>. The first portion 7fhas an internal space capable of housing the lens installing portion <NUM> of the injector main body <NUM>, and is formed wider than the second portion <NUM>. The second portion <NUM> is located forward of the first portion 7f. The internal space of the injector main body 7a is gradually narrowed from the first portion 7f to the second portion <NUM> in order to fold the intraocular lens <NUM> small when the intraocular lens <NUM> is pushed out by the rod <NUM>.

A first protrusion <NUM>, a second protrusion 7i, and a third protrusion 7j are formed on the second portion <NUM> of the injection tube main body 7a. These three protrusions <NUM>, 7i, and 7j are formed as engaged portions, correspondingly to an engaging portion 16b described later, in order to make an engagement between the attachment member <NUM> and the injection tube <NUM>. The first protrusion <NUM> is formed in a state of protruding from one side (left side) surface of the second portion <NUM>. The second protrusion 7i is formed in a state adjacent to and behind the first protrusion <NUM>. The second protrusion 7i protrudes from one side (left side) surface of the second protrusion 7i with a protrusion amount smaller than that of the first protrusion <NUM>. The third protrusion 7j is formed to protrude downward from the lower surface of the second portion <NUM>. The third protrusion 7j is formed displaced rearward from the first protrusion <NUM>.

The nozzle portion 7b is a portion to be inserted into the incisional wound of the eyeball, when the intraocular lens <NUM> is injected into the eye using the intraocular lens injector <NUM>. The nozzle portion 7b is formed at the tip part of the injection tube <NUM>. The nozzle portion 7b is formed so as to protrude forward from the tip of the second portion <NUM> of the injection tube main body 7a. The nozzle portion 7b is formed in a substantially circular shape when viewed from the axial direction of the injection tube <NUM>. An outer circumferential diameter of the nozzle portion 7b is substantially uniform over an entire length Ln of the nozzle portion 7b. The tip part of the nozzle portion 7b opens with an oblique incisional wound from the top to the bottom, through which the intraocular lens <NUM> is released to the outside. A cutout portion <NUM> is formed in an opening edge on a lower side of the nozzle portion 7b. The cutout portion <NUM> is formed along the axial direction of the injection tube <NUM>. The cutout portion <NUM> is preferably formed in a V shape as shown in the figure.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing a configuration of the attachment member. Further, <FIG> is a three-view diagram showing a configuration of an attachment member, wherein <FIG> is a plan view, <FIG> is a side view, and <FIG> is a rear view.

As an example of the additional function described above, the attachment member <NUM> is a member that provides a function of limiting an injection amount of the nozzle portion 7b (hereinafter also referred to as "nozzle injection amount limiting function") when the nozzle portion 7b is inserted into the incisional wound of the eyeball. The nozzle injection amount limiting function is realized (details will be described later) using a tip surface 16d of the sleeve portion 16a of the attachment member <NUM>.

The attachment member <NUM> is a member separate from the injection tube <NUM>, and is configured to be movable with respect to the injection tube <NUM> in an axial direction of the injection tube <NUM> A form of movement of the attachment member <NUM> with respect to the injection tube <NUM> is not particularly limited. Also, linear movement, rotational movement, twist movement, opening and closing (rocking) movement, expansion and contraction movement, and the like can be considered as the form of the movement. In this arrangement, the attachment member <NUM> is detachably attached to the injection tube <NUM> by the movement of the attachment member <NUM> with respect to the injection tube <NUM>. "Detachably" described here means that "the attachment member <NUM> can be attached to the injection tube <NUM> and the attachment member <NUM> can be detached from injection tube <NUM>". In the intraocular lens injector <NUM> of this arrangement, the attachment member <NUM> may be provided in a state of being attached to the injection tube <NUM> or in a state of being detached from the injection tube <NUM> in some cases. In each case, the attachment member <NUM> is one of the elements constituting the intraocular lens injector <NUM>. Further, when using the nozzle injection amount limiting function provided by the attachment member <NUM>, the attachment member <NUM> is attached to the injection tube <NUM>, and when the function is not used, the attachment member <NUM> is detached from the injection tube <NUM>. In the latter case, namely, even when the attachment member <NUM> is not used in the intraocular lens injection surgery, the attachment member <NUM> is still one of the elements constituting the intraocular lens injector <NUM>.

The attachment member <NUM> includes a sleeve portion 16a and an engaging portion 16b. A through hole 16c is formed in the sleeve portion 16a, so that the nozzle portion 7b of the injection tube <NUM> can be engaged therewith. The through hole 16c is formed in a state penetrating the sleeve portion 16a in the axial direction. The tip surface 16d of the sleeve portion 16a is formed to be obliquely inclined with respect to the central axis of the sleeve portion 16a. The tip surface 16d of the sleeve portion 16a is disposed in a state of protruding outward (in a direction of enlarging the diameter) from the outer circumferential surface of the nozzle portion 7b when the attachment member <NUM> is attached to injection tube <NUM>. This shows that the tip surface 16d of the sleeve portion 16a is a portion corresponding to the "protruding surface".

The shape of the protruding surface is not limited to an annular flat surface that is continuous in a circumferential direction like the tip surface 16d of the sleeve portion 16a, and may be formed in any form as long as it exhibits the nozzle injection amount limiting function. For example, the protruding surface may be discontinuously disposed in the circumferential direction by arrangement at least at one place in the circumferential direction, preferably two places, or three or more places at <NUM> degrees pitch. Also, the protruding surface may be a curved surface.

The engaging portion 16b is a portion to be engaged with the injection tube <NUM> when the attachment member <NUM> is attached to the injection tube <NUM>. The engaging portion 16b is configured so that it can be engaged with the injection tube <NUM> and can release the engaged state, in order to make the attachment member <NUM> detachable from injection tube <NUM>. The engaging portion 16b has a configuration in which a substantially trapezoidal conical outer circumferential wall corresponding to the outer circumferential shape of the injection tube main body 7a (second portion <NUM>) of the injection tube <NUM> is partially cut out. A hook portion 16e, a stopper portion 16f, and a viewing window <NUM> are formed in the engaging portion 16b. Among them, the hook portion 16e and the stopper portion 16f constitute a locking mechanism for temporarily positioning and fixing the attachment member <NUM> to the injection tube <NUM>. The hook portion 16e is a portion to be hooked on the first protrusion <NUM> of the injection tube <NUM>. On the inner circumferential side of the hook portion 16e, a semicircular recessed portion <NUM> is formed. The recessed portion <NUM> is configured to be able to engage and disengage with/from the second protrusion 7i of the injection tube <NUM> from the direction around the axis of the injection tube <NUM>. "The direction around the axis" means a direction in which rotation is carried out around the central axis of a certain member. The stopper portion 16f is configured so that it can abut against the first protrusion <NUM> of the injection tube <NUM> from the direction around the axis of the injection tube <NUM>, and so that it can abut against the third protrusion 7j of the injection tube <NUM> from the axial direction of the injection tube <NUM>. The viewing window <NUM> is formed in a state in which the upper portion of the engaging portion 16b is cutout in a substantially V shape in plan view. The viewing window <NUM> is formed in order to allow a state of the intraocular lens <NUM> moving inside of the injection tube <NUM> to be visually recognized from the outside, even when the attachment member <NUM> is attached to the injection tube <NUM>. A material of the attachment member <NUM> is not particularly limited, and for example, metal, ceramic, resin, and the like are used, and a transparent or translucent material is preferable so that the state of the intraocular lens moving inside of the injection tube <NUM> can be visually recognized from the outside. Further, the protruding surface of the attachment member <NUM> is in direct contact with a cornea when the intraocular lens is injected into the eye, thereby adding a load on the cornea, and therefore the attachment member <NUM> is preferably made of a soft resin such as silicone, urethane or the like in order to reduce the load.

<FIG> shows a state in which the attachment member is attached to the injection tube, wherein <FIG> is a plan view, <FIG> is a side view, and <FIG> is a bottom view.

As shown in the figure, in a state in which the attachment member <NUM> is attached to the injection tube <NUM>, the nozzle portion 7b is engaged with the through hole 16c of the sleeve portion 16a. At this time, the tip surface 16d of the sleeve portion 16a is disposed in a state protruding outward from the outer circumferential surface of the nozzle portion 7b, and is disposed in a state inclined in the same direction as the cutout of the nozzle portion 7b with respect to the axial direction of the injection tube <NUM>.

