Intraocular lens insertion system

Abstract

A system for delivering an intraocular lens (IOL) is disclosed, including: a handpiece including a barrel defining an elongate passage, a pushrod disposed inside the elongate passage, and a plunger coupled to the pushrod; and a delivery unit coupled to a first end of the barrel, the delivery unit including a delivery tube and a lens holder coupled to the delivery tube, the lens holder including a lead haptic shelf arranged to receive a lead haptic of an IOL that is contained inside the lens holder, wherein the lead haptic shelf is configured to fold the lead haptic of the IOL over a body of the IOL while permitting the IOL to travel under the lead haptic shelf when the IOL is displaced from the lens holder to the delivery tube by the pushrod during delivery of the IOL into a patient's eye.

What is being claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for delivering an intraocular lens (IOL), comprising:
 a handpiece including a barrel defining an elongate passage, a pushrod disposed inside the elongate passage, and a plunger coupled to the pushrod; and   a delivery unit coupled to a first end of the barrel, the delivery unit including a delivery tube and a lens holder coupled to the delivery tube, the lens holder including a lead haptic shelf arranged to receive a lead haptic of an IOL that is contained inside the lens holder,   wherein the lead haptic shelf is configured to fold the lead haptic of the IOL over a body of the IOL while permitting the IOL to travel under the lead haptic shelf when the IOL is displaced from the lens holder to the delivery tube by the pushrod during delivery of the IOL into a patient's eye.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the pushrod includes a pushrod head having an O-ring disposed around a perimeter of the pushrod head, and   the elongate passage includes a first section configured to maintain the O-ring in an uncompressed state when the pushrod head is located in the first section, and a second tapered section configured to compress the O-ring when the pushrod head is displaced from the first section to the second tapered section by the plunger.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the handpiece further includes a retention nut coupled to the barrel, the retention nut having at least one retention clip that is configured engage a head of the pushrod to prevent the pushrod from moving while the system is not being used on a patient, the at least one retention clip being further configured to disengage from the head of the pushrod during normal use of the system on a patient. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the pushrod includes a pushrod head disposed in the elongate passage, and   the pushrod head and the elongate passage are configured to have respective D-shaped cross-sections to prevent the pushrod head from rotating inside the elongate passage.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the pushrod includes a head having a recess, a lip overhanging the recess, and a bore formed at a bottom of the recess, and   the plunger includes a distal end and a retention member, the distal end being received inside the bore formed at the bottom of the recess when the plunger is coupled to the pushrod, and the retention member being received inside the recess when the plunger is coupled to the pushrod, and the retention member being configured engage the lip when the plunger is coupled to the pushrod to prevent the plunger and the pushrod from being separated from one another.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery unit includes a hydration port that is formed at location in the delivery unit where a first curved portion of the lens holder meets with a second curved portion of the delivery tube, the first curved portion being curved in a first direction, and the second curved portion being curved in a second direction that is different from the first direction. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the delivery tube is configured to fold the IOL as the IOL is moved through the delivery tube into the patient's eye. 
     
