Compressed haptics

Abstract

An injectable intraocular implant including an optics portion and a resilient, flexible haptics portion mounted coaxially with the optics portion and a method for inserting the implant into the eye.

1 . An injectable intraocular implant comprising:
 an optics portion; and   a resilient, flexible haptics portion mounted coaxially with said optics portion, said haptics portion comprising a hollow, generally cylindrical structure defining a generally circular inward facing wall portion and a generally circular outward facing wall portion.   
     
     
         2 . An injectable intraocular implant according to  claim 1  and wherein said optics portion and said haptics portion are arranged for mutual snap fit engagement. 
     
     
         3 . An injectable intraocular implant according to  claim 1  and wherein said optics portion comprises a telescope. 
     
     
         4 . An injectable intraocular implant according to  claim 1  and wherein said haptics portion is formed of biocompatible plastic. 
     
     
         5 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . An injectable intraocular implant according to  claim 1  and wherein said inward facing wall portion defines a generally circular optics engagement aperture therein. 
     
     
         10 . An injectable intraocular implant according to  claim 1  and wherein said inward facing wall portion and said outward facing wall portion each define a generally circular optics engagement aperture therein. 
     
     
         11 . A method for inserting an intraocular implant into an eye comprising:
 providing an injectable intraocular implant including:
 an optics portion; and 
 a resilient, flexible haptics portion mounted coaxially with said optics portion, said haptics portion comprising a hollow, generally cylindrical structure defining a generally circular inward facing wall portion and a generally circular outward facing wall portion; 
   locating said injectable intraocular implant in a delivery tube of a syringe;   inserting said delivery tube into a lens capsule of an eye; and   injecting said injectable intraocular implant into said lens capsule.   
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11  and wherein said injecting comprises utilizing fluid pressure to force said implant into said lens capsule. 
     
     
         13 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 11  and wherein said locating includes pulling said outward facing wall portion over an outward facing end of said optics portion. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 11  and wherein said locating includes sealing a fluid flow passageway in said syringe. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 20  and wherein said injecting includes unsealing said fluid flow passageway. 
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 11  and wherein said locating includes drawing said haptics portion into a delivery syringe. 
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 11  and also comprising puncturing said haptics portion. 
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 11  and wherein said providing also comprises filling said haptics portion with a biocompatible fluid. 
     
     
         25 . An injectable intraocular implant according to  claim 1  and wherein said optics portion is generally cylindrical and has a peripheral groove formed thereon. 
     
     
         26 . An injectable intraocular implant according to  claim 25  and wherein at said inward facing wall portion is formed with an inwardly directed peripheral protrusion adapted for snap-fit engagement with said peripheral groove of said optics portion. 
     
     
         27 . An injectable intraocular implant according to  claim 26  and wherein said inwardly directed peripheral protrusion and said peripheral groove are adapted for snap-fit engagement when said haptics portion is in coaxial surrounding relationship with said optics portion. 
     
     
         28 . An injectable intraocular implant according to  claim 1  and wherein at said outward facing wall portion is formed with an inwardly directed peripheral protrusion adapted for engagement of said outward facing wall portion with a delivery syringe. 
     
     
         29 . An injectable intraocular implant according to  claim 1  and wherein said haptics portion includes at least one non-transparent portion adapted to reduce glare. 
     
     
         30 . An injectable intraocular implant according to  claim 1  and wherein said haptics portion is adapted to be shrink-fitted onto said optics portion. 
     
     
         31 . An injectable intraocular implant according to  claim 1  and wherein said haptics portion is filled with a biocompatible fluid.