In such a case, an inner diameter of the through hole 16c of the sleep portion 16a may be set to be equal to or slightly larger than the outer circumferential diameter of the nozzle portion 7b over an entire axial length of the sleeve portion 16a, in order not to deform the shape of the nozzle portion 7b engaged with the through hole 16c. Further, as other preferable arrangement, as shown in <FIG>, a tapered portion 16i may be formed in a part of the through hole 16c of the sleeve portion 16a. The tapered portion 16i is formed such that the diameter of the through hole 16c is gradually decreased toward the tip of the sleeve portion 16a, on the tip side of the sleeve portion 16a. A minimum diameter of the through hole 16c in the tapered portion 16i is set to be smaller than an outer circumferential diameter of the nozzle portion 7b. Thereby, in a state in which the attachment member <NUM> is attached to the insertion tube <NUM>, the tapered portion 16i comes into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the nozzle portion 7b and a portion where the cut portion <NUM> is formed. Therefore, on the tip side of the sleeve portion 16a, the outer circumference diameter of the sleeve portion 16a is reduced by a contact with the tapered portion 16i.

Meanwhile, the hook portion 16e of the engaging portion 16b is hooked on the first protrusion <NUM>. At this time, the recessed portion <NUM> is in a state of being engaged with the second protrusion 7i (see <FIG>). Further, the stopper portion 16f of the engaging portion 16b is in a state of approaching or contacting the third protrusion 7j of the injection tube <NUM>. At this time, positioning of the attachment member <NUM> with respect to the injection tube <NUM> is performed as follows. Namely, in the direction around the axis of the injection tube <NUM>, the position of the attachment member is determined when the recessed portion <NUM> is engaged with the second protrusion 7i of the injection tube <NUM>, and when the hook portion 16e is hooked on the first protrusion <NUM> of the injection tube <NUM>. Further, in the axial direction of the injection tube <NUM>, the position of the attachment member <NUM> is determined when the stopper portion 16f abuts on the third protrusion 7j.

Here, when the attachment member <NUM> is detached from the insertion tube <NUM>, the engagement state between the attachment member <NUM> and the insertion tube <NUM> is released by moving the attachment member <NUM> in the axial direction of the injection tube <NUM>, after rotating the attachment member <NUM> in the direction around the axis of the injection tube <NUM>. Specifically, first, the attachment member <NUM> is turned in a direction of the arrow as shown in <FIG>, thereby making the stopper portion 16f of the engaging portion 16b brought into contact with or close to the first protrusion <NUM> of the injection tube main body 7a as shown in <FIG>. Thereby, the hook portion 16e of the engaging portion 16b is disengaged from the first protrusion <NUM> of the injection tube <NUM>, and the recessed portion <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>) inside of the hook portion 16e is disengaged from the second protrusion 7i. Next, as shown in <FIG>, the attachment member <NUM> is pulled out in the direction of the arrow along the axial direction of the injection tube <NUM>. Thereby, the attachment member <NUM> can be detached from the injection tube <NUM>.

Meanwhile, when the attachment member <NUM> is attached to the injection tube <NUM>, the attachment member <NUM> is engaged with the injection tube <NUM> by a procedure reverse to the above, namely, the attachment member <NUM> is moved in the axial direction of the injection tube <NUM>, and thereafter the attachment member <NUM> is rotated and moved in the direction around the axis of the injection tube <NUM>. Specifically, the attachment member <NUM> is engaged with the injection tube <NUM> from the direction opposite to the arrow as shown in <FIG>, thereby making the stopper portion 16f of the engaging portion 16b brought into contact with or close to the third protrusion 7j of the injection tube <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. Next, by turning the attachment member <NUM> in the opposite direction to the direction of detachment, the hook portion 16e of the engaging portion 16b is hooked on the first protrusion <NUM> of the injection tube <NUM>, and the recessed portion <NUM> is engaged with the second protrusion 7i. Thereby, the attachment member <NUM> can be attached to the injection tube <NUM>. In this way, the attachment member <NUM> is attached to the injection tube <NUM>, and in this state, the movement of the attachment member <NUM> with respect to the axial direction of the injection tube <NUM> is restricted due to the engagement (contact) between the first protrusion <NUM> and the hook portion 16e and due to the engagement (contact) between the third protrusion 7j and the stopper portion 16f. Therefore, the attachment member <NUM> cannot be moved in the axial direction of the injection tube <NUM>. In other words, the position of the attachment member <NUM> is fixed in the axial direction of the injection tube <NUM>. Further, the engagement state between the engaging portion 16b of the attachment member <NUM> and the engaging portion (<NUM>, 7i, 7j) of the injection tube <NUM> is not released unless the attachment member <NUM> attached to the injection tube <NUM> is rotated in the direction around the axis of the injection tube <NUM>, because it is impossible to move the attachment member <NUM> in the axial direction of the injection tube <NUM> as described above.

As shown in <FIG>, the rotary member <NUM> is attached to the rear end portion of the injector main body <NUM>. In this attachment state, the rotary member <NUM> is disposed coaxially with the injector main body <NUM>, and is rotatably supported in the direction around the axis of the injector main body <NUM>. The rotary member <NUM> is formed in a cylindrical shape. The tip end and the rear end of the rotary member <NUM> are each opened in a circular shape. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a plurality of ridges 8a are formed on the outer circumferential surface of the rotary member <NUM>. Each of the ridges 8a is formed to be parallel to the axial direction of the rotary member <NUM>. The rotary member <NUM> is a portion rotated by a user when the intraocular lens injector <NUM> is used by a screw system. At this time, when the plurality of ridges 8a are formed on the outer circumferential surface of the rotary member <NUM>, the finger of the user is caught on the ridges 8a, so that it becomes easy to rotate the rotary member <NUM>.

First threaded portions 8b are formed on the inner circumferential surface of the rotary member <NUM>. The first threaded portions 8b are formed at a predetermined pitch. Further, two window portions 8c are formed on the tip part of the rotary member <NUM>. The two window portions 8c are formed at intervals of <NUM> degrees in the circumferential direction. These window portions 8c are portions for visually checking whether or not the injector main body <NUM> and the rotary member <NUM> are properly coupled. A pair of hooking claws 8d is formed on the inner circumferential portion of the tip of the rotary member <NUM>. The pair of hooking claws 8d is hooked on the rotation supporting portion <NUM> of the injector main body <NUM> when the rotary member <NUM> is coupled to the rear end portion of the injector main body <NUM>. Each of the hooking claws 8d is formed in the vicinity of the opening on the tip side of the rotary member <NUM> adjacent to each of the window portions 8c. The rotary member <NUM> is rotatably supported in the direction around the axis of the injector main body <NUM> in a state in which the pair of hook claws 8d are hooked on the rotation supporting portion <NUM>. Further, the pair of hook claws 8d is fitted between the flange portion <NUM> of the injector main body <NUM> and the rotation supporting portion <NUM>. Therefore, the rotary member <NUM> is freely rotatable around the axis of the injector main body <NUM> but does not move in the axial direction of the injector main body <NUM>.

The plunger <NUM> is disposed coaxially with the injector main body <NUM>. The plunger <NUM> is provided movably in the axial direction of the injector main body <NUM>. The plunger <NUM> has a bar shaped plunger shaft 9a. As shown in <FIG>, the tip part of the plunger <NUM> serves as a seal material attachment portion 9b. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along the line E2 - E2 in <FIG>. The seal material attachment portion 9b is composed of two circular disk portions having an outer circumferential diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the injector main body <NUM>, and a seal member <NUM> is attached between the two disk portions. As the seal material <NUM>, for example, an O ring can be used. When the plunger <NUM> is moved in the axial direction (frontward) of the injector main body <NUM>, the seal member <NUM> is brought into contact with the inner circumferential surface of the injector main body <NUM>, thereby generating an appropriate sliding resistance.

