Intraocular lens insertion instrument

Abstract

An intraocular lens insertion instrument 1 includes: an insertion instrument body 2 having a hollow cylindrical part capable of including an intraocular lens; movement mechanism parts 20, 30 for moving the intraocular lens in the hollow cylindrical part; and a cap member 3 attached to the insertion instrument body 2. The cap member 3 can be attached to and detached from the insertion instrument body 2, can rotate in a direction around the cylinder axis of the hollow cylindrical part in a state of being attached to the insertion instrument body 2, and is configured so that the movement mechanism parts 20, 30 move the intraocular lens in conjunction with rotation of the cap member 3.

Description

Intraocular lens inserter

[0001] The present invention relates to an intraocular lens inserter.

[0002] In cataract surgery, after the opacified crystalline lens is extracted, an intraocular lens is inserted into the lens capsule in place of the crystalline lens. An intraocular lens inserter is used to insert the intraocular lens.

[0003] One invention relating to an intraocular lens cartridge is configured such that when a cap is removed, a nozzle is exposed and the intraocular lens moves and folds within the housing (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0004] Special table 2022-545417 publication

[0005] Users of intraocular lens inserters (physicians, etc.) may sometimes desire to fold the intraocular lens and remove the cap at separate times (e.g., with a time lag). For example, after completing a pre-insertion procedure (e.g., lens removal), they may find it cumbersome to set up the intraocular lens inserter from scratch, and may therefore choose to keep the intraocular lens folded in advance. However, the intraocular lens inserter configured as described above is difficult to accommodate such situations, and is not necessarily convenient for users. While it is conceivable to perform the folding of the intraocular lens and the removal of the cap as separate operations, this would impair user operability. When folding the lens by pulling out the cap, caution is required due to the risk of impact or damage to the intraocular lens depending on the user's operation, and in this respect, it is not necessarily easy to operate.

[0006] The present invention provides a technique that can achieve excellent convenience and operability for an intraocular lens inserter.

[0007] A first aspect of the present invention is an intraocular lens inserter comprising: an inserter body having a hollow tubular portion capable of containing an intraocular lens and configured to be able to release the intraocular lens contained in the hollow tubular portion to the outside through a lens release port; a movement mechanism portion that moves the intraocular lens inside the hollow tubular portion along the axial direction of the hollow tubular portion; and a cap member that is attached to the inserter body so as to cover at least the lens release port, wherein the cap member is detachable from the inserter body and rotatable around the axial direction of the hollow tubular portion when attached to the inserter body, and the movement mechanism portion is configured to move the intraocular lens in conjunction with the rotation of the cap member.

[0008] A second aspect of the present invention is the intraocular lens inserter according to the first aspect, wherein the cap member is formed in a cylindrical shape with an opening at one end and a sealed other end, and is configured to fit with the inserter body through the opening, and the moving mechanism has an engaging piece that protrudes outside the hollow cylindrical part, and the engaging piece engages with an engaging groove formed on the inner surface of the tube of the cap member, thereby linking the cap member and the moving mechanism.

[0009] A third aspect of the present invention is the intraocular lens insertion device according to the second aspect, wherein the movement mechanism includes a slider mechanism that moves the intraocular lens within the hollow cylindrical portion.

[0010] A fourth aspect of the present invention is the intraocular lens inserter described in the third aspect, wherein the cap member has, as the engagement groove, a screw groove extending spirally in the axial direction of the hollow cylindrical portion, and an ejection groove extending linearly from the groove end of the screw groove along the axial direction of the hollow cylindrical portion.

[0011] A fifth aspect of the present invention is the intraocular lens inserter described in the first aspect, wherein the cap member has a tacking pin arranged to protrude into the hollow tubular portion when attached, and a pin support portion that supports the tacking pin, and is configured such that when the cap member is removed from the inserter body, the tacking pin retracts from the hollow tubular portion due to deformation of the pin support portion.

