Method And Apparatus For Preparation And Insertion Of An Intraocular Lens Into The Eye Of A Patient

Abstract

A method for insertion of an intraocular lens into the eye of a patient, the method including removably attaching loop extensions to loops of an intraocular lens prior to insertion of the intraocular lens into the eye of a patient, initially inserting into the eye of the patient the loop extensions, pulling on the loop extensions through sclerectomies formed in the sclera of the eye of the patient, inserting the intraocular lens into the eye of the patient, positioning the intraocular lens in a desired position in the eye of the patient by pulling on the loop extensions through the sclerectomies, and fixing the loops to the sclera of the eye of the patient at the sclerectomies and detaching the loop extensions from the loops.

1 . Apparatus for preparation of an intraocular lens assembly prior to insertion thereof into the eye of a patient, the apparatus comprising a pair of elongate stretchable loop extension assemblies each including:
 an elongate stretchable loop extension element, whose thickness varies as a function of an extent to which it is stretched; and   a connector through which said elongate stretchable loop extension element is threaded.   
     
     
         2 . Apparatus for preparation of an intraocular lens assembly prior to insertion thereof into the eye of a patient according to  claim 1  and wherein said connector comprises a longitudinal cylindrical bore formed therewithin, said elongate stretchable loop extension element being threaded through said longitudinal cylindrical bore. 
     
     
         3 . Apparatus for preparation of an intraocular lens assembly prior to insertion thereof into the eye of a patient according to  claim 1  and wherein said connector comprises a cylindrical portion and a funnel shaped portion. 
     
     
         4 . Apparatus for preparation of an intraocular lens assembly prior to insertion thereof into the eye of a patient according to  claim 1  and wherein said elongate stretchable loop extension element comprises a pair of connector motion-limiting elements integrally formed thereon for retaining said connector therebetween in a partially pretensioned configuration, a section of said elongate stretchable loop extension element being stretchably threaded within said connector, thereby retaining said connector motion-limiting elements in tight engagement with said connector. 
     
     
         5 . Apparatus for preparation of an intraocular lens assembly prior to insertion thereof into the eye of a patient according to  claim 2  and wherein when said elongate stretchable loop extension element is in an unstretched configuration, a diameter of said elongate stretchable loop extension element is generally equal to a diameter of said longitudinal cylindrical bore of said connector, thereby tightly engaging said elongate stretchable loop extension element with an inner surface of said longitudinal cylindrical bore of said connector, and thereby tightly retaining said connector in a fixed position on said elongate stretchable loop extension element. 
     
     
         6 . Apparatus for preparation of an intraocular lens assembly prior to insertion thereof into the eye of a patient according to  claim 2  and wherein when said elongate stretchable loop extension element is in a stretched configuration, a diameter of said elongate stretchable loop extension element is narrower than a diameter of said longitudinal cylindrical bore, thereby releasing said elongate stretchable loop extension element from an inner surface of said longitudinal cylindrical bore of said connector, and allowing for insertion of at least one additional element into said longitudinal cylindrical bore of said connector. 
     
     
         7 . Apparatus for preparation of an intraocular lens assembly prior to insertion thereof into the eye of a patient according to  claim 6  and wherein said elongate stretchable loop extension element comprises a pair of connector motion-limiting elements integrally formed thereon for retaining said connector therebetween when said elongate stretchable loop extension element is in said stretched configuration. 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus for preparation of an intraocular lens assembly prior to insertion thereof into the eye of a patient according to  claim 6  and wherein after inserting at least one additional element into said longitudinal cylindrical bore of said connector when said elongate stretchable loop extension element is in said stretched configuration and then allowing said elongate stretchable loop extension element to return to an unstretched fastened configuration, a diameter of said elongate stretchable loop extension element is generally equal to a diameter of said longitudinal cylindrical bore of said connector, thereby tightly engaging said elongate stretchable loop extension element and said at least one additional element with an inner surface of said cylindrical bore of said longitudinal cylindrical bore of said connector, and thereby fastening said at least one additional element to said elongate stretchable loop extension element. 
     
     
         9 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method of preparation of an intraocular lens assembly prior to insertion thereof into the eye of a patient, the method comprising removably attaching loop extensions to loops of an intraocular lens. 
     