The longitudinal sectional shape of the plunger shaft 9a is substantially cruciform as shown in <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along the line E3 - E3 in <FIG>, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along the line E4 - E4 in <FIG>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, second threaded portions 9c are formed on the upper surface and the lower surface of the plunger shaft 9a, respectively. The second threaded portions 9c are formed corresponding to the first threaded portions 8b of the rotary member <NUM>. Therefore, the second threaded portions 9c are formed at the same pitch as the first threaded portions 8b. The second threaded portions 9c are held in a state of constantly meshing with the first threaded portions 8b of the rotary member <NUM>. Therefore, when the rotary member <NUM> is rotated, the plunger <NUM> moves in the axial direction of the injector main body <NUM> in accordance with a rotation direction and a rotation amount of the rotary member <NUM>. The plunger <NUM> is a portion to be pushed in by the user when using the intraocular lens injector <NUM> by the push system. Here, the second threaded portions 9c of the plunger <NUM> and the corresponding first threaded portions 8b of the rotary member <NUM> mesh with each other in a relationship of groove threads and screw threads, and in this meshing portion, the first threaded portions 8b and the second threaded portions 9c are inclined at a predetermined taper angle with respect to the Z axis (vertical direction in the figure) as shown in <FIG>. When the taper angle of these screw portions 8b, 9c is adjusted (set) to an appropriate angle, it is possible to rotate the rotary member <NUM> with little sense of resistance when the plunger <NUM> is pushed in. Particularly, in a case of <NUM>° or more and <NUM>° or less of the taper angle θ at the rear of the second threaded portions 9c in contact with the first threaded portions 8b of the rotary member <NUM> when the plunger <NUM> is pushed in, the rotary member <NUM> idles without catching the threaded portions 8b, 9c, at the time of a forward movement of the plunger <NUM> by the pushing operation, which is preferable. Further, in order to efficiently apply a load to the rotary member <NUM>, which is necessary for moving the plunger <NUM> forward by the pushing operation, it is desirable to set a groove width (dimension in the Y axis direction) between the threaded portions 9c of the plunger <NUM> to <NUM> or more and <NUM> or less. Also, regarding a screw pitch, it is desirable to adjust the screw pitch in accordance with a release load of an installed intraocular lens.

The tip side of the plunger <NUM>, including the seal member attachment portion 9b, is disposed so as to be inserted into the injector main body <NUM>, and the rear end side of the plunger <NUM> is disposed so as to protrude rearward from the rotary member <NUM>. In an initial state before use, a protruding dimension Lp (see <FIG>) of the plunger <NUM> with a rear end position of the rotary member <NUM> as a reference, is set to be equal to or larger than a movement dimension of the rod <NUM> required to push out the intraocular lens <NUM> from the tip of the injection tube <NUM>. Here, the initial state before use refers to a state before an operation is performed for pushing out the intraocular lens <NUM> using the rod <NUM> when using the intraocular lens injector <NUM>. In the intraocular lens injector <NUM> of this arrangement, the rod <NUM> can be moved forward by either of the rotational operation of the rotary member <NUM> and the pushing operation of the plunger <NUM>. Therefore, the initial state before use is the state in which neither the rotational operation of the rotation member <NUM> nor the pushing operation of the plunger <NUM> is performed.

In the initial state before use, the plunger <NUM> is largely drawn out so that the protruding dimension Lp of the plunger shaft 9a is substantially maximum or close to the maximum. In this state, the seal material attachment portion 9b of the plunger <NUM> is disposed in a state of being in proximity to or in contact with the rotation restricting portion <NUM> of the injector main body <NUM>. At this time, the seal material attachment portion 9b of the plunger <NUM> is opposed to the anti-falloff portions 13d of the rotation restricting portion <NUM>. Therefore, when attempting to move the plunger <NUM> rearward from the initial state before use, the seal material attachment portion 9b abuts on the anti-falloff portions 13d. Thereby, fall-off of the plunger <NUM> from the injector main body <NUM> is prevented.

Further, when the tip side of the plunger <NUM> is inserted into the injector main body <NUM> together with the rod <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, the rotation restricting portion <NUM> is set in an opened state. Thereby, the tip side of the plunger <NUM> with the seal member <NUM> can be inserted into the injector main body <NUM> without interference with the rotation restricting portion <NUM>. Further, in this state, when the rotation restricting portion <NUM> is closed so as to be engaged with the plunger shaft 9a of the plunger <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, a part of the plunger shaft 9a (a portion where the second threaded portion 9c is formed) is engaged with the guide groove 13c of the sliding guide 13b. At this time, as shown in <FIG>, the two opposing surfaces of the guide groove 13c are disposed so as to support a part of the plunger shaft 9a from both sides. Thereby, the plunger <NUM> is supported movably in the axial direction of the injector main body <NUM>. However, the rotation of the plunger <NUM> with respect to the axial direction of the injector main body <NUM> is restricted by the rotation restricting portion <NUM>.

The rod <NUM> serves as releasing the intraocular lens <NUM> from the tip part (opening of the nozzle portion 7b) of the injection tube <NUM>, by pushing out the intraocular lens <NUM> forward, the intraocular lens <NUM> being installed on the lens installing portion <NUM>. The rod <NUM> is formed in an elongated rod shape. The rod <NUM> is coupled to the tip part of the plunger <NUM> and moves integrally with the plunger <NUM> in the axial direction of the hollow body.

Next, a method of using the intraocular lens injector <NUM> will be described.

First, the user injects a viscoelastic substance into the injection hole 7c of the injection tube <NUM>. Thereby, the viscoelastic substance is supplied to the intraocular lens <NUM> installed on the lens installing portion <NUM> of the injector main body <NUM>.

Next, the user moves the slider <NUM> forward. Thereby, a lens abutting portion (not shown) formed at the tip part of the slider <NUM> comes into contact with the intraocular lens <NUM>, and pushes out the intraocular lens <NUM> as it is. Then, the intraocular lens <NUM> is deformed into a predetermined shape. When the intraocular lens <NUM> is deformed by the movement of the slider <NUM> in this manner, the intraocular lens <NUM> can be easily folded into a desired shape when the intraocular lens <NUM> is pushed out by the rod <NUM> by a subsequent operation.

Next, the user operates the intraocular lens injector <NUM> by the push system or the screw system to move the rod <NUM> forward together with the plunger <NUM>, thereby releasing the intraocular lens <NUM> from the nozzle portion 7b of the injection tube <NUM>. At this time, the rod <NUM> is brought into contact with the intraocular lens <NUM> while moving forward, and pushes out the intraocular lens <NUM> as it is. Then, the intraocular lens <NUM> moves inside of the injection tube <NUM> while being folded into a predetermined shape, and is released from the opening at the tip of the nozzle portion 7b. Accordingly, the intraocular lens <NUM> can be injected into the eye in a small folded state by releasing the intraocular lens <NUM> in a state in which the nozzle portion 7b of the injection tube <NUM> is inserted into the incisional wound of the eyeball. Further, after intraocular injection, the intraocular lens <NUM> can be restored to its original shape by a restoring force of the intraocular lens <NUM> itself.

Next, an effect of the intraocular lens injector <NUM> according to a first arrangement of the present invention will be described.

The intraocular lens injector <NUM> of this arrangement can cope with two different operation methods, that is, a screw system and a push system. The screw system is a method of pushing out the intraocular lens <NUM> by the rotational operation of the rotary member <NUM>, and the push system is a method of pushing out the intraocular lens <NUM> by a pushing operation of the plunger <NUM>. Therefore, in using the intraocular lens injector <NUM>, a user who prefers the screw system can push out the intraocular lens <NUM> by rotating the rotary member <NUM>, and a user who prefers the push system can push out the intraocular lens <NUM> by pushing the plunger <NUM>. Each operation method will be described below.

When the intraocular lens injector <NUM> is used by the screw system, the user rotates the rotary member <NUM>. Specifically, while rotating the injector body <NUM> with one hand, the rotary member <NUM> is rotated with the other hand. At this time, the first threaded portions 8b of the rotary member <NUM> and the second threaded portions 9c of the plunger <NUM> are always kept in mesh with each other, including the initial state before use. Therefore, when the rotary member <NUM> is rotated in a predetermined direction (clockwise direction as seen from the rear end side of the intraocular lens injector <NUM>), the plunger <NUM> moves forward in accordance with the rotation of the rotary member <NUM>, and the rod <NUM> also moves forward together with the movement of the plunger <NUM>. Further, since the rotation of the plunger <NUM> in the direction around the axis of the injector main body <NUM> is restricted by the rotation restricting portion <NUM>, the plunger <NUM> and the rod <NUM> move forward without rotating in the direction around the axis of the injector main body <NUM>. Thereby, the intraocular lens <NUM> installed on the lens installing portion <NUM> of the injector main body <NUM>, is pushed out from the tip of the nozzle portion 7b by the movement of the rod <NUM>.

