Corneal implant storage, packaging, and delivery devices

Abstract

Devices and methods for packaging, storing, and/or positioning ophthalmic lenses.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ophthalmic lens storage apparatus, comprising:
 a lens applicator comprising a lens applicator member adapted to position the ophthalmic lens onto tissue; and   a base housing comprising a lens applicator guide and a lens support member, the lens applicator guide configured to receive and stably interface with the lens applicator, wherein the lens applicator member and the lens support member are configured such that, when the lens applicator is positioned in the lens applicator guide, the ophthalmic lens is secured between the lens applicator member and the lens support member.   
     
     
         2 . The storage apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the lens applicator guide has a sectional shape that is at least partially complimentary to a sectional shape of a lens applicator shaft. 
     
     
         3 . The storage apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the lens applicator guide sectional shape is a partial hexagon, and the sectional shape of the lens applicator shaft is a hexagon. 
     
     
         4 . The storage apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the lens applicator shaft sectional shape is a polygon, and the lens applicator guide sectional shape is at least partially polygonal, with fewer sides than the lens applicator shaft polygon shape. 
     
     
         5 . The storage apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the lens applicator guide is configured to provide rotational stability to the lens applicator therein, about a longitudinal axis of a lens applicator shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The storage apparatus of  claim 5  wherein lens applicator guide is configured to allow axial movement by the lens applicator within the lens applicator guide. 
     
     
         7 . The storage apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a clip configured to stably interface with the base housing and the lens applicator such that the clip provides further stability to the lens applicator relative to the base housing. 
     
     
         8 . The storage apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the clip is configured to stably interface with the base housing and the lens applicator such that the clip provides axial stability to the lens applicator relative to the base housing. 
     
     
         9 . The storage applicator of  claim 1  wherein the clip is configured to stably interface with the base housing and the lens applicator such that axial movement between the clip and both the base housing and lens applicator is resisted by the stable interface. 
     
     
         10 . The storage apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the lens applicator includes a shaft portion and an applicator member extending at a non-orthogonal angle relative to the shaft portion. 
     
     
         11 . The storage apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the lens applicator, when advanced into the lens applicator guide, comprises an applicator member disposed at an angle relative to a lens support member of the base housing. 
     
     
         12 . The storage apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the lens support member is releasably secured to the base housing. 
     
     
         13 . The storage apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the lens support member comprises a lens fence configured to provide radial stability to the lens. 
     
     
         14 . The storage apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a handle configured to be secured to the lens applicator. 
     
     
         15 . The storage apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the lens applicator comprises a shaft with a surface configured to interface with a handle surface to secure the handle to the lens applicator, the shaft surface having a sectional shape that is different than a sectional shape of the handle surface. 
     
     
         16 . The storage apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the shaft has an outer surface with the sectional shape that is different than a sectional shape of a handle inner surface. 
     
     
         17 . The storage apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the sectional shape of the handle inner surface is curvilinear. 
     
     
         18 . The storage apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the sectional shape of the handle inner surface is circular. 
     
     
         19 . The storage apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the shaft outer surface is polygonal. 
     
     
         20 . The storage apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the shaft outer surface is hexagonal. 
     
     
         21 . The storage apparatus of  claim 15  wherein one of the sectional shaft surface and the sectional handle surface is curvilinear and the other is polygonal. 
     
     
         22 . The storage apparatus of  claim 21  wherein one of the sectional shaft surface and the sectional handle surface is circular and the other is hexagonal. 
     
     
         23 . The storage apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the different shapes create an interference fit. 
     
     
         24 . The storage apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the shaft surface is slightly oversized relative to the handle surface. 
     
     
         25 . The storage apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the two shapes are configured to allow for any rotational orientation of the handle relative to the shaft prior to their interface and once they are interfaced to provide rotational stability. 
     
     
         26 . The storage apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the lens applicator and the handle include first and second locking elements, respectively, that are configured to maintain the lens applicator and the handle in a locked position. 
     