     
         8 . A system for delivering an intraocular lens, comprising:
 a handpiece including a barrel defining an elongate passage having D-shaped cross-section, a pushrod having a pushrod head disposed inside the elongate passage, and a plunger coupled to the pushrod head, the pushrod head also having a D-shaped cross-section, the pushrod head having an O-ring disposed around a perimeter of the pushrod head; and   a delivery unit coupled to the barrel of the handpiece, the delivery unit including a lens holder coupled to a delivery tube, the lens holder having a cavity that is arranged to receive an IOL, the delivery tube being configured to fold the IOL when the IOL is displaced from the lens holder into the delivery tube by the pushrod,   wherein the elongate passage includes a first section configured to maintain the O-ring in an uncompressed state when the pushrod head is located in the first section, and a second tapered section configured to compress the O-ring when the pushrod head is displaced from the first section to the second tapered section by the plunger.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the lens holder includes a lead haptic shelf arranged to receive a lead haptic of the IOL, the lead haptic shelf being configured to fold the lead haptic of the IOL over a body of the IOL while permitting the IOL to travel under the lead haptic shelf when the IOL is displaced from the lens holder to the delivery tube by the pushrod during delivery of the IOL into a patient's eye. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the handpiece further includes a retention nut coupled to the barrel, the retention nut having at least one retention clip that is configured engage a head of the pushrod to prevent the pushrod from moving while the system is not being used on a patient, the at least one retention clip being further configured to disengage from the head of the pushrod during normal use of the system on a patient. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first section is also tapered. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a plunger, wherein:
 the pushrod includes a head having a recess, a lip overhanging the recess, and a bore formed at a bottom of the recess, and   the plunger includes a distal end and a retention member, the distal end being received inside the bore formed at the bottom of the recess when the plunger is coupled to the pushrod, and the retention member being received inside the recess when the plunger is coupled to the pushrod, and the retention member being configured engage the lip when the plunger is coupled to the pushrod to prevent the plunger and the pushrod from being separated from one another.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the delivery unit includes a hydration port that is formed at location in the delivery unit where a first curved portion of the lens holder meets with a second curved portion of the delivery tube, the first curved portion being curved in a first direction, and the second curved portion being curved in a second direction that is different from the first direction. 
     
     
         14 . A system for delivering an intraocular lens, comprising:
 a handpiece including a barrel defining an elongate passage, a pushrod having a pushrod head disposed inside the elongate passage, and a plunger coupled to the pushrod head;   a delivery unit coupled to a first end of the barrel, the delivery unit including a lens holder coupled to a delivery tube, the lens holder having a cavity that is arranged to receive an IOL, the delivery tube being configured to fold the IOL when the IOL is displaced from the lens holder into the delivery tube by the pushrod; and   a retention nut coupled to a second end of the barrel that is opposite the first end, the retention nut having at least one retention clip that is configured engage the pushrod head to prevent the pushrod from moving while the system is not being used on a patient, the at least one retention clip being further configured to disengage from the pushrod head during normal use of the system on a patient.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising an O-ring disposed around a perimeter of the pushrod head, wherein the elongate passage includes a first section and a second tapered section configured to compress the O-ring when the pushrod head is displaced from the first section to the second tapered section by the pushrod. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the lens holder includes a lead haptic shelf arranged to receive a lead haptic of the IOL, the lead haptic shelf being configured to fold the lead haptic of the IOL over a body of the IOL while permitting the IOL to travel under the lead haptic shelf when the IOL is displaced from the lens holder to the delivery tube by the pushrod during delivery of the IOL into a patient's eye. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein elongate passage has a D-shaped cross-section, and the pushrod is configured to also have a D-shaped cross-section to prevent the pushrod head from rotating inside the barrel. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the pushrod includes a pushrod head disposed in the elongate passage, and   the pushrod head and the elongate passage are configured to have respective D-shaped cross-sections to prevent the pushrod head from rotating inside the elongate passage.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the pushrod includes a head having a recess, a lip overhanging the recess, and a bore formed at a bottom of the recess, and   the plunger includes a distal end and a retention member, the distal end being received inside the bore formed at the bottom of the recess when the plunger is coupled to the pushrod, and the retention member being received inside the recess when the plunger is coupled to the pushrod, and the retention member being configured engage the lip when the plunger is coupled to the pushrod to prevent the plunger and the pushrod from being separated from one another.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the delivery unit includes a hydration port that is formed at location in the delivery unit where a first curved portion of the lens holder meets with a second curved portion of the delivery tube, the first curved portion being curved in a first direction, and the second curved portion being curved in a second direction that is different from the first direction. 
     