[0012] A sixth aspect of the present invention is the intraocular lens insertion device described in the fifth aspect, wherein the cap member has, in addition to the tacking pin and the pin support portion, a guide portion that causes deformation of the pin support portion in response to relative movement between the cap member and the hollow cylindrical portion in the axial direction of the cylinder.

[0013] A seventh aspect of the present invention is the intraocular lens inserter described in the sixth aspect, in which the tacking pin, the pin support portion, and the guide portion are arranged to be freely rotatable relative to the cap member, and are configured so that their relative positions with the inserter body do not change when the cap member rotates.

[0014] An eighth aspect of the present invention is the intraocular lens insertion device according to the second aspect, wherein the movement mechanism includes a push-out mechanism that pushes out the intraocular lens from the lens release port.

[0015] A ninth aspect of the present invention is the intraocular lens insertion device according to the eighth aspect, further comprising a locking mechanism that restricts the pushing-out operation of the intraocular lens by the pushing-out mechanism in the attached state.

[0016] A tenth aspect of the present invention is the intraocular lens insertion device described in the ninth aspect, in which the locking mechanism is configured to release the restriction on the pushing-out operation in conjunction with the rotation of the cap member.

[0017] An eleventh aspect of the present invention is the intraocular lens inserter described in the tenth aspect, wherein the cap member has, as the engagement groove, a rotational groove extending in a part of the circumferential direction inside the hollow cylindrical portion, and an insertion / removal groove extending linearly from one end of the rotational groove along the axial direction of the hollow cylindrical portion to the opening.

[0018] According to the present invention, it is possible to realize an intraocular lens insertion device with excellent convenience and operability.

[0019] FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an example of the configuration of an intraocular lens inserter according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view showing an example of the internal configuration of the intraocular lens inserter of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a cap member in the intraocular lens inserter of FIG. 1, where (a) is an external perspective view, (b) is a side view, (c) is a cross-sectional view in plan view, and (d) is a cross-sectional view in side view. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a specific mode when using the intraocular lens inserter of FIG. 1, where (a) is a diagram showing stopper removal, (b) is a diagram showing cap rotation, and (c) is a diagram showing cap removal. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the operation of unlocking the intraocular lens inserter of FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the operation of retracting the tacking pin in the intraocular lens inserter of FIG. 1.

[0020] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0021] (1) Configuration Example of Intraocular Lens Inserter First, a configuration example of an intraocular lens inserter according to this embodiment will be described.

[0022] (Overall Configuration) The intraocular lens inserter described in this embodiment is used when inserting an intraocular lens into the eye. In this embodiment, an example of an intraocular lens is a one-piece type made of a soft material such as silicone elastomer or soft acrylic, and is configured to have a circular optical section that performs optical functions and a pair of support sections extending from the outer periphery of the optical section. Note that, since intraocular lenses are well known, further description will be omitted here.

[0023] To insert such an intraocular lens into the eye, the intraocular lens inserter described in this embodiment is configured as shown in Figures 1 to 3. In the following description, when describing the relative positional relationships and operating directions of each part of the intraocular lens inserter, as shown in Figure 1, one side of the X-axis direction is defined as the X1 direction, the other side as the X2 direction, one side of the Y-axis direction is defined as the Y1 direction, the other side as the Y2 direction, one side of the Z-axis direction is defined as the Z1 direction, the other side as the Z2 direction, the X1 direction is defined as the leading end (forward), the X2 direction is defined as the trailing end (rear), the Y1 direction is defined as the left side (left), the Y2 direction is defined as the right side (right), the Z1 direction is defined as the upper side (upward), and the Z2 direction is defined as the lower side (downward). Of these, the X-axis direction (X1 direction and X2 direction) corresponds to the length direction of the intraocular lens inserter 1, the Y-axis direction (Y1 direction and Y2 direction) corresponds to the width direction of the intraocular lens inserter 1, and the Z-axis direction (Z1 direction and Z2 direction) corresponds to the height direction of the intraocular lens inserter 1.

