Corneal implant inserters and methods of use

Abstract

Devices that are adapted to insert corneal implants onto corneal tissue. Methods of using the devices include inserting the corneal implant into a pocket created in the cornea. Methods of use also include inserting the corneal implant onto corneal tissue after a flap has been created in the cornea. The devices can be adapted to deliver fluid to an implant holding space to at least assist in the deployment of the implant from the holding space and onto corneal tissue.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A corneal implant inserter apparatus, comprising:
 a holding space at a distal end of an elongate body, wherein the holding space is adapted to house a corneal implant therein in a substantially unstressed configuration;   a fluid disposed in the holding space such that the corneal implant is retained within the holding space due to the surface tension of the fluid; and   a channel extending within the elongate body such that the channel is in fluid communication with the holding space.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the channel has a maximum width that is less than a maximum width of the holding space. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the channel maximum width is less than half of the maximum width of the holding space. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the holding space has a generally flat top and a generally flat bottom. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the corneal implant is a corneal inlay with an anterior surface that is substantially parallel to the generally flat top and a posterior surface that is substantially parallel to the generally flat bottom. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the channel extends from the holding space to a proximal end of the elongate body. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the holding space and the channel are together adapted to hold between about 0.5 and about 4.0 microliters therein. 
     
     
         8 . A corneal implant inserter apparatus, comprising:
 a holding space at a distal end of an elongate body, wherein the holding space is adapted to house a corneal implant therein;   a channel with a maximum width less than a maximum width of the holding space, wherein the channel is in fluid communication with the holding space and extends from the holding space within the elongate body.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the channel maximum width is less than half of the holding space maximum width. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the channel extends from the holding space to a proximal end of the elongate body. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the corneal implant is retained within the holding space in a substantially unstressed configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the holding space has a generally flat top and a generally flat bottom, and wherein the corneal implant is a corneal inlay with an anterior surface that is substantially parallel to the generally flat top and a posterior surface that is substantially parallel to the generally flat bottom. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising a fluid disposed in the holding space such that the corneal implant is retained within the holding space due to the surface tension of the fluid. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the holding space has a generally flat top and a generally flat bottom. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the holding space and the channel are together adapted to hold between about 0.5 and about 4.0 microliters therein. 
     
     
         16 . A corneal implant inserter apparatus, comprising:
 an elongate body comprising a distal holding space in fluid communication with a channel extending through the elongate body,   wherein the holding space has a generally flat top and a generally flat bottom; and   a corneal implant retained in the holding space between the generally flat top and the generally flat bottom.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  further comprising a fluid disposed in the holding space such that the corneal implant is retained within the holding space due to the surface tension of the fluid. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the corneal implant is retained in the holding space in a substantially unstressed configuration. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the corneal implant has an anterior surface that is substantially parallel to the generally flat top and a posterior surface that is substantially parallel to the generally flat bottom. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the channel has a maximum width that is less than a maximum width of the holding space. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the channel extends from the holding space to a proximal end of the elongate body. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the holding space and the channel are together adapted to hold between about 0.5 and about 4.0 microliters therein. 
     
     
         23 . A corneal implant inserter system, comprising:
 a corneal implant inserter comprising a channel fluidly connecting a holding space in a distal portion of the inserter and a proximal end of the corneal implant inserter;   a fluid disposed in the holding space such that a corneal implant is retained in the holding space due to the surface tension of the fluid; and   a fluid delivery device adapted to be positioned relative to the corneal implant inserter such that it is in fluid communication with the corneal implant inserter channel such that fluid can be delivered from the fluid delivery device into the channel to deploy the corneal implant from the holding space.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23  further comprising a hub that is adapted to receive a proximal end of the corneal implant inserter therein, and wherein the hub is adapted to engage the fluid delivery device such that the fluid delivery device, the hub, the channel, and the holding space are in fluid communication. 
     
     
         25 . A method of deploying a corneal implant onto corneal tissue, comprising:
 providing a corneal implant inserter with a corneal implant retained in a holding space in a substantially unstressed configuration in a distal region of the inserter; and   delivering fluid from a delivery device into a channel extending through the corneal implant inserter, wherein the channel is in fluid communication with the holding space, and wherein delivering the fluid deploys the corneal implant from the holding space and onto corneal tissue.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising creating a corneal flap and lifting the flap to expose the corneal tissue prior to the delivering step. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising applying a force on the corneal implant with a tool to assist in deploying the corneal implant from the holding space. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein applying a force on the implant with a second tool comprises positioning the tool in a slot formed in a top portion of the holding space. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising, prior to the delivering step:
 creating a corneal pocket within the cornea; 
 creating an access channel to the pocket; and 
 advancing the holding space into the access channel and towards the pocket. 
 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising:
 creating a second access channel to the pocket; 
 positioning a tool in the second access channel; and 
 applying a force on the corneal implant with the tool to assist in deploying the corneal implant from the holding space.