     
         27 . An ophthalmic lens insertion apparatus, comprising:
 a lens applicator and a handle, the lens applicator comprising a shaft outer surface configured to interface with a handle inner surface to secure the shaft to the handle, the shaft outer surface having a sectional shape that is different than a sectional shape of the handle inner surface.   
     
     
         28 . The insertion apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the sectional shape of the handle inner surface is curvilinear. 
     
     
         29 . The insertion apparatus of  claim 28  wherein the sectional shape of the handle inner surface is circular. 
     
     
         30 . The insertion apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the shaft outer surface sectional shape is polygonal. 
     
     
         31 . The insertion apparatus of  claim 30  wherein the shaft outer surface sectional shape is hexagonal. 
     
     
         32 . The insertion apparatus of  claim 27  wherein one of the sectional shaft outer surface and the sectional handle inner surface is curvilinear and the other is polygonal. 
     
     
         33 . The insertion apparatus of  claim 32  wherein one of the sectional shaft outer surface and the sectional handle inner surface is circular and the other is hexagonal. 
     
     
         34 . The insertion apparatus of  claim 33  wherein the shaft outer surface is hexagonal and the handle inner surface is circular. 
     
     
         35 . The insertion apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the different shapes create an interference fit to secure the shaft to the handle. 
     
     
         36 . The insertion apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the shaft outer surface is slightly oversized relative to the handle inner surface. 
     
     
         37 . The insertion apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the two shapes are configured to allow for any rotational orientation of the handle relative to the shaft prior to their interface and once they are interfaced to provide rotational stability. 
     
     
         38 . The insertion apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the shaft and the handle include first and second locking elements, respectively, that are configured to maintain the lens applicator and handle in a locked position. 
     
     
         39 . A packaging apparatus for stabilizing an ophthalmic lens storage apparatus, comprising
 a package housing defining a receiving space; and   an ophthalmic lens storage apparatus comprising
 a base housing, 
 a lens applicator configured to stably interface with the base housing and secure an ophthalmic lens between the base housing and the lens applicator, and 
 a stabilizing member configured to stably interface with the base housing and the lens applicator to provide stability to the lens applicator relative to the base housing, 
   wherein the receiving space is configured to receive the storage apparatus therein, and   wherein the receiving space, base housing, and stabilizing member are configured and sized such that the receiving space maintains the stable interface between the stabilizing member and the base housing and the lens applicator.   
     
     
         40 . The packaging apparatus of  claim 39  wherein the packaging housing is a glass vial. 
     
     
         41 . The packaging apparatus of  claim 39  further comprising a storage fluid in the housing, and a lid configured to create a fluid tight seal with the housing. 
     
     
         42 . The packaging apparatus of  claim 39  wherein the receiving space is sized and configured such that the clip, when in the housing, is not able to move enough relative to the base housing to allow respective mating parts on the base housing and clip to become unmated. 
     
     
         43 . The packaging apparatus of  claim 39  wherein the receiving space is sized and configured such that the clip, when in the housing, is not able to move enough relative to the base housing to allow respective mating parts on the lens applicator and clip to become unmated. 
     
     
         44 . The packaging apparatus of  claim 39  wherein the receiving space is sized and configured such that the clip, when in the housing, is not able to move enough relative to the base to allow respective mating parts on the lens applicator and clip to become unmated, or to allow respective mating parts on the base housing and the clip to become unmated. 
     
     
         45 . A method of packaging an ophthalmic lens storage apparatus, comprising
 providing an ophthalmic lens storage apparatus comprising
 a base housing, 
 a lens applicator stably interfacing with the base housing and securing an ophthalmic lens between the base housing and the lens applicator, and 
 a stabilizing member stably interfacing with the base housing and the lens applicator to provide stability to the lens applicator relative to the base housing; and 
   placing the storage apparatus in a packaging housing such that the housing maintains the stable interface between the stabilizing member and both the base housing and the lens applicator.