Implantable ophthalmic sensor cell

Abstract

An implantable ophthalmic device connectable to an implantable accommodating lens includes a dual-chamber sensor cell having a first and second plate where the second plate is disposed opposite the first plate. A first chamber with a first flexible membrane is disposed on an inner side of the first plate. A second chamber with a second flexible membrane is disposed on an inner side of the second plate. A space resides between the first and second chambers configured to receive a scleral spur of a ciliary muscle of a patient's eye. A connecting element is attached at a first end to the dual-chamber sensor cell. The connecting element includes a first and second channel disposed along a length of the connecting element and in communication with the first and second chamber of the dual-chamber sensor cell, respectively. The second end of the connecting element is connectable to the implantable accommodating lens.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An implantable ophthalmic device, comprising:
 a dual-chamber sensor cell;   a connecting element having a first end connected to the dual-chamber sensor cell; and   an accommodating lens connected to a second end of the connecting element;   wherein the dual-chamber sensor cell comprises:
 a first plate comprising a first hard shell; 
 a second plate comprising a second hard shell, the second plate disposed opposite the first plate; 
 a first chamber disposed on an inner side of the first plate, the first chamber comprising a first flexible membrane; 
 a second chamber disposed on an inner side of the second plate, the second chamber comprising a second flexible membrane; 
 wherein a space resides between the first and second chambers configured to receive a ciliary tendon or muscle fiber of a patient; 
   wherein the connecting element comprises:
 a first channel disposed along a length of the connecting element and in fluidic communication with the first chamber of the dual-chamber sensor cell; 
 a second channel disposed along the length of the connecting element and in fluidic communication with the second chamber of the dual-chamber sensor cell; 
   wherein the accommodating lens comprises:
 a flexible element comprising a continuous surface on a first side and a plurality of diffractive groove forming channels on a second side opposite the first side, the plurality of diffractive groove forming channels configured to change a diffractive groove height of the continuous surface when subjected to a pressure differential between the first side and second side of the flexible element; 
 a first optical fluid adjacent to the continuous surface on the first side of the flexible element comprising a non-matching refractive index in relation to the flexible element; and 
 a second optical fluid adjacent to and within the plurality of diffractive groove forming channels on the second side of the flexible element comprising a matching refractive index in relation to the flexible element; 
   wherein the first channel of the connecting element is in fluidic communication with the first side of the flexible element; and   wherein the second channel of the connecting element is in fluidic communication with the second side of the flexible element.   
     
     
         2 . An implantable ophthalmic device connectable to an implantable accommodating lens, comprising:
 a dual-chamber sensor cell, comprising:
 a first plate comprising a first hard shell; 
 a second plate comprising a second hard shell, the second plate disposed opposite the first plate; 
 a first chamber disposed on an inner side of the first plate, the first chamber comprising a first flexible membrane; 
 a second chamber disposed on an inner side of the second plate, the second chamber comprising a second soft and flexible membrane; 
 wherein a space resides between the first and second chambers configured to receive a scleral spur of a ciliary muscle of a patient's eye; and 
   a connecting element attached at a first end to the dual-chamber sensor cell, the connecting element comprising:
 a first channel disposed along a length of the connecting element and in communication with the first chamber of the dual-chamber sensor cell; 
 a second channel disposed along the length of the connecting element and in communication with the second chamber of the dual-chamber sensor cell; 
   wherein the second end of the connecting element is connectable to the implantable accommodating lens.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the communication of the first channel with the first chamber comprises fluidic communication, and where the communication of the second channel with the second chamber comprises fluidic communication. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the implantable accommodating lens comprises an accommodating element having a formable surface on one side and a plurality of diffractive groove forming channels disposed on the other side of said formable surface and in an operative relationship therewith for temporarily establishing the formable surface with a non-zero relief structure having a variable height in response to a change of pressure differential applied to the formable surface on the one side and the plurality of diffractive groove forming channels on the other side. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , including an optic combined with said accommodating element, said optic being selected from a group consisting of an intraocular lens or a corneal implant. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the first channel is connectable in fluidic communication to the one side of the accommodating element and the second channel is connectable in fluidic communication to the other side of the accommodating element. 
     
     
         7 . An implantable ophthalmic device, comprising:
 a sensor cell comprising a plate with a hard shell, a chamber disposed on an inner side of the plate where the chamber comprises a flexible membrane and wherein the flexible membrane is configured to be implantable adjacent to a scleral spur of a ciliary muscle fiber in a patient's eye in order to change pressure in the chamber; and   a connecting element attached at a first end to the sensor cell for communication with the chamber of the sensor cell; and   wherein the second end of the connecting element is connectable to an accommodating lens.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the connecting element comprises a channel disposed along a length of the connecting element where the channel is in fluidic communication with the chamber of the sensor cell. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the accommodating lens comprises an accommodating element having a formable surface on one side and a plurality of diffractive groove forming channels disposed on the other side of said formable surface and in an operative relationship therewith for temporarily establishing the formable surface with a non-zero relief structure having a variable height in response to a change of pressure differential applied to the formable surface on the one side and the plurality of diffractive groove forming channels on the other side. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , including an optic combined with said accommodating element, said optic being selected from a group consisting of an intraocular lens or a corneal implant. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the first channel is connectable in fluidic communication to the one side or the other side of the accommodating element. 
     
     
         12 . An implantable device, comprising:
 a sensor cell comprising a hard plate and a flexible membrane chamber disposed on an inner side of the hard plate where flexible membrane chamber is configured to be implantable adjacent to a scleral spur of a ciliary muscle fiber in a patient's eye in order to change pressure in the flexible membrane chamber due to the ciliary muscle fiber's constriction and relaxation; and   an implantable ophthalmic lens connected to and in communication with the flexible membrane chamber.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the implantable ophthalmic lens is in fluidic communication with the flexible membrane chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 12 , including a connecting element attached at a first end to the sensor cell, the connecting element comprising a channel disposed along a length of the connecting element where the channel is in fluidic communication with the flexible membrane chamber of the sensor cell, wherein a second end of the connecting element is connectable to the implanted ophthalmic lens. 
     
     
         15 . A method of treating presbyopia, providing at least one chamber that includes soft membrane that is implantable to be adjacent to a scleral spur of a ciliary muscle of a patient's eye where the shape of the chamber changes with the ciliary muscle contraction or relaxation and where the chamber detects a pressure change from the ciliary muscles to communicate the ciliary muscle state to an ophthalmic lens implantable in the patient's eye for a lens optical power change.