Patent ID: 8435289

Claim:
A system for delivering an intraocular lens (IOL) into the eye of a subject, comprising: an IOL inserter having a handpiece and a nosepiece, the nosepiece having a transfer interface for receiving an IOL, a load chamber open to the transfer interface, and an insertion tube open to the load chamber, the inserter further including a pushrod movable through the nosepiece for urging the IOL from the load chamber and through the insertion tube in a delivery procedure; and a lens case for storing the IOL prior to usage, the lens case comprised of a main body having an open end, a cap that mates over the open end, a transfer port that engages the transfer interface of the nosepiece, and a transfer mechanism coupled to the main body, wherein the transfer mechanism is comprised of a jaw assembly configured to hold the IOL in a fixed location when in a closed configuration and release the IOL when in an open configuration, a haptic folder or shuttle comprised of a leading end configured to engage a haptic and fold it over an optic, and a puller comprised of arms; wherein the cap is comprised of elongated fingers configured to engage the arms of the puller and displace the haptic folder or shuttle upon removal of the cap from the lens case such that the haptic folder or shuttle moves the haptic to its predetermined position relative to the optic; and wherein the transfer interface transfers the IOL from the lens case, through the transfer port, and into the load chamber upon engagement between the lens case and nosepiece, the transfer mechanism further permitting disengagement of the lens case and transfer mechanism from the nosepiece upon IOL transfer therebetween.