[0024] 1 and 2, the intraocular lens inserter 1 according to this embodiment is broadly composed of an inserter main body 2 and a cap member 3. The inserter main body 2 is also composed of at least a body section 10, a slider mechanism section 20, a push-out mechanism section 30, and a lock mechanism section 40. Each of these components is preferably formed by molding a resin material.

[0025] These components will be described in detail below.

[0026] (Body portion) The body portion 10 functions as the trunk portion of the inserter main body 2 and is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape capable of containing an intraocular lens. In other words, the inserter main body 2 has the body portion 10 as a hollow cylindrical portion capable of containing an intraocular lens. More specifically, the body portion 10 has a base portion 11 formed in a cylindrical shape and having an opening at its rear end, a nozzle portion 12 attached to the tip side of the base portion 11 so as to communicate with the interior of the base portion 11, and a flange portion 13 formed near the rear end of the base portion 11. These are all preferably formed from a light-transmitting resin material so that the interior of the cylinder can be seen through.

[0027] The base portion 11 has a lens housing portion 14 provided within its cylinder, which has an intraocular lens installation stand and is configured to accommodate the intraocular lens on the installation stand. By having such a lens housing portion 14 in the body portion 10, the intraocular lens inserter 1 according to this embodiment can function as a preload type in which the intraocular lens is installed in the inserter main body 2 in advance.

[0028] The base portion 11 is provided with an oval slit 15 in a portion thereof (e.g., both left and right side wall portions) extending along the cylindrical axis direction (X-axis direction) of the body portion 10. A slider engagement piece 22 of a slider mechanism 20 (described later) is adapted to engage with this slit 15. Furthermore, the base portion 11 is provided with a guide hole 16 extending along a portion of the circumference of the body portion 10 in a portion other than the slit 15 (e.g., a portion closer to the flange portion 13 than the slit 15). A lock engagement piece 42 of a lock mechanism 40 (described later) is adapted to engage with this guide hole 16. The functions of the slit 15 and the guide hole 16 will be described in detail below. In the following description, the cylindrical axis direction of the body portion 10 may also be simply referred to as the "X-axis direction."

[0029] The nozzle portion 12 is for folding the intraocular lens housed in the lens housing portion 14 in the body portion 10 into a small size and guiding the intraocular lens into the eye when inserting the intraocular lens into the eye. To this end, the nozzle portion 12 has a lens release port 18 for releasing the intraocular lens at its tip side (i.e., the cylindrical end of the body portion 10), and is configured so that the cross-sectional area of ​​the internal space gradually narrows from the body portion 10 side toward the lens release port 18.

[0030] The nozzle part 12 has a transition part 19 at a predetermined position in its internal space for folding the intraocular lens being moved from the lens housing part 14. In other words, the nozzle part 12 is configured to be able to pre-fold the intraocular lens being moved to the transition part 19, which is the predetermined position, by taking advantage of the gradual narrowing of the cross-sectional area of ​​the internal space.

[0031] A tacking pin 71, which will be described later, protrudes into the internal space of the nozzle part 12 through a through-hole (not shown) formed in a part of the nozzle part 12 (for example, the lower side wall part) so as to correspond to the transition part 19, which is a predetermined position. The tacking pin 71 is used to enable proper pre-folding of the intraocular lens (particularly folding of the anterior support part of the intraocular lens).

[0032] The flange portion 13 is provided for the fingers of the operating hand of the person using the intraocular lens inserter 1 (for example, a doctor performing cataract surgery; hereinafter simply referred to as the "operator") to rest on when operating the extrusion mechanism 30. Therefore, the flange portion 13 is not limited to a specific shape or configuration as long as it can ensure the operability of the extrusion mechanism 30.

[0033] (Slider mechanism) The slider mechanism 20 functions as one of the movement mechanisms that move the intraocular lens inside the body 10 along the X-axis direction. That is, the movement mechanism includes the slider mechanism 20 that moves the intraocular lens inside the body 10. More specifically, the slider mechanism 20 is arranged inside the body 10 so as to be movable along the X-axis direction, and is configured to thereby move the intraocular lens housed in the lens housing section 14 to the transition section 19, which is a predetermined position. When the slider mechanism 20 moves the intraocular lens, the intraocular lens is pre-folded in the internal space of the body 10.