When the intraocular lens injector <NUM> is used by the push system, an operation of pushing the plunger <NUM> is performed by the user. Specifically, a thumb is pressed against the rear end portion of the plunger <NUM> while hooking an index finger and a middle finger on the flange portion <NUM> of the injector main body <NUM>. Then, in this state, the plunger <NUM> is pushed forward. Then, a pushing force applied to the plunger <NUM> is converted to a force for rotating the rotary member <NUM> by the meshing between the first threaded portions 8b and the second threaded portions 9c. Therefore, when the plunger <NUM> is pushed forward, the plunger <NUM> moves forward together with the rod <NUM> and the rotary member <NUM> rotates in accordance with the movement of the plunger <NUM>. Further, since the rotation of the plunger <NUM> in the direction around the axis of the injector main body <NUM> is restricted by the rotation restricting portion <NUM>, the plunger <NUM> and the rod <NUM> move forward without rotating in the direction around the axis of the injector main body <NUM>. Thereby, the intraocular lens <NUM> installed on the lens installing portion <NUM> of the injector main body <NUM>, is pushed out from the tip of the nozzle portion 7b by the movement of the rod <NUM>.

In this manner, the intraocular lens injector <NUM> of this arrangement can cope with either one of the operation methods such as the screw system and push system. Accordingly, the user of the intraocular lens injector <NUM>, can select either one of the operation methods, according to his/her preference, or according to other reasons, circumstances etc. Thereby, with one intraocular lens injector <NUM>, it is possible to flexibly cope with differences in procedures of an intraocular lens injection surgery. Further, it is possible to cater to both users of the user who prefers the screw system and the user who prefers the push system. Further, the first threaded portions 8b of the rotary member <NUM> and the second threaded portions 9c of the plunger <NUM>, are always in mesh with each other, including the initial state before use. Therefore, in the case of operating by the screw system, the intraocular lens <NUM> can be pushed out only by rotating the rotary member <NUM>. Further, in the case of operating by the push system, the first threaded portions 8b and the second threaded portions 9c are held in mesh with each other from the start to the end of the operation. Therefore, vibration or the like is unlikely to occur during the pushing operation of the plunger <NUM>.

According to the intraocular lens injector <NUM> of this arrangement, it is possible to utilize the nozzle insertion amount limiting function provided by the attachment member <NUM> or to avoid its use. Specifically, the attachment member <NUM> is configured to be movable with respect to the injection tube <NUM>, thereby making it possible to attach and detach the attachment member <NUM> to/from the injection tube <NUM>. Therefore, in the state in which the attachment member <NUM> is attached to the injection tube <NUM>, the nozzle insertion amount limiting function can be used, and in the state in which the attachment member <NUM> is detached from the injection tube <NUM>, use of the nozzle insertion amount limiting function can be avoided. Explanation will be given hereinafter for a case of using the nozzle insertion amount limiting function and a case of not using the nozzle insertion amount limiting function separately.

When using the nozzle insertion amount limiting function provided by the attachment member <NUM>, the attachment member <NUM> is set in a state of being attached to the injection tube <NUM>. Thereby, the nozzle portion 7b of the injection tube <NUM> is partially covered with the sleeve part 16a of the attachment member <NUM>. The nozzle insertion amount limiting function is exhibited by contact of the tip surface 16d of the sleeve part 16a with the outer surface 50b of the cornea <NUM>, when an incisional wound 50a is formed in the periphery of the cornea <NUM> of the eyeball, and the nozzle portion 7b of the injection tube <NUM> is inserted into the incisional wound 50a in a cataract surgery as shown in <FIG>. At this time, the tip surface 16d of the sleeve part 16a functions as a stopper for limiting further insertion of the nozzle portion 7b, by contact of the tip surface 16d of the sleeve part 16a with the outer surface 50b of the cornea <NUM>, and by this stopper function, the insertion amount of the nozzle portion 7b is limited.

Here, when the Wound-assisted method is applied, it is desirable to set a relative position of the injection tube <NUM> and the attachment member <NUM>, so that the protruding amount (Maximum value) L1 of the nozzle portion 7b with respect to the tip surface 16d of the sleeve part 16a is <NUM> or more and <NUM> or less. Thereby, it is possible to limit the insertion amount of the nozzle portion 7b with respect to the incisional wound 50a of the cornea <NUM> to be equivalent to the protrusion amount L1. Accordingly, the intraocular lens <NUM> can be released from the tip of the nozzle portion 7b in a state of shallowly inserting the nozzle portion 7b into the incisional wound 50a of the cornea <NUM>. Further, in order to use the nozzle insertion amount limiting function, the movement of the attachment member <NUM> with respect to the axial direction of the insertion tube <NUM> is restricted by the engagement between the first protrusion <NUM> and the hook portion 16e and the engagement between the third protrusion 7j and the stopper portion 16f in a state in which the attachment member <NUM> is attached to the injection tube <NUM>. Therefore, after the intraocular lens <NUM> is released from the tip of the nozzle portion 7b, the tip surface 16d of the attachment member <NUM> can be separated from the outer surface 50b of the cornea <NUM> simultaneously with pulling out the nozzle portion 7b from the incisional wound 50a of the cornea <NUM>. Further, when using the nozzle insertion amount limiting function, as described above, the injection tube <NUM> and the attachment member <NUM> are used in a combined state. Therefore, the engaging portion 16b of the attachment member <NUM> and the engaging portion (<NUM>, 7i, 7j) of the injection tube <NUM> are always maintained in an engagement state, and the engagement state is not canceled.

Meanwhile, when the nozzle insertion amount limiting function provided by the attachment member <NUM> is not used, the attachment member <NUM> is detached from the injection tube <NUM>. Thereby, the nozzle portion 7b of the injection tube <NUM> is in a state in which its entire body is exposed to the outside without being covered by the sleeve portion 16a of the attachment member <NUM>. Therefore, when the nozzle portion 7b of the injection tube <NUM> is inserted into the incisional wound 50a of the cornea <NUM>, the nozzle portion 7b can be inserted more deeply than in the case of using the nozzle insertion amount limiting function described above. Accordingly, the intraocular lens <NUM> can be released from the tip of the nozzle portion 7b in a state in which the nozzle portion 7b is deeply inserted into the incisional wound 50a of the cornea <NUM>.

In this manner, in the intraocular lens injector <NUM> of this arrangement, the nozzle insertion amount limiting function can be used by attaching the attachment member <NUM> to the insertion tube <NUM>, and in addition, use of the nozzle insertion amount limiting function can be avoided by detaching the attachment member <NUM> from the injection tube <NUM>. Accordingly, the user of the intraocular lens injector <NUM>, can use the nozzle insertion amount limiting function or to avoid using it, according to his/her preference, or according to other reasons, circumstances etc. Thereby, even if there are user who prefers the procedure for inserting the nozzle portion 7b deeply into the incisional wound 50a of the eye ball and user who prefers the procedure to shallowly insert the nozzle portion 7b, it is possible to flexibly deal with the preference of each user's technique.

Further, if a plurality of attachment members <NUM> having different sizes (particularly, lengths) of the sleeve portions 16a are prepared, it is possible to change (increase or decrease) the protrusion amount of the nozzle portion 7b with respect to the tip surface 16d of the sleeve portion 16a, depending on the size of attached member <NUM> attached to injection tube <NUM> when using the nozzle insertion amount limiting function. For example, when it is desired to change the protrusion amount to a protrusion amount (for example, <NUM> or more and <NUM> or less) larger than the protrusion amount L1 of the nozzle portion 7b shown in <FIG>, as shown in <FIG>, the protrusion amount (maximum value) L2 of the nozzle portion 7b can be secured to be larger than the protrusion amount L1 by using the attachment member <NUM> having a size compatible with the above protruding amount, for attachment to the injection tube <NUM>. Thereby, the insertion amount can be changed when inserting the nozzle portion 7b into the incisional wound 50a of the cornea <NUM>.

The intraocular lens injector <NUM> of this arrangement exhibits the effect of (hereinafter referred to as a "first effect") enabling selection of the operation method of the intraocular lens injector <NUM> from the screw system and the push system, and the effect of (hereinafter referred to as a "second effect") enabling selection as to whether or not to use the nozzle insertion amount limiting function. However, the first effect and the second effect are obtained by different configurations. Namely, the first effect is obtained by a configuration (hereinafter referred to as "first configuration") including the injector main body <NUM>, the rotary member <NUM>, the plunger <NUM>, and the rod <NUM> described above, and the second effect is obtained by a configuration (hereinafter referred to as a "second configuration") including the injection tube <NUM> and the attachment member <NUM> described above. Therefore, the first effect can be obtained even without the second configuration and the second effect can be obtained even without the first configuration.

