Intraocular Lens Cell Migration Inhibition System

Abstract

Generally, an intraocular implant and methods for treating an ocular condition. In particular, an intraocular implant which implanted between an intraocular lens and the surface of the posterior capsule of the eye inhibits migration of residual lens epithelial cells after cataract surgery by providing structural barriers to reduce posterior capsule opacification of the eye.

1 . An intraocular implant, comprising:
 a) an intraocular lens comprising an intraocular lens optic and an intraocular lens haptic; and   b) patterned surface elements coupled to at least a part of said intraocular lens while maintaining a line of sight through said intraocular lens optic, said patterned surface elements having dimensional relations adapted to inhibit migration of cells between said intraocular lens and said surface of said posterior capsule of said eye.   
     
     
         2 . The intraocular implant of  claim 1 , wherein said patterned surface elements are selected from the group consisting of: a plurality of raised elements which project outwardly from said surface of said intraocular lens in spaced apart relation, said plurality of raised elements bounded by a corresponding plurality of channels, and a plurality of recessed elements which project inwardly from said surface of said intraocular lens in spaced apart relation, said plurality of recessed elements bounded by a corresponding plurality of spacer elements. 
     
     
         3 . The intraocular implant of  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of raised surface elements and said plurality of recessed elements coupled to said intraocular lens in spaced apart relation correspondingly dispose said plurality of channel elements or said plurality of spacer elements in a non-linear path inwardly approaching a center of said intraocular lens. 
     
     
         4 . The intraocular implant of  claim 3 , wherein each of said plurality of raised elements and each of said plurality of channel elements or each of said plurality of recessed elements and each of said plurality of spacer elements have dimensions sufficiently less than each one of said cells. 
     
     
         5 . The intraocular implant of  claim 4 , wherein said cells comprise lens epithelial cells. 
     
     
         6 . The intraocular implant of  claim 2 , wherein each of said plurality of channels has a channel width in a range of about 100 nanometers and about 2 micrometers. 
     
     
         7 . The intraocular implant of  claim 2 , wherein each of said plurality of channel elements has a channel width selected from the group consisting of 100 nanometers and about 300 nanometers, about 200 nanometers and about 400 nanometers, about 300 nanometers and about 500 nanometers, about 400 nanometers and about 600 nanometers, about 500 nanometers and about 700 nanometers, about 600 nanometers and about 800 nanometers, about 700 nanometers and about 900 nanometers about 800 nanometers and about 1 micrometer, about 900 nanometers and about 1.1 micrometer, 1 micrometer an about 1.2 micrometer, 1.1 micrometer and about 1.3 micrometer, 1.2 micrometer and about 1.4 micrometer, 1.3 micrometer and about 1.5 micrometers, 1.4 micrometer and about 1.6 micrometer, 1.5 micrometer and about 1.7 micrometer, 1.6 micrometer and about 1.8 micrometer, 1.7 micrometer and about 1.9 micrometer, and about 1.8 micrometer and about 2 micrometer, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The intraocular implant of  claim 2 , wherein each of said plurality of raised elements has a top surface having a lesser dimension in a range of about 500 nanometers and about 4 micrometers. 
     
     
         9 . The intraocular implant of  claim 2 , wherein said lesser dimension is selected from the group consisting of about 400 nanometers and about 1 micrometer, about 500 nanometers and about 1.5 micrometer, 1 micrometer an about 2.0 micrometer, 1.5 micrometer and about 2.5 micrometer, 2.0 micrometer and about 3.0 micrometer, 2.5 micrometer and about 3.5 micrometers, 3.0 micrometer and about 4.0 micrometer, and 3.5 micrometer and about 4.0 micrometer, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The intraocular implant of  claim 2 , wherein each of said plurality of raised elements has a sidewall having a sidewall height in a range of about 400 nanometers and about 2 micrometers. 
     
     
         11 . The intraocular implant of  claim 2 , wherein said sidewall height is selected from the group consisting of: about 400 nanometers and about 600 nanometers, about 500 nanometers and about 700 nanometers, about 600 nanometers and about 800 nanometers, about 700 nanometers and about 900 nanometers about 800 nanometers and about 1 micrometer, about 900 nanometers and about 1.1 micrometer, 1 micrometer an about 1.2 micrometer, 1.1 micrometer and about 1.3 micrometer, 1.2 micrometer and about 1.4 micrometer, 1.3 micrometer and about 1.5 micrometers, 1.4 micrometer and about 1.6 micrometer, 1.5 micrometer and about 1.7 micrometer, 1.6 micrometer and about 1.8 micrometer, 1.7 micrometer and about 1.9 micrometer, and about 1.8 micrometer and about 2 micrometer, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The intraocular implant of  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of raised elements comprise a plurality of raised bars generally disposed in parallel spaced apart relation to provide said plurality of channels, each of said plurality of bars having a bar width in the range of about 1 micrometer and about 2 micrometers and said sidewall height in a range of about 1 micrometer and about 2 micrometers, each of said plurality of channels having a channel width in a range of about 500 nanometers and about 1 micrometer, said plurality of bars having unequal length disposed to form a diamond pattern on said intraocular lens, said diamond pattern having a diamond length in the range of a about 15 micrometers and about 25 micrometers and a diamond width in a range of about 10 micrometers and about 15 micrometers, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The intraocular implant of  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of raised elements comprise a plurality of raised bars generally disposed in parallel spaced apart herringbone relation, each of said plurality of bars having a width in a range of about 1 micrometer and about 3 micrometer, and a length in a range of about 5 micrometer and about 15 micrometer, and a height in a range of about 1 micrometer and about 2 micrometer. 
     