[0034] In order to move the intraocular lens, the slider mechanism 20 has a lens support member 21 that applies a pressing force to the intraocular lens for movement, and a slider engagement piece 22 formed to connect to the lens support member 21. The slider engagement piece 22 is formed to protrude outside the cylinder of the body part 10 through the slit hole 15. The slider engagement piece 22 formed in this way is movable along the X-axis direction within the range of the slit hole 15, so that the slider mechanism 20 is configured so that the lens support member 21 moves in conjunction with the slider engagement piece 22, thereby moving the intraocular lens.

[0035] (Push-out mechanism) The push-out mechanism 30 functions as another of the moving mechanisms that move the intraocular lens in the body part 10 along the X-axis direction. That is, the moving mechanism includes the push-out mechanism 30 that pushes the intraocular lens from the lens release port 18. More specifically, the push-out mechanism 30 is configured to press the intraocular lens that has moved to the transition part 19 from the rear end side along the X-axis direction, thereby pushing the intraocular lens from the lens release port 18 of the body part 10 to the outside (for example, into the eye).

[0036] Known examples of the extrusion mechanism 30 that extrudes the intraocular lens to the outside include push-type mechanisms that extrude the intraocular lens by pushing a plunger or the like, screw-type mechanisms that extrude the intraocular lens by rotating a rotating member or the like, and mechanisms that are compatible with both the push-type and screw-type mechanisms. Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to an example in which the extrusion mechanism 30 is of the push-type. However, the extrusion mechanism 30 is not limited to the push-type mechanism, and may be of the screw type or compatible with both the push-type and screw-type mechanisms.

[0037] The push-type extrusion mechanism 30 is a movable body that can move along the X-axis direction within the body 10, and is configured to have at least a rod-shaped rod 31 that extends along the X-axis direction and a plunger end 32 provided on the rear end side of the rod 31. A part of the rod 31 and the plunger end 32 are arranged to protrude from the rear end of the body 10, and the other part of the rod 31 is arranged to be contained within the body 10.

[0038] The rod portion 31 is shaped so that the tip side thereof abuts against and presses against the intraocular lens. The pressing force applied to the plunger end 32 is transmitted to the intraocular lens, thereby pushing the intraocular lens out of the body portion 10.

[0039] The plunger end 32 is for an operator to press in. For this purpose, the plunger end 32 is configured in a shape that allows the operator to apply a pressing force to the rear end side of the plunger end 32 with his / her hand.

[0040] In this way, a portion of the rod portion 31 and the plunger end 32 protrude from the rear end of the body portion 10, allowing the operator to perform a pushing operation on them. In other words, the portion protruding from the rear end of the body portion 10 (i.e., the portion of the rod portion 31 and the plunger end 32) functions as an operating member used by the operator to perform a pushing operation. When the operating member is pushed, the protruding portion of the rod portion 31 is pushed into the body portion 10 in conjunction with this, and the tip of the rod portion 31 presses against the intraocular lens inside the body portion 10 to eject it to the outside.

[0041] In the push-out mechanism 30 configured as described above, a rib (not shown) extending along the X-axis direction is provided on a portion of the rod 31. The function of the rib on the rod 31 will be described in detail below. Furthermore, in the push-out mechanism 30, a slider (not shown) shaped to fit inside the cylindrical base 11 of the body 10 may be provided on a portion of the rod 31, and the space between the outer circumferential surface of the slider and the cylindrical inner surface of the base 11 may be sealed with an O-ring. This configuration can prevent leakage of the viscoelastic substance (OVD) described below after filling. Furthermore, the sliding resistance of the O-ring can be used to control the ejection force of the intraocular lens so that it does not become excessive.