Further, this arrangement employs a configuration in which the outer circumferential diameter of the nozzle portion 7b can be reduced by forming the tapered portion 16i in the through hole 16c of the attachment member <NUM> and bringing the tapered portion 16i into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the nozzle portion 7b. Thereby, even if the size of the incisional wound formed on the eyeball is reduced, the tip part of the nozzle portion 7b can be easily inserted into the incisional wound. Further, when the intraocular lens <NUM> is passed through the nozzle portion 7b in a folded state in a predetermined shape, the nozzle portion 7b is pressed by the intraocular lens <NUM> from the inside and is deformed. At this time, if the cutout portion <NUM> is formed in the nozzle portion 7b, even if the nozzle portion 7b is pressed by the intraocular lens <NUM> and is deformed, damage such as cracks and the like are less likely to occur in the nozzle portion 7b. Further, an amount of deformation of the nozzle portion 7b is suppressed to minimum necessary for releasing the intraocular lens <NUM>. Therefore, the intraocular lens <NUM> can be injected from a smaller incisional wound.

Further, this arrangement employs a configuration in which a viewing window <NUM> is formed on the attachment member <NUM>. Therefore, even when the intraocular lens injector <NUM> is used with the attached member <NUM> attached to the injection tube <NUM>, the state of the intraocular lens <NUM> moving inside of the insertion tube <NUM> can be visually recognized from the outside through the viewing window <NUM>. Accordingly, the user of the intraocular lens injector <NUM> can operate the intraocular lens injector <NUM> while visually checking the state of the intraocular lens <NUM> pushed out by the rod <NUM>, even when the attachment member <NUM> is attached.

Next, a second arrangement will be described.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing a state in which the attachment member is attached to the injection tube in the intraocular lens injector according to a second arrangement. Hereinafter, the configuration of the injection tube and the attachment member according to the second arrangement will be described in detail.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing the configuration of the injector tube according to the second arrangement.

The injection tube <NUM> differs from that of the first arrangement only in the configuration of the engaged portion. Namely, the first arrangement employs a configuration in which the engaged portion is configured by three protrusions <NUM>, 7i, 7j, but the second arrangement employs a configuration in which the engaged portion is configured by one locking claw <NUM>. The locking claw <NUM> is formed in a substantially U-shape from both side surfaces to the lower surface of the second portion <NUM> of the injection tube main body 7a, when viewed from the front. Further, the locking claw <NUM> is formed to protrude downward from the lower surface of the second portion <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing the configuration of the attachment member according to the second arrangement. Further, <FIG> shows the configuration of the attachment member according to the second arrangement, wherein <FIG> is a plan view, <FIG> is a side view, <FIG> is a bottom view, and <FIG> is a rear view.

The attachment member <NUM> includes a sleeve portion 16a and an engaging portion 16b similarly to the first arrangement, but the configuration of the engaging portion 16b is different. Namely, in the engaging portion 16b, a tongue piece 16j is integrally formed in addition to the viewing window <NUM>, but the hook portion 16e and the stopper portion 16f are not formed. The tongue piece 16j is formed so as to extend from the lower portion of the engaging portion 16b in the axial direction of the attachment member <NUM>. The tongue piece 16j is formed in a ladder shape having three engagement holes <NUM>. In the following description, the three engagement holes <NUM> are distinguished by identification codes such as <NUM> - <NUM>, <NUM> - <NUM>, and <NUM> - <NUM>. The three engagement holes <NUM> - <NUM>, <NUM> - <NUM>, and <NUM> - <NUM> are formed side by side so as to be adjacent to each other with a predetermined interval in the axial direction of the attachment member <NUM>. Further, the three engagement holes <NUM> - <NUM>, <NUM> - <NUM>, and <NUM> - <NUM> are sequentially disposed from the front toward the rear in the axial direction of the attachment member <NUM>. The attachment member <NUM> has a configuration in which the locking claw <NUM> of the injection tube <NUM> is engaged with any one of the three engagement holes <NUM> - <NUM>, <NUM> - <NUM>, and <NUM> - <NUM>, thereby being engaged with the injection tube <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a state in which the attachment member is attached to the injection tube, wherein <FIG> is a plan view, <FIG> is a side view, and <FIG> is a bottom view. Further, <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along the line J2 - J2 in <FIG>, <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along the line J1 - J1 in <FIG>, and <FIG> is an enlarged view of portion K in <FIG>.

In the state in which the attachment member <NUM> is attached to the injection tube <NUM> as shown in the figure, the nozzle portion 7b is fitted into the through hole 16c of the sleeve portion 16a. Further, the locking claw <NUM> formed on the injection tube <NUM> is engaged with the central engaging hole <NUM> - <NUM> among the three engagement holes <NUM> - <NUM>, <NUM> - <NUM>, and <NUM> - <NUM> formed on the tongue piece 16j of the attachment member <NUM>. At this time, the tip surface 16d of the sleeve portion 16a is disposed to protrude outward from the outer circumferential surface of the nozzle portion 7b, and is disposed in a state inclined in the same direction as the cutout of the nozzle portion 7b with respect to the axial direction of the injection tube <NUM>.

When using the nozzle insertion amount limiting function, the locking claw <NUM> is engaged with any one of the three engagement holes <NUM> - <NUM>, <NUM> - <NUM>, and <NUM> - <NUM>. In this case, the protrusion amount of the nozzle portion 7b with respect to the tip surface 16d of the sleeve portion 16a is changed depending on which engagement holes <NUM> is used for engagement with the locking claw <NUM>. <FIG> is a side view showing a state in which the locking claw <NUM> is engaged with the rear engagement hole <NUM> - <NUM>. In this state, the attachment member <NUM> is disposed relatively closer to the front in the axial direction of the injection tube <NUM>. Therefore, the protrusion amount of the nozzle portion 7b becomes relatively small. In contrast, <FIG> is a side view showing a state in which the locking claw <NUM> is engaged with the central engagement hole <NUM> - <NUM>. In this state, the protrusion amount of the nozzle portion 7b becomes larger in the state of <FIG> is a side view showing a state in which the locking claw <NUM> is engaged with the front engaging hole <NUM> - <NUM>. In this state, the attachment member <NUM> is disposed relatively closer to the rear side in the axial direction of the injection tube <NUM>. Therefore, the protrusion amount of the nozzle portion 7b becomes larger in the state of <FIG>.

As described above, in the second arrangement, the protrusion amount of the nozzle portion 7b can be changed (adjusted) to three levels of large, medium, and small, by appropriately moving the attachment member <NUM> in the axial direction of the injection tube <NUM> so that the locking claw <NUM> is engaged with one of the engagement holes <NUM> of the tongue piece 16j. Further, if more engagement holes <NUM> are formed on the tongue piece 16j of the attachment member <NUM>, the protrusion amount of the nozzle portion 7b can be changed in more stages. Further, if the attachment member <NUM> is pressed in the axial direction of the injection tube <NUM> in a state in which the locking claw <NUM> of the injection tube <NUM> is engaged with the central engagement hole <NUM> - <NUM>, the tongue piece 16j of the attachment member <NUM> is elastically deformed (bending deformation) upon receiving a pressing force, and as a result, the locking claw <NUM> is engaged with the adjacent engagement hole <NUM> - <NUM> or <NUM> - <NUM>. Therefore, the protrusion amount of the nozzle portion 7b can be changed while the attachment member <NUM> is attached to the injection tube <NUM>. Thereby, the protrusion amount of the nozzle portion 7b can be changed without attaching or detaching the attachment member <NUM> to or from the injection tube <NUM>. Therefore, it is possible to save labor for detaching the attachment member <NUM> from the injection tube <NUM> and labor for placing the attachment member <NUM> on a tray or the like. Further, there is no risk of the user inadvertently dropping or losing the attachment member <NUM> detached from the injection tube <NUM>.

Further, when the nozzle insertion amount limiting function is not used, for example, the entire body of the nozzle portion 7b can be exposed by releasing the engagement state between the locking claw <NUM> and the tongue piece 16j and pulling out the attachment member <NUM> from the injection tube <NUM>. Alternatively, it is also acceptable that the entire body of the nozzle portion 7b is exposed when the attachment member <NUM> is moved backward by a predetermined amount while the attachment member <NUM> is attached to the injection tube <NUM>, and in this state, the attachment member <NUM> is engaged with the injection tube <NUM> by the engagement between the locking claw <NUM> and the engagement hole <NUM>. When this configuration is employed, it is possible to switch whether or not to use the nozzle insertion amount limiting function without detaching the attachment member <NUM> from the injection tube <NUM>. Therefore, the attachment member <NUM> is not required to be detachable from the injection tube <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing a configuration of the intraocular lens injector according to a third arrangement. Further, <FIG> is a plan view showing the configuration of the intraocular lens injector according to the third arrangement, wherein <FIG> is a side view, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along the line M - M in (A).