     
         14 . The intraocular implant of  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of raised elements comprise:
 a) a plurality of raised bars generally disposed in parallel spaced apart relation, each of said plurality of raised bars of having substantially equal length disposed between a first end and a second end, said first ends and said second ends substantially aligned; and   b) at least one raised bar disposed in generally parallel perpendicular opposed relation to aligned said first ends or said second ends, each of said bars having a width in a range of about 1 micrometer and about 3 micrometer and a length in a range of about 5 micrometer and about 15 micrometer and a height in a range of about 1 micrometer and about 2 micrometers.   
     
     
         15 . The intraocular implant of  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of raised elements comprise a plurality of hexagonal prisms disposed on said intraocular lens in regular spaced apart tessellation to provide said top surface in the form of a regular hexagon having a width between a pair of sides in a range of about 400 nanometers and about 600 nanometers, and a sidewall height in a range of about 1 micrometer and about 2 micrometers, and a channel width between each pair of sidewalls of about 100 nanometers and about 200 nanometers. 
     
     
         16 . The intraocular implant of  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of raised elements comprise a plurality of cylinders disposed on said back surface of said intraocular implant generally in columns and rows relation to provide said top surface in generally a circular surface having a diameter in a range of about 400 nanometers and about 600 nanometers and a sidewall height in a range of about 1 micrometer and about 2 micrometers, said plurality of cylinders established on centers in a range of about 600 nanometers and about 1 micrometer which establishes said channel width between each pair of sidewalls of about 200 nanometers and about 400 nanometers. 
     
     
         17 . The intraocular implant of  claim 2 , wherein each of said plurality of spacer elements has a spacer width in a range of about 100 nanometers and about 2 micrometers. 
     
     
         18 . The intraocular implant of  claim 17 , wherein each of said plurality of spacer elements has a width selected from the group consisting of: 100 nanometers and about 300 nanometers, about 200 nanometers and about 400 nanometers, about 300 nanometers and about 500 nanometers, about 400 nanometers and about 600 nanometers, about 500 nanometers and about 700 nanometers, about 600 nanometers and about 800 nanometers, about 700 nanometers and about 900 nanometers about 800 nanometers and about 1 micrometer, about 900 nanometers and about 1.1 micrometer, 1 micrometer an about 1.2 micrometer, 1.1 micrometer and about 1.3 micrometer, 1.2 micrometer and about 1.4 micrometer, 1.3 micrometer and about 1.5 micrometers, 1.4 micrometer and about 1.6 micrometer, 1.5 micrometer and about 1.7 micrometer, 1.6 micrometer and about 1.8 micrometer, 1.7 micrometer and about 1.9 micrometer, and about 1.8 micrometer and about 2 micrometer, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The intraocular implant of  claim 17 , wherein each of said plurality of recessed elements has a bottom surface having a lesser dimension in a range of about 500 nanometers and about 4 micrometers. 
     
     
         20 . The intraocular implant of  claim 19 , wherein said lesser dimension is selected from the group consisting of: about 400 nanometers and about 1 micrometer, about 500 nanometers and about 1.5 micrometer, 1 micrometer an about 2.0 micrometer, 1.5 micrometer and about 2.5 micrometer, 2.0 micrometer and about 3.0 micrometer, 2.5 micrometer and about 3.5 micrometers, 3.0 micrometer and about 4.0 micrometer, and 3.5 micrometer and about 4.0 micrometer, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The intraocular implant of  claim 19 , wherein each of said plurality of recessed elements has a sidewall having a sidewall height between said surface of said biocompatible flexible membrane and said bottom surface of each of said plurality of recessed elements in a range of about 400 nanometers and about 2 micrometers. 
     
     
         22 . The intraocular implant of  claim 21 , wherein said sidewall height is selected from the group consisting of about 400 nanometers and about 600 nanometers, about 500 nanometers and about 700 nanometers, about 600 nanometers and about 800 nanometers, about 700 nanometers and about 900 nanometers about 800 nanometers and about 1 micrometer, about 900 nanometers and about 1.1 micrometer, 1 micrometer an about 1.2 micrometer, 1.1 micrometer and about 1.3 micrometer, 1.2 micrometer and about 1.4 micrometer, 1.3 micrometer and about 1.5 micrometers, 1.4 micrometer and about 1.6 micrometer, 1.5 micrometer and about 1.7 micrometer, 1.6 micrometer and about 1.8 micrometer, 1.7 micrometer and about 1.9 micrometer, and about 1.8 micrometer and about 2 micrometer, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The intraocular implant of  claim 21 , wherein said plurality of recessed elements comprise a plurality of recessed bars generally disposed in parallel spaced apart relation to provide said plurality of spacers, each of said plurality of bars having a bar width in the range of about 1 micrometer and about 2 micrometers and said sidewall height in a range of about 1 micrometer and about 2 micrometers, each of said plurality of spacers having a spacer width in a range of about 500 nanometers and about 1 micrometer, said plurality of bars having unequal length disposed to form a diamond pattern on said surface of said biocompatible flexible membrane, said diamond pattern having a diamond length in the range of a about 15 micrometers and about 25 micrometers and a diamond width in a range of about 10 micrometers and about 15 micrometers, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         24 . A method of treating an ocular condition, comprising the steps of intraocularly locating said intraocular implant of  claim 1  in a posterior capsule of an eye. 
     
     
         25 . The method of treating an ocular condition of  claim 24 , further comprising the step of inhibiting migration of cells toward said center by engagement of said patterned surface elements with said posterior capsule. 
     
     
         26 . The method of treating an ocular condition of  claim 25 , wherein said cells comprise residual lens epithelial cells.