[0042] (Locking Mechanism) The locking mechanism 40 is configured to restrict the pushing-out operation of the intraocular lens by the push-out mechanism 30 as needed. The pushing-out operation is restricted by restricting the operation of the operating member (i.e., the plunger end 32 and a portion of the rod 31). In other words, the locking mechanism 40 can restrict the pushing operation of the operating member (hereinafter simply referred to as the "restricted state") and can release the restriction to enable the operating member to be operated (hereinafter simply referred to as the "operable state"). The locking mechanism 40 is configured to be able to switch between the restricted state and the operable state as needed. As a result, for example, in the restricted state, the operating member cannot be pushed in, which restricts the pushing-out operation of the intraocular lens by the push-out mechanism 30. Furthermore, in the operable state, for example, the intraocular lens can be pushed out by the pushing-out operation of the operating member.

[0043] In order to switch between the restricted state and the operable state, the locking mechanism 40 has a locking member 41 disposed inside the body 10 .

[0044] The locking member 41 is contained within the base portion 11 of the body portion 10 so as to be positioned in an area where the guide hole 16 is formed in the base portion 11, and is configured to be rotatable around the cylindrical axis of the body portion 10 within the cylindrical portion of the base portion 11. Furthermore, the locking member 41 is provided with a lock engagement piece 42 that is formed to protrude outside the cylindrical portion of the base portion 11 through the guide hole 16. Because this lock engagement piece 42 is movable within the range of the guide hole 16, a rotational force is applied to the locking member 41 within the cylindrical portion of the base portion 11, and the rotational position is controlled.

[0045] The locking member 41 is configured so that the rod 31 of the push-out mechanism 30 passes through a portion thereof near the center of rotation and so that the relative position in the X-axis direction with respect to the rod 31 can be displaced. Furthermore, the locking member 41 is formed with a guide groove (not shown) that fits into the rib of the rod 31 and extends along the X-axis direction.

[0046] By using the locking member 41 configured as described above, the locking mechanism 40 switches between a restricted state and an operable state depending on the rotational position of the locking member 41. Specifically, when the locking member 41 is in a rotational position where the rib of the rod portion 31 fits into the guide groove of the locking member 41, the rod portion 31 is displaceable in the X-axis direction, and the operating members including the rod portion 31 are in an operable state. On the other hand, when the locking member 41 is in any other rotational position, the rib of the rod portion 31 does not fit into the guide groove of the locking member 41, and this interference restricts the displacement of the rod portion 31 in the X-axis direction, resulting in the operating members including the rod portion 31 being in a restricted state.

[0047] The locking mechanism 40, which limits the pushing operation of the operating member, is made up of the locking member 41 described above, the locking engagement piece 42 provided on the locking member 41, the rib of the rod 31, and the guide groove of the locking member 41. The guide hole 16 provided in the body 10 may also be included as a component of the locking mechanism 40.

[0048] (Insertor Main Body) The inserter main body 2, which includes the body portion 10, slider mechanism 20, push-out mechanism 30, and lock mechanism 40 described above, is configured so that after the lock mechanism 40 switches from the restricted state to the operable state, the slider mechanism 20 first moves the intraocular lens in the lens housing portion 14 to the transition portion 19, which is a predetermined position, to reliably fold the intraocular lens into a predetermined shape, and then the push-out mechanism 30 further pushes the intraocular lens to fold it even smaller, and in that state, the intraocular lens is released from the lens release port 18 and can be inserted into the eye. In this way, the inserter main body 2 is configured to contain an intraocular lens and to release the contained intraocular lens to the outside from the lens release port 18. The inserter main body 2 then moves the intraocular lens in the lens advancement direction (X-axis direction) in two stages, first via the slider mechanism 20 and then the push-out mechanism 30, so that the intraocular lens can be folded into a predetermined shape and released to the outside.

[0049] In addition, with regard to the body portion 10, slider mechanism portion 20 and push-out mechanism portion 30 that constitute the inserter main body 2, apart from the points described here, they may be constructed using publicly known technology (see, for example, Patent Publication No. 5413918, Patent Publication No. 6276619, etc.).