In the intraocular lens injector <NUM> according to the third arrangement, a position and a configuration of the rotation restricting portion <NUM>, a configuration of part of the plunger <NUM>, a configuration of the injection tube <NUM>, and a configuration of the attachment member <NUM> are different.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing a configuration of the injector main body according to the third arrangement, <FIG> shows a state in which the rotation restricting portion provided in the injector main body is opened, and <FIG> shows a state in which the rotation restricting portion is closed.

The rotation restricting portion <NUM> is formed at the rear end portion of the injector main body <NUM> located slightly rearward of the flange portion <NUM> in the axial direction of the injector main body <NUM>. When the rotary member <NUM> is attached to the rear end portion of the injector main body <NUM>, the rotation restricting portion <NUM> is disposed inside of the rotary member <NUM> (see <FIG>). Therefore, the entire body of the rotation restricting portion <NUM> is shielded by the rotary member <NUM>. The function, the configuration, and the like of the rotation restricting portion <NUM> are basically the same as those of the first arrangement.

As described above, by employing a configuration in which the rotation restricting portion <NUM> is formed at the rear end portion of the injector main body <NUM> and the rotation restricting portion <NUM> is shielded by the rotary member <NUM> attached thereto, it is possible to shorten a length of the injector main body <NUM> and reduce a size of the intraocular lens injector <NUM>, compared to the first arrangement. Further, after assembling the intraocular lens injector <NUM>, the rotation restricting portion <NUM> is hidden inside of the rotary member <NUM>, and therefore the rotation restricting portion <NUM> cannot be opened. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the risk of decomposing the intraocular lens injector <NUM> by a surgeon or the like. Further, it is not necessary to form the rotation restricting portion <NUM> in front of the flange portion <NUM>, and therefore it is possible to reinforce the flange portion <NUM> by forming reinforcing ribs <NUM> on the outer circumferential surface of the injector main body <NUM>. Thereby, even when a strong force is applied to the flange portion <NUM> by the operation by the push system, deformation of the flange portion <NUM> can be suppressed.

Note that the third arrangement employs a configuration in which the entire body of the rotation restricting portion <NUM> is shielded by the rotary member <NUM>. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and it is possible to reduce the risk of decomposing the intraocular lens injector <NUM> by a surgeon or the like, as long as at least a part of the rotation restricting portion <NUM> is shielded by the rotary member <NUM>. Further, the position of the rotation restricting portion <NUM> employed in the third arrangement can also be employed in the first arrangement and the second arrangement.

Further, the third arrangement employs a hook mechanism, in order to hold the rotation restricting portion <NUM> in a closed state. For example as shown in <FIG>, the hook mechanism includes a first hook claw 13e formed in the rotation restricting portion <NUM> and a second hook claw <NUM> formed on the outer circumferential surface of the injector main body <NUM>. <FIG> each shows a case in which the rotation restricting portion <NUM> is viewed from behind the injector main body <NUM>.

The first hook claw 13e is formed on the opposite side of the pivotally supporting portion 13a in the rotation restricting portion <NUM>. The pivotally supporting portion 13a connects the rotation restricting portion <NUM> and the injector main body <NUM> and supports the rotation restricting portion <NUM> so as to be rotatable (openable and closable). The second hook claw <NUM> is formed on the opposite side of the pivotally supporting portion 13a in the left-right direction.

In the hook mechanism having the above configuration, when the rotation restricting portion <NUM> is closed from the opened state, the first hook claw 13e of the rotation restricting portion <NUM> is caught by the second hook claw <NUM> of the injector main body <NUM> and locked. At this time, in a radial direction of the injector main body <NUM>, the first hook claw 13e is disposed relatively outside, and the second hook claw <NUM> is disposed relatively inside. Further, the plunger <NUM> is fitted into a guide groove 13c formed between the pair of sliding guides 13b of the rotation restricting portion <NUM>. Therefore, when the rotary member <NUM> is rotated so as to use the intraocular lens injector <NUM> by the screw system, the rotation of the plunger <NUM> in the direction around the axis of the injector main body <NUM> is restricted by the rotation restricting portion <NUM>.

Further, since the first threaded portions 8b of the rotary member <NUM> and the second threaded portions 9c of the plunger <NUM> are meshed with each other. Therefore, when the rotary member <NUM> is rotated so as to move the plunger <NUM> forward, a rotational force Fr is applied to the plunger <NUM> by the rotation of the rotary member <NUM>. When the rotational force Fr is applied to the plunger <NUM>, the rotation restricting portion <NUM> is pushed by the plunger <NUM>. As a result, the first hook claw 13e of the rotation restricting portion <NUM> is pressed against the second hook claw <NUM>. Therefore, it is possible to hold the first hook claw 13e and the second hook claw <NUM> in a locked state. Accordingly, there is no possibility that the first hook claw 13e and the second hook claw <NUM> are disengaged during the rotational operation of the rotary member <NUM>.

In contrast, for example as shown in <FIG>, when a positional relationship between the pivotally supporting portion 13a of the rotation restricting portion <NUM> and the first hook claw 13e is right/left reversed, and when the second hook claw <NUM> is formed on the injector main body <NUM> in accordance with the reversed positional relationship, there is a possibility that the first hook claw 13e and the second hook claw <NUM> are disengaged during the rotational operation of the rotary member <NUM>. Specifically, when the rotational force Fr is applied to the plunger <NUM> by the rotational operation of the rotary member <NUM>, there is a case that the rotation restricting portion <NUM> is deformed or displaced by being pushed by the rotational force Fr, depending on the characteristics of a material constituting the injector main body <NUM> (including the rotation restricting portion <NUM>). As a result, there is a possibility that the first hook claw 13e is displaced outwardly and disengaged from the second hook claw <NUM>. Therefore, as shown in <FIG>, it is preferable that the rotational force Fr applied to the plunger <NUM> by the rotational operation of the rotary member <NUM> is applied in a direction to press the first hook claw 13e against the second hook claw <NUM>.

Further, as shown in <FIG>, it is also possible to employ a configuration in which the first hook claw 13e of the rotation restricting portion <NUM> is disposed relatively inside and the second hook claw <NUM> of the injector main body <NUM> is disposed relatively outside. In this configuration as well, the rotational force Fr applied to the plunger <NUM> by the rotational operation of the rotary member <NUM> is applied in a direction to press the first hook claw 13e against the second hook claw <NUM>. Therefore, there is no possibility that the first hook claw 13e and the second hook claw <NUM> are disengaged during the rotational operation of the rotary member <NUM>. Incidentally, as shown in <FIG>, when the positional relationship between the pivotally supporting portion 13a of the rotation restricting portion <NUM> and the first hook claw 13e is right/left reversed, and when the second hook claw <NUM> is formed on the injector main body <NUM> in accordance with the reversed positional relationship, there is a case that the rotation restricting portion <NUM> is deformed or displaced by being pushed by the rotational force Fr applied to the plunger <NUM>. As a result, there is a possibility that the first hook claw 13e is pushed outwardly and disengaged from the second hook claw <NUM>. Therefore, it is preferable to employ the configuration shown in <FIG>.

Note that the hook mechanism shown in <FIG> can be applied to the first arrangement and the second arrangement described above, and in this case as well, it is preferable to employ the configuration shown in <FIG>.

A pressing plate portion 9d is formed at the rear end portion of the plunger <NUM>. The pressing plate portion 9d is a portion for pressing a thumb of a surgeon in a case of the operation by the push system, and is formed so as to protrude radially more than the plunger shaft 9a. In the pressing plate portion 9d, unevenness may be provided on the surface against which the surgeon's thumb is pressed, for anti-falloff purpose.

When the pressing plate portion 9d is provided at the rear end portion of the plunger <NUM> as described above, the operation by the push system becomes easy. Further, the rear end portion of the plunger <NUM> comes into contact with the thumb on a wider surface compared with the first arrangement. Therefore the load applied to the thumb at the time of pushing the plunger <NUM> is dispersed. Therefore, a burden on the thumb can be reduced.

The configuration in which the pressing plate portion 9d is provided at the rear end portion of the plunger <NUM>, can be employed in the first arrangement and the second arrangement described above.