     
         24 . A method of preparation of an intraocular lens assembly prior to insertion thereof into the eye of a patient according to  claim 23  and wherein said removably attaching loop extensions to loops of an intraocular lens comprises:
 providing a pair of elongate stretchable loop extension assemblies each including:
 an elongate stretchable loop extension element, whose thickness varies as a function of an extent to which it is stretched; and 
 a connector through which said elongate stretchable loop extension element is threaded; and 
 removably inserting an end of each loop of said intraocular lens into a corresponding connector of one of said pair of elongate stretchable loop extension assemblies. 
 
 
     
     
         25 . A method of preparation of an intraocular lens assembly prior to insertion thereof into the eye of a patient according to  claim 24  and wherein said connector comprises a longitudinal cylindrical bore formed therewithin, said elongate stretchable loop extension element being threaded through said longitudinal cylindrical bore. 
     
     
         26 . A method of preparation of an intraocular lens assembly prior to insertion thereof into the eye of a patient according to  claim 25  and wherein said connector comprises a cylindrical portion and a funnel shaped portion. 
     
     
         27 . A method of preparation of an intraocular lens assembly prior to insertion thereof into the eye of a patient according to  claim 25  and wherein said elongate stretchable loop extension element comprises a pair of connector motion-limiting elements integrally formed thereon for retaining said connector therebetween in a partially pretensioned configuration, a section of said elongate stretchable loop extension element being stretchably threaded within said connector, thereby retaining said connector motion-limiting elements in tight engagement with said connector. 
     
     
         28 . A method of preparation of an intraocular lens assembly prior to insertion thereof into the eye of a patient according to  claim 25  and wherein said removably inserting an end of each loop of said intraocular lens into a corresponding connector of one of said pair of elongate stretchable loop extension assemblies comprises:
 stretching and retaining said elongate stretchable loop extension element of each of said elongate stretchable loop extension assemblies from an unstretched unfastened configuration to a retained stretched configuration; 
 while said elongate stretchable loop extension element is in said retained stretched configuration, inserting an end of said loop into said longitudinal cylindrical bore of said corresponding connector of one of said pair of elongate stretchable loop extension assemblies; and 
 after inserting an end of said loop into said longitudinal cylindrical bore of said corresponding connector of one of said pair of elongate stretchable loop extension assemblies, releasing said elongate stretchable loop extension element from said retained stretched configuration, thereby placing said elongate stretchable loop extension element in an unstretched fastened configuration. 
 
     
     
         29 . A method of preparation of an intraocular lens assembly prior to insertion thereof into the eye of a patient according to  claim 28  and wherein when said elongate stretchable loop extension element is in said unstretched unfastened configuration, a diameter of said elongate stretchable loop extension element is generally equal to a diameter of said longitudinal cylindrical bore of said connector, thereby tightly engaging said elongate stretchable loop extension element with an inner surface of said longitudinal cylindrical bore of said connector, and thereby tightly retaining said connector in a fixed position on said elongate stretchable loop extension element. 
     
     
         30 . A method of preparation of an intraocular lens assembly prior to insertion thereof into the eye of a patient according to  claim 28  and wherein when said elongate stretchable loop extension element is in said retained stretched configuration, a diameter of said elongate stretchable loop extension element is narrower than a diameter of said longitudinal cylindrical bore, thereby releasing said elongate stretchable loop extension element from an inner surface of said longitudinal cylindrical bore of said connector. 
     
     
         31 . A method of preparation of an intraocular lens assembly prior to insertion thereof into the eye of a patient according to  claim 30  and wherein said elongate stretchable loop extension element comprises a pair of connector motion-limiting elements integrally formed thereon for retaining said connector therebetween when said elongate stretchable loop extension element is in said retained stretched configuration. 
     
     
         32 . A method of preparation of an intraocular lens assembly prior to insertion thereof into the eye of a patient according to  claim 28  and wherein when said elongate stretchable loop extension element is in said unstretched fastened configuration, a diameter of said elongate stretchable loop extension element is generally equal to a diameter of said longitudinal cylindrical bore of said connector, thereby tightly engaging said elongate stretchable loop extension element and said loop with an inner surface of said cylindrical bore of said longitudinal cylindrical bore of said connector, and thereby fastening said loop to said elongate stretchable loop extension element.