Intraocular lens implant having accommodative capabilities

Abstract

An intraocular implant including a lens and a shell component. The shell component includes a shell peripheral wall encompassing a shell inner volume for protectively enclosing the lens and allowing the latter to move therein between lens accommodating positions. The lens is pivotable within the shell inner volume between a lens first position wherein the lens is in a substantially proximal relationship relative to a shell wall first segment and a lens second position wherein the lens is in a substantially proximal relationship relative to a shell wall second segment. In one embodiment of the invention, the lens peripheral edge defines a lens edge pivot portion and the shell segment joining edge defines a corresponding shell edge pivot portion, the lens and shell edge pivot portion being complementarily configured and sized so that when the lens abuttingly rests against the peripheral wall inner surface, the lens and shell edge pivot portions interact with each other for allowing the lens to pivot between the lens first and second positions. In another embodiment of the invention, the lens is pivotally suspended within the shell component for pivotal movement between the lens first and second position. In both embodiments, the lens may also pivot to a lens intermediate position in a spaced relationship relative to both the shell wall first and second segments.

1 . An intraocular implant comprising: 
 a lens, said lens including a lens body defining a lens first surface and a generally opposed lens second surface, said lens defining a lens geometrical plane intercepting the latter between said lens first and second surfaces;    a shell, said shell including a shell peripheral wall defining a peripheral wall inner surface, said shell peripheral wall also defining a shell wall first segment and an opposed shell wall second segment, said shell wall first and second segments being joined together about a peripheral shell segment joining edge, said shell segment joining edge defining an intercepting geometrical plane intercepting the latter; said shell peripheral wall encompassing a shell inner volume for protectively enclosing said lens;    said lens being mounted within said shell such that upon said intercepting geometrical plane being tilted, said lens geometrical plane is allowed to tilt relative to said intercepting geometrical plane for varying the spacing between said lens first and second surfaces and said peripheral wall inner surface.    
     
     
         2 . An intraocular implant as recited in  claim 1  wherein said lens is mounted within said shell so as to allow said lens geometrical plane to be tilted relative to said intercepting geometrical plane by an angle having a value greater then 2 degrees.  
     
     
         3 . An intraocular implant as recited in  claim 2  wherein said lens is mounted within said shell so as to allow said lens geometrical plane to be tilted relative to said intercepting geometrical plane by an angle having a value of between 2 degrees and 40 degrees.  
     
     
         4 . An intraocular implant as recited in  claim 3  wherein said lens is mounted within said shell so as to allow said lens geometrical plane to be tilted relative to said intercepting geometrical plane by an angle having a value of approximately 20 degrees.  
     
     
         5 . An intraocular implant as recited in  claim 1  wherein said lens is pivotally coupled to said shell about a lens coupling region, said lens defining a free distal segment located substantially opposed said lens coupling region, said free distal segment being unattached to said shell.  
     
     
         6 . An intraocular implant as recited in  claim 5  wherein said lens is pivotable about said lens coupling region between a lens first position wherein said lens first surface is in a substantially proximal relationship relative to said shell wall first segment and a lens second position wherein said lens second surface is in a substantially proximal relationship relative to said shell wall second segment.  
     
     
         7 . An intraocular implant as recited in  claim 6  wherein said lens includes a lens peripheral edge, said coupling region including a lens edge pivot portion located about said lens peripheral edge; said shell segment joining edge defining a corresponding shell edge pivot portion, said lens and shell edge pivot portion being complementarily configured and sized so that when said lens abuttingly rests against said peripheral wall inner surface, said lens and shell edge pivot portions interact with each other for allowing said lens to pivot between said lens first and second positions.  
     
     
         8 . An intraocular implant as recited in  claim 7  further comprising a lens stabilizing means for at least partially stabilizing said lens in a lens intermediate position between said lens first and second positions wherein said lens first and second surfaces are both in a spaced relationship respectively relative to said shell wall first and second wall segments.  
     
     
         9 . An intraocular implant as recited in  claim 8  wherein said lens stabilizing means includes a stabilizing protrusion extending from said shell edge pivot portion.  
     
     
         10 . An intraocular implant as recited in  claim 5  wherein said lens hangs freely from a coupling arm.  
     
     
         11 . An intraocular implant as recited in  claim 10  wherein said coupling arm is pivotally attached to said lens about said lens coupling region.  
     
     
         12 . An intraocular implant as recited in  claim 11  wherein said coupling arm is pivotally attached to said lens by a first arm pivotal link and said coupling arm is pivotally attached to said shell wall inner surface by a second arm pivotal link.  
     
     
         13 . An intraocular implant as recited in  claim 11  wherein said lens said lens is pivotable about said lens coupling region between a lens first position wherein said lens first surface is in a substantially proximal relationship relative to said shell wall first segment and a lens second position wherein said lens second surface is in a substantially proximal relationship relative to said shell wall second segment, said lens being pivotally attached to said shell so as to be substantially stabilized when said lens is in a lens intermediate position between said lens first and second positions wherein said free distal segment abuttingly contacts said shell wall first segment.  
     
     
         14 . An intraocular implant as recited in  claim 13  wherein when said free distal segment abuttingly contacts said shell wall first segment, said free distal segment acts as a pivot for allowing said lens pivot region to pivot relative to said shell.