<FIG> shows a configuration of the injection tube according to the third arrangement, wherein <FIG> is a plan view, <FIG> is a side view, and <FIG> is a bottom view. Further, <FIG> is a perspective view of the injection tube according to the third arrangement as seen obliquely from above, and <FIG> is a perspective view as seen diagonally from below.

The injection tube <NUM> has a hollow injection tube main body 7a and a narrow tubular nozzle portion 7b, and an injection hole 7c is formed on the upper surface of the injection tube main body 7a. The injection tube main body 7a is divided into a first portion 7f and a second portion <NUM>. Further, the rear end portion of the injection tube main body 7a is opened, and a hook portion 7d and a wedge portion 7e are formed around the opening portion. A cutout portion <NUM> is formed in the nozzle portion 7b. The above points are similar to those of the first arrangement.

An engaged portion <NUM> is formed on a lower surface side of the first portion 7f of the injection tube main body 7a. Two small protrusions 71a, 71b and a recessed groove 71c are formed in the engaged portion <NUM>. The small protrusion 71b is disposed between the small protrusion 71a and the recessed groove 71c in the axial direction of the injection tube <NUM>. The small protrusion 71a has a slope 71d. The slope 71d has an inclination such that the protrusion amount of the small protrusion 71a is gradually increased toward the tip side of the injection tube <NUM>.

A pair of right and left guide ribs <NUM> is formed, on both sides of the second portion <NUM> of the injection tube main body 7a. The pair of guide ribs <NUM> performs a guide function for relatively positioning the injection tube <NUM> and the attachment member <NUM> in the direction around the axis of the injection tube <NUM> when the attachment member <NUM> is attached to the injection tube <NUM>. The pair of guide ribs <NUM> is formed so as to protrude like wings from both sides of the injection tube main body 7a (the second portion <NUM>).

<FIG> is a perspective view of the attachment member according to a third arrangement as seen obliquely from above, <FIG> shows the attachment member before being attached to the injection tube, and <FIG> shows the attachment member after being attached to the injection tube. Further, <FIG> shows a configuration of the attachment member according to the third arrangement, wherein <FIG> is a plan view, <FIG> is a side view, and <FIG> is a bottom view. Further, <FIG> is a view as seen from arrow N in <FIG>. Note that <FIG> shows the attachment member before being attached to the injection tube.

As in the first arrangement, the attachment member <NUM> is a member that provides the nozzle insertion amount limiting function. The material of the attachment member <NUM> is preferably a resin, more preferably a transparent or translucent resin. The attachment member <NUM> is desirably made of an integrally molded product of resin. The attachment member <NUM> is a member separate from the injection tube <NUM>, and is configured to be movable with respect to the injection tube <NUM>. A movable direction of the attachment member <NUM> with respect to the injection tube <NUM> is an axial direction of the injection tube <NUM>. Further, the third arrangement is configured as follows: although the attachment member <NUM> cannot be detached from the insertion tube <NUM> after the attachment member <NUM> is attached to the injection tube <NUM>, the attachment member <NUM> can move in the axial direction of the injection tube <NUM> while the attachment member <NUM> is attached to the injection tube <NUM> (details will be described later).

A tip surface <NUM> as a protruding surface is formed at the tip part of the attachment member <NUM>. The protruding surface of the attachment member <NUM> is a portion that directly comes into contact with a cornea when the intraocular lens is injected into the eye. Therefore, in order not to damage the cornea as much as possible, a body portion (excluding the portion of the protruding surface) of the attachment member <NUM> may be formed of hard resin, and the portion of the protruding surface may be formed of a soft resin such as silicone or urethane. The tip surface <NUM> as the protruding surface is formed in a shape (C shape) in which the upper part of an annular ring is cut out.

A viewing window <NUM> is formed in the upper part of the attachment member <NUM>. A punched hole <NUM> is formed on the bottom of the attachment member <NUM>. The viewing window <NUM> is formed to allow the state of the intraocular lens <NUM> moving inside of the injection tube <NUM> to be visually recognized from the outside, even when the attachment member <NUM> is attached to the injection tube <NUM>. A width of the viewing window <NUM> is gradually narrowed from the rear end side toward the tip side of the attachment member <NUM> in accordance with a change in the width of the injection tube <NUM>. The tip side of the viewing window <NUM> is opened without being closed and communicates with a cutout portion of the tip surface <NUM>. Therefore, even when the attachment member <NUM> is attached to the injection tube <NUM>, the whole part from the injection tube main body 7a of the injection tube <NUM> to the nozzle portion 7b can be viewed from the outside through the viewing window <NUM>. Accordingly, when the intraocular lens <NUM> is pushed out through the nozzle portion 7b of the injection tube <NUM>, it is possible to visually recognize the state of the intraocular lens <NUM> moving inside of the injection tube <NUM> without being disturbed by the attachment member <NUM>.

A pair of left and right side plate portions <NUM> are provided on both sides of the attachment member <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, a slit groove 164a is formed on the inner surface of each side plate portion <NUM>. The slit groove 164a is formed corresponding to the guide rib <NUM> of the injection tube <NUM>. Note that <FIG> is a longitudinal sectional view of the attachment member according to a third arrangement, showing a state in which the engaging portion <NUM> is closed. Grip portions <NUM> are formed on the outer surface of each side plate portion <NUM>. The grip portions <NUM> are provided on the left and right sides of the attachment member <NUM> in order to be able to grip the attachment member <NUM> with an index finger and a thumb when the surgeon or the like handles the attachment member <NUM>. Each grip portion <NUM> has a concavo-convex structure so that a surgeon or the like can grip the attached member <NUM> easily.

A bridge portion <NUM> and an engaging portion <NUM> are provided at the rear portion of the attachment member <NUM>. The bridge portion <NUM> is formed at an upper portion of the attachment member <NUM> so as to bridge between the pair of side plate portions <NUM>. A part of the bridge portion <NUM> is formed by being bent into a waveform so as not to block the injection hole 7c when the attachment member <NUM> is attached to the injection tube <NUM>. The bridge portion <NUM> is connected to the engaging portion <NUM> by a connecting portion <NUM>. The connecting portion <NUM> is provided in one of the left and right directions. The connecting portion <NUM> is formed thin so as to have moderate flexibility. The engaging portion <NUM> is rotatably supported around the connecting portion <NUM> at the center (fulcrum) by utilizing the flexibility of the connecting portion <NUM>. <FIG> shows a state in which the engaging portion <NUM> is opened, and from this state, by rotating the engaging portion <NUM> in a direction indicated by the two-dot chain line arrow in the figure, the engaging portion <NUM> can be closed. When the attachment member <NUM> is attached to the injection tube <NUM>, by rotating the engaging portion <NUM> so as to close it, the engaging portion <NUM> can be engaged with the engaged portion <NUM>.

A coupling claw <NUM> is formed in the bridge portion <NUM>. The coupling claw <NUM> is formed to protrude on the side opposite to the connecting portion <NUM> in the left-right direction. Meanwhile, a coupling hole <NUM> corresponding to the coupling claw <NUM> is formed in the engaging portion <NUM>. The coupling claw <NUM> and the coupling hole <NUM> serve as annularly coupling the bridge portion <NUM> and the engaging portion <NUM>, by connecting the bridge portion <NUM> and the engaging portion <NUM> on the side opposite to the connecting portion <NUM>. Specifically, the coupling claw <NUM> and the coupling hole <NUM> are engaged with each other and connected by rotating the engaging portion <NUM> so as to be closed, with the connecting portion <NUM> as a center. Thereby, the bridge portion <NUM> and the engaging portion <NUM> can be annularly coupled. When the attachment member <NUM> is attached to the injection tube <NUM>, the bridge portion <NUM> is disposed on the upper side of the injection tube main body 7a (the first portion 7f), and the engaging portion <NUM> is disposed on the lower side of the injection tube main body 7a. Therefore, the injection tube main body 7a is surrounded by the bridge portion <NUM> and the engaging portion <NUM>. Further, in a state in which the bridge portion <NUM> and the engaging portion <NUM> are coupled, their inner circumferential surfaces have a shape corresponding to the outer circumferential surface of the injection tube main body 7a.

