Accommodating intra-ocular lens system

Abstract

An implantable, compressible, accommodating intra-ocular lens (IOL) coupled to at least one sensor which detects a signal created by the ciliary muscle. A ciliary sulcus ring can house the at least one sensor, and the sensor can include miniaturized electrodes (ciliary muscle probes) for implanting into the ciliary muscle of the subject. A potentiometer/microcomputer can modulate the ciliary muscle signal detected by the sensor(s) into an electrical signal, and a transmitter sends this electrical signal to a micromotor, which causes compression of the IOL via an annular support ring system, causing a change in the IOL shape. The IOL can be part of an IOL complex including a compressible, accommodating IOL, an external lens membrane, and an annular support ring system. The annular support ring system provides a foundation for the micromotor to compress the IOL.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for causing a change in the shape of a compressible, accommodating intra-ocular lens (IOL) of a subject, the system comprising:
 a) an IOL complex comprising a compressible, accommodating IOL; 
 b) at least one sensor for detecting a signal from the subject's ciliary muscle; 
 c) a signal processor for receiving and processing the ciliary muscle signal to generate a corresponding electrical signal; 
 d) a transmitter for transmitting the electrical signal; and 
 e) at least one micromotor for receiving the transmitted electrical signal and causing a change in shape of the IOL, the IOL complex further comprising an external lens membrane and an annular support ring system for providing a means to cause a change in shape of the IOL, wherein the annular support ring system comprises two concentric rings including an outer annular ring and an inner annular ring, the outer annular ring being rigid for resisting compressive forces of the native capsular bag, the inner annular ring encircling the external lens membrane and providing a foundation for the at least one micromotor to cause a change in shape of the IOL; and 
 f) a ciliary sulcus ring adapted for implantation in the ciliary sulcus of the subject and adapted to be positioned around the IOL complex. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one micromotor causes a change in shape of the IOL by causing the inner annular ring to shorten in circumference and diameter about the IOL, thereby compressing the IOL. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , further including a ciliary sulcus ring adapted for implantation into the ciliary sulcus of the subject, wherein the at least one sensor is an electromyography (EMG) receiver for detecting the muscle action potential of the ciliary muscle, the EMG receiver being positioned on the ciliary sulcus ring and having miniaturized electrodes for implanting into the ciliary muscle. 
     
     
       4. The system of claim  3  1, wherein the at least one sensor is a series of EMG receivers positioned about the ciliary sulcus ring, and wherein the signal processor and the transmitter are also positioned about the ciliary sulcus ring. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the ciliary muscle signal comprises is in a form comprising a signal selected from the group consisting of a neuro-electrical pulsation, a muscle action potential, a muscle contractile force or movement, and a chemical signal, or a combination of these signal forms. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the signal processor is selected from the group consisting of a micropotentiometer and a microcomputer. 
     
     
       7. A An implantable system for causing a change in the shape of a compressible, accommodating intra-ocular lens (IOL), correction of presbyopia, the system, implantable at an eye of a subject, comprising:
 a) an IOL complex comprising a compressible, accommodating IOL, an external lens membrane, and an annular support ring system for providing a means to cause a change in shape of the IOL a synthetic intra-ocular lens (IOL) sized and configured for implantation at an eye of a subject; 
 b) at least one sensor configured for detecting a ciliary muscle signal from the subject's a ciliary muscle, the signal detected at an eye of a subject; 
 c) a microcomputer for modulating the ciliary muscle signal into an electrical signal, the electrical signal used for IOL accommodation; 
 d) a transmitter for transmitting the electrical signal; and 
 e) at least one micromotor for receiving the transmitted electrical signal and causing the annular support ring system to compress the IOL, the system further including 
 d) a ciliary sulcus ring for implanting into the ciliary sulcus of a subject, the ciliary sulcus ring adapted for supporting at least one of the at least one sensor, the ciliary sulcus ring configured to pass through an incision in the eye of a subject and configured to be proximate to the IOL when implanted at the eye of a subject such that the microcomputer can receive wired or wireless communications from the at least one sensor. 
 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one sensor is an electromyography (EMG) receiver configured for detecting the muscle action potential of the ciliary muscle, the EMG receiver being positioned on the ciliary sulcus ring and having miniaturized electrodes for implanting into the ciliary muscle. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one sensor is a series of EMG receivers positioned about the ciliary sulcus ring. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 7 , wherein
 the ciliary sulcus ring is part of an annular support ring system adapted to cause a change in focus of the IOL, wherein the annular support ring system comprises two concentric rings including an outer annular ring and an inner annular ring, the outer annular ring being rigid for resisting compressive forces of the native capsular bag, the inner annular ring encircling the external lens membrane and providing a foundation for the at least one micromotor to cause a change in shape of the IOL developed at a target implant site. 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , further including a ciliary sulcus ring for implanting into the ciliary sulcus of a subject, and wherein the at least one sensor includes a first sensor positioned on the ciliary sulcus ring and a companion sensor at least one companion sensor located on the outer annular support ring. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first sensor is a series of sensors and the companion sensor is a series of sensors. 
     
     
       13. The system of claim 7 wherein the ciliary sulcus ring is a complete circle or is not a complete circle.  
     
     
       14. A system for causing a change in the shape of a compressible, accommodating intra-ocular lens (IOL), the system comprising:
 an (IOL) complex comprising a compressible, accommodating IOL, an external lens membrane, and an annular support ring system for providing a means to cause a change in shape of the IOL;   at least one sensor positioned on a ciliary sulcus ring, the sensor for detecting a ciliary muscle signal from a subject's ciliary muscle at an eye of the subject;   a microcomputer for modulating the ciliary muscle signal into an electrical signal;   a transmitter for transmitting the electrical signal; and   at least one micromotor for receiving the transmitted electrical signal and causing the annular support ring system to compress the IOL, wherein the annular support ring system comprises two concentric rings including an outer annular ring and an inner annular ring, the outer annular ring being rigid for resisting compressive forces of an implant subject's native capsular bag, the inner annular ring encircling an implant subject's external lens membrane when implanted and providing a foundation for the at least one micromotor to cause a change in shape of the IOL.    
     
     
       15. A system for transduction of an accommodating signal of a ciliary muscle to an accommodating intraocular lens, the system comprising:
 one or more ciliary muscle accommodating signal sensors,   one or more of the sensors configured to detect a ciliary muscle accommodating signal, the accommodating signal reflected in the form of a neuro-electrical pulsation, a muscle action potential, a chemical signal or a combination thereof,   the one or more ciliary muscle accommodating signal sensors positioned on a ring, the ring configured to surround an intraocular lens, and configured to permit placement of the ring through an incision in the eye of a patient.    
     
     
       16. The system of claim 15 wherein the signal sensors are sized to be implanted in the eye of a patient and wherein the ring is circular.  
     
     
       17. The system of claim 15 wherein the signal sensors are sized to be implanted in the eye of a patient and wherein the ring is a complete circle or is not a complete circle.  
     
     
       18. The system of claim 15 wherein the accommodating signal is reflected in the form of at least one of: a neuro-electrical pulsation or a muscle action potential or a chemical signal.  
     
     
       19. The system of claim 15 wherein one or more of the signal sensors are positioned about an implantable synthetic intra ocular lens (IOL).  
     
     
       20. The system of claim 15 further comprising:
 a plurality of muscle probes, the muscle probes positioned and sized for contact with a ciliary muscle of a patient when implanted in the eye of a patient.