     
         21 . A method for selling an intraocular lens (IOL), comprising:
 providing an IOL delivery unit that is pre-loaded with an IOL, the IOL delivery unit including a delivery tube and a lens holder coupled to the delivery tube, the lens holder including a cavity inside which the IOL is disposed and a mounting interface for attaching the lens holder to compatible with one or more IOL insertion handpieces;   providing a first IOL insertion handpiece that is compatible with the IOL delivery unit, the first IOL insertion handpiece including a first barrel defining a first elongate passage, a first pushrod disposed inside the first elongate passage, a first plunger coupled to the first pushrod, and a first receiving interface arranged to receive the IOL delivery unit, wherein the first pushrod is configured to push the IOL through the delivery tube when the IOL delivery unit is mounted in the first receiving interface via the mounting interface and the first plunger is actuated; and   providing a second IOL insertion handpiece that is compatible with the IOL delivery unit, the second IOL insertion handpiece including a second barrel defining a second elongate passage, a second pushrod disposed inside the second elongate passage, a second plunger coupled to the second pushrod, and a second receiving interface arranged to receive the IOL delivery unit, wherein the second pushrod is configured to push the IOL through the delivery tube when the IOL delivery unit is mounted in the second receiving interface via the mounting interface and the second plunger is actuated.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein IOL delivery unit is provided separately from the first IOL handpiece and the second IOL handpiece. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein IOL delivery unit, the first IOL insertion handpiece, and the second IOL insertion handpiece are provided in the same kit. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first IOL insertion handpiece and the second IOL insertion handpiece are made at least in part of different materials. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first IOL insertion handpiece and the second IOL insertion handpiece have different weights. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first barrel and the second barrel have different lengths. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first plunger is threaded and the second plunger is not threaded. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first IOL insertion handpiece is reusable, and the second IOL insertion handpiece is disposable. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the IOL delivery unit is a provided as a refill for any of the first IOL insertion handpiece and the second IOL insertion handpiece. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein each of the first receiving interface and the second receiving interface is configured to mate with the mounting interface of the IOL delivery unit. 
     
     
         31 . A method for selling an intraocular lens (IOL), comprising:
 providing a disposable IOL delivery unit that is pre-loaded with an IOL, the IOL delivery unit including a delivery tube and a lens holder coupled to the delivery tube, the lens holder including: (i) a cavity inside which the IOL is disposed and (ii) a mounting interface that is compatible with a plurality of IOL insertion handpieces that are available on the market; and   providing a reusable first IOL insertion handpiece that is compatible with the disposable IOL delivery unit, the first IOL insertion handpiece including a first barrel defining a first elongate passage, a first pushrod disposed inside the first elongate passage, a first plunger coupled to the first pushrod, and a first receiving interface arranged to receive the IOL delivery unit, wherein the first pushrod is configured to push the IOL through the delivery tube when the IOL delivery unit is mounted in the first receiving interface via the mounting interface and the first plunger is actuated.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the IOL delivery unit is a provided as a refill for the reusable first IOL insertion handpiece. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein IOL delivery unit is provided separately from the first IOL handpiece. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising providing a disposable second IOL insertion handpiece that is compatible with the disposable IOL delivery unit, the second IOL insertion handpiece including a second barrel defining a second elongate passage, a second pushrod disposed inside the second elongate passage, a second plunger coupled to the second pushrod, and a second receiving interface arranged to receive the IOL delivery unit, wherein the second pushrod is configured to push the IOL through the delivery tube when the IOL delivery unit is mounted in the second receiving interface via the mounting interface and the second plunger is actuated. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the reusable first IOL insertion handpiece and the disposable second IOL insertion handpiece have different weights. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the first barrel and the second barrel have different lengths. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the first plunger is threaded and the second plunger is not threaded. 
     
     
         38 . A method of  claim 34 , wherein each of the first receiving interface and the second receiving interface is configured to mate with the mounting interface of the IOL delivery unit. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the first IOL insertion handpiece and the second IOL insertion handpiece are produced by the same producer. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the first IOL insertion handpiece and the second IOL insertion handpiece are produced by different producers.