The engaging portion <NUM> has a fixing piece <NUM> and a movable piece <NUM> extending forward from the fixing piece <NUM>. A hole <NUM> is formed between the movable piece <NUM> and the fixing piece <NUM>. The movable piece <NUM> has a bending property, with the connecting portion between the fixed piece <NUM> and the movable piece <NUM> as a fixed end and the tip part 172a of the movable piece <NUM> as a free end (referred to as "leaf spring property" hereafter). The fixing piece <NUM> and the movable piece <NUM> are formed corresponding to the small protrusions 71a and 71b and the recessed groove 71c constituting the engaged portion <NUM> of the injection tube <NUM>. The tip part 172a of the movable piece <NUM> is configured to be able to get over the small protrusion 71a by moving along the slope 71d of the small protrusion 71a. Then, the tip part 172a of the movable piece <NUM> gets over the small protrusion 71a along the slope 71d, whereby the attachment member <NUM> moves forward, and the protrusion amount of the nozzle portion 7b is changed.

A coupling bar <NUM> is formed at a lower portion of the attachment member <NUM> so as to bridge between the pair of side plate portions <NUM>. The coupling bar <NUM> is disposed so as to be opposed to the tip part 172a of the movable piece <NUM> when the engaging portion <NUM> is closed. In the axial direction of the attachment member <NUM>, a punched hole <NUM> is formed in front of the coupling bar <NUM>.

Next, a procedure for attaching the attachment member <NUM> to the injection tube <NUM> will be described. Note that attachment of the attachment member <NUM> is performed in a manufacturing process (assembly process) of the intraocular lens injector <NUM>.

First, as shown in <FIG>, the attachment member <NUM> with the engaging portion <NUM> opened, is disposed in front of the nozzle portion 7b of the injection tube <NUM>.

Next, as shown in <FIG>, by bringing the attachment member <NUM> and the injection tube <NUM> relatively closer to each other, the attachment member <NUM> is put on the outside of the injection tube <NUM>. At this time, the attachment member <NUM> is inserted to the rear end portion of the injection tube <NUM>. Then, the nozzle portion 7b protrudes from the tip surface <NUM> of the attachment member <NUM> by a predetermined amount. Further, when the attachment member <NUM> is inserted into the injection tube <NUM>, a pair of guide ribs <NUM> formed on the injection tube <NUM> is engaged with a pair of slit grooves 164a formed in the attachment member <NUM> so as to correspond to the pair of guide ribs <NUM>. Thereby, the injection tube <NUM> and the attachment member <NUM> are positioned in the direction around the axis of the injection tube <NUM>.

Next, by rotating the engaging portion <NUM> so as to be closed, with the connecting portion <NUM> of the attached member <NUM> as a center, the coupling hole <NUM> of the engaging portion <NUM> and the coupling claw <NUM> of the bridge portion <NUM> are fitted and connected to each other. Thereby, the bridge portion <NUM> and the engaging portion <NUM> are annularly coupled.

With the above procedure, the attachment member <NUM> can be attached to the injection tube <NUM>. The attachment member <NUM> cannot be detached from the injection tube <NUM> after the attachment member <NUM> is attached to the injection tube <NUM>. Namely, in the third arrangement, the attachment member <NUM> cannot be detached from the injection tube <NUM>. However, the attachment member <NUM> is configured to be movable with respect to the injection tube <NUM>. This point will be described hereafter.

First, as described above, when the attachment member <NUM> is attached to the injection tube <NUM>, the positional relationship between the small protrusion 71a, the small protrusion 71b, the recessed groove 71c of the injection tube <NUM>, and the fixing piece <NUM>, the movable piece <NUM>, the coupling bar <NUM> of the attachment member <NUM>, is as shown in <FIG>. Namely, the small protrusion 71a is disposed between the tip part 172a of the movable piece <NUM> and the coupling bar <NUM>, and the small protrusion 71b is disposed between the tip part 172a of the movable piece <NUM> and the fixing piece <NUM>, in the axial direction of the injection tube <NUM>. Further, the tip part 172a of the movable piece <NUM> is disposed in contact (or close proximity) to a front surface of the small protrusion 71b adjacent to the slope 71d of the small protrusion 71a, and the coupling bar <NUM> is disposed in contact (or close proximity) to an entire surface of the small protrusion 71a.

When the attachment member <NUM> is moved from the above state, first, a surgeon or the like grips a pair of gripping portions <NUM> formed on both sides of the attachment member <NUM> with two fingers (usually an index finger and a thumb). Next, a force in a direction P is applied to the attachment member <NUM> while gripping the pair of gripping portions <NUM> with fingers. Then, the movable piece <NUM> formed at the lower part of the attachment member <NUM>, is deformed due to the leaf spring property of the movable piece <NUM> itself, while contacting the slope 71d of the small protrusion 71a of the injection tube <NUM>. Then, the tip part 172a of the movable piece <NUM> moves along the slope 71d, and the movable piece <NUM> returns to an original shape due to its own leaf spring property when getting over the protruding end portion of the small protrusion 71a.

Thereby, the positional relationship between the small protrusion 71a, the small protrusion 71b, the recessed groove 71c of the injection tube <NUM>, and the fixing piece <NUM>, the movable piece <NUM>, the coupling bar <NUM> of the attachment member <NUM>, is as shown in <FIG>. Namely, the small protrusion 71a is disposed between the tip part 172a of the movable piece <NUM> and the fixing piece <NUM>, and the small protrusion 71b is also disposed between the tip part 172a of the movable piece <NUM> and the fixing piece <NUM> in the axial direction of the injection tube <NUM>. Further, the tip part 172a of the movable piece <NUM> is disposed in contact (or close proximity) to the front surface of the small protrusion 71a, and the fixing piece <NUM> is disposed in contact (or close proximity) to the rear surface of the small protrusion 71b.

As described above, in this arrangement, the attachment member <NUM> can move in the axial direction of the injection tube <NUM>, while the attachment member <NUM> is attached to the injection tube <NUM>. Therefore, the protrusion amount of the nozzle portion 7b can be changed, while the attachment member <NUM> is attached to the injection tube <NUM>. Thereby, the surgeon who prefers the procedure for inserting the nozzle portion 7b deeply into the incisional wound of an eyeball, uses the intraocular lens injector <NUM> in a state shown in <FIG>, and the surgeon who prefers the procedure for shallowly inserting the nozzle portion 7b, can use the intraocular lens injector <NUM> in a state shown in <FIG>. Accordingly, the surgeon performing the cataract surgery can selectively use the intraocular lens injector <NUM> according to the procedure of his/her choice.

Note that the third arrangement employs the configuration in which the protrusion amount of the nozzle portion 7b can be adjusted in two stages by allowing the attachment member <NUM> to move in the axial direction of the injection tube <NUM>. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and it is also acceptable to employ a configuration in which the protrusion amount of the nozzle portion 7b can be adjusted in multiple stages of three or more stages.

Further, the third arrangement employs the configuration in which the attachment member <NUM> cannot be returned to the position (backward) before the movement, due to the contact between the tip part 172a of the movable piece <NUM> and the small protrusion 71a, after the attachment member <NUM> attached to the injection tube <NUM> is moved forward. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and it is also acceptable to employ a configuration in which the attachment member <NUM> can be returned to its original position.

The technical scope of the present invention is limited by the appended claims.

For example, in the above arrangement, the plunger <NUM> and the rod <NUM> are formed as separate members, but they may be formed as an integral structure.

Further, in the above arrangement, the viewing window <NUM> is formed in a state in which a part of the attachment member <NUM> is cut out. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a hole (not shown) having a proper size may be formed in a part of the attachment member <NUM>, and this hole may be used as a viewing window.

Further, in the above arrangement, the injector main body <NUM> and the injection tube <NUM> are mutually assembled to form a hollow body. However, the hollow body may have an integral structure (such as an integrally molded product of resin).

Claim 1:
An intraocular lens injector for injecting an intraocular lens into an eye, comprising:
a hollow body (<NUM>, <NUM>) having a nozzle portion (7b) configured to be inserted into an incisional wound in the eye; and
an attachment member (<NUM>) having a protruding surface (16d) that protrudes outwardly from an outer circumferential surface of the nozzle portion (7b) and is configured to restrict an injection amount when the nozzle portion (7b) is inserted into the incisional wound of an eyeball,
characterized by
the attachment member (<NUM>) and the hollow body (<NUM>, <NUM>) are respectively configured such that the attachment member (<NUM>) has an engaged state where the attachment member (<NUM>) is fixed to the hollow body (<NUM>, <NUM>) and a disengaged state where the attachment member (<NUM>) is movable with respect to the hollow body (<NUM>, <NUM>) in an axial direction of the hollow body (<NUM>,<NUM>).