Apparatus and methods for loading of an IOL injector

Abstract

An IOL injector body including an injector body segment defining a portion of a lumen, and a first loading chamber component coupled to the injector body segments and a second loading chamber component hingedly coupled to the first loading chamber component. The second loading chamber component is capable of rotating about an axis that is parallel to the lumen. An IOL vial including a vial base and an injector guide rotatably mounted in said base, whereby an injector can be inserted along the injector guide and rotated such that a folded IOL can be obtained in the injector. A method of loading an IOL injector with an IOL the method that comprises inserting the IOL injector body into a vial and rotating the IOL injector body relative to the vial to obtain the IOL in the IOL injector body.

1 . An IOL injector body having a lumen with a longitudinal axis, the IOL injector comprising: 
 an injector body segment defining a portion of the lumen;    a first loading chamber component coupled to the injector body segment; and    a second loading chamber component comprising a lens contact surface, the second loading chamber component being hingedly coupled to the first loading chamber component such that the second loading chamber component is capable of rotating about a second axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis.    
     
     
         2 . The injector of  claim 1 , wherein the second loading chamber component is configured and arranged such that, upon rotation of the second loading chamber about the second axis, the first loading chamber component and the second loading chamber component combine to form a second portion of the lumen.  
     
     
         3 . The IOL injector of  claim 2 , the first and second loading chamber components form a rotationally complete portion of the lumen.  
     
     
         4 . The injector of  claim 1 , wherein the second loading component is configured and arranged to fold an IOL using the lens contact surface upon rotation about the second axis.  
     
     
         5 . The injector of  claim 4 , wherein the second loading component is configured and arranged to fold the IOL such that after rotation the lens is ready for delivery.  
     
     
         6 . The injector of  claim 1 , wherein the second axis is aligned with a wall of the injector body.  
     
     
         7 . The injector of  claim 1 , wherein the first loading chamber component is rigidly connected to the injector body.  
     
     
         8 . The injector of  claim 1 , wherein the first loading chamber component is integrally formed with the injector body.  
     
     
         9 . The injector of  claim 1 , wherein the first loading chamber component and the second loading chamber component are configured to maintain the loading chamber in a closed position.  
     
     
         10 . The injector of  claim 9 , wherein the first loading chamber component and the second loading chamber component are configured to snap together.  
     
     
         11 . The injector of  claim 10  in a combination with a vial comprising a vial base, an IOL-holder mount disposed in said base, and an injector guide rotatably mounted in said base.  
     
     
         12 . An IOL vial, comprising: 
 a vial base;    an IOL-holder mount disposed in said base; and    an injector guide rotatably mounted in said base, whereby an injector can be inserted along the injector guide and rotated.    
     
     
         13 . The IOL vial of  claim 12 , wherein the injector guide is disposed on a guide support.  
     
     
         14 . The IOL vial of  claim 13 , wherein the guide support is cylindrical.  
     
     
         15 . The IOL vial of  claim 12 , wherein the IOL-holder mount is comprised of a first prong and a second prong, the first prong and the second prong being separated from one another.  
     
     
         16 . The IOL vial of  claim 15 , further comprising a second IOL-holder mount.  
     
     
         17 . The IOL vial of  claim 15 , wherein the second IOL-holder mount is comprised of a third prong and a fourth prong, the third prong and the fourth prong being separated from one another.  
     
     
         18 . The IOL vial of  claim 17 , in a combination with a lens holder, the lens holder being disposed between the first and second prong, and between the third prong and the fourth prong.  
     
     
         19 . The IOL vial of  claim 18 , wherein the first holder mount and the second holder mount, and the lens holder are configured such that the lens holder is capable of being slidably held by first holder mount and the second holder mount.