[0050] (Cap Member) The cap member 3 is attached to the body portion 10 of the inserter main body 2 so as to cover the side of the lens release port 18 of the inserter main body 2. More specifically, the cap member 3 is formed in a cylindrical shape with an opening at at least one end and is configured to fit into the body portion 10 through the opening at that end. For example, if the outer shape of the body portion 10 has a circular cross section, the cap member 3 is formed in a cylindrical shape that fits into the body portion 10. The fitting depth of the cap member 3 relative to the body portion 10 (i.e., the cylindrical length into which the body portion 10 can fit) is set so that it can reach at least the positions of the slit hole 15 and the guide hole 16 in the body portion 10 and cover them. Note that as long as the cap member 3 has an opening at at least one end, the other end may be open or may be sealed. In the following description, a cap member 3 with a sealed end will be used as an example.

[0051] The cap member 3 is configured to have one end open and the other end sealed, so that when attached to the body portion 10 (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as the "attached state"), it can seal at least the lens release port 18 of the inserter main body 2. As a result, when the cap member 3 is attached, the lens release port 18 of the inserter main body 2 is protected from external forces even when the inserter main body 2 is not stored in a case or the like. In addition, because the lens release port 18 is covered by the cap member 3, it is also very useful in preventing foreign matter from entering the body portion 10 of the inserter main body 2.

[0052] The cap member 3 attached to the body part 10 is configured so that it can be manually removed from the body part 10 by an operator. In other words, the cap member 3 is configured to be detachable from the body part 10. Furthermore, the cap member 3 is configured to be rotatable relative to the body part 10 when attached to the body part 10. Note that the specific configuration (mechanism) for detachability and rotatability may be any configuration realized using known technology, and is not limited to a specific embodiment.

[0053] 3, the cap member 3 is provided with a slider engagement groove 50, a lock engagement groove 60, and a tacking assist portion 70. These will be described in order below.

[0054] 3(b) to 3(d), the slider engagement groove 50 is a recessed groove formed on the cylindrical inner surface of the cap member 3, and is configured to engage with the slider engagement piece 22 of the slider mechanism 20 (particularly, the portion of the body portion 10 that protrudes outward from the cylinder). More specifically, the slider engagement groove 50 includes a screw groove 51 that extends spirally in the X-axis direction, and an ejection groove 52 that extends linearly from the end of the screw groove 51 along the X-axis direction to an opening at the rear end of the body portion 10. The screw groove 51 and the ejection groove 52 are formed with a groove width and groove depth that allow the slider engagement piece 22 to move along the groove when the slider engagement piece 22 is fitted in the groove.

[0055] The slider engagement piece 22 engages with the screw groove 51 and the ejection groove 52 serving as the slider engagement groove 50, thereby mutually engaging the attached cap member 3 and the slider mechanism 20 of the inserter body 2 to which the cap member 3 is attached. As a result, as will be described in detail later, the slider mechanism 20 moves the intraocular lens in conjunction with the rotation of the cap member 3. Furthermore, as will be described in detail later, the cap member 3 can be removed from the body portion 10 along the cylindrical axis of the body portion 10 with the slider mechanism 20 having moved the intraocular lens to the transition portion 19, which is a predetermined position.

[0056] The lock engagement groove 60, like the slider engagement groove 50, is a recessed groove formed on the cylindrical inner surface of the cap member 3. However, unlike the slider engagement groove 50, the lock engagement groove 60 is configured to engage with the lock engagement piece 42 of the lock mechanism 40 (particularly, the portion of the body portion 10 that protrudes outward from the cylinder). More specifically, the lock engagement groove 60 includes a rotational direction groove 61 that extends in a portion of the circumferential direction within the cylinder of the body portion 10, and an insertion / removal direction groove 62 that extends linearly from one end of the rotational direction groove 61 along the X-axis direction to an opening at the rear end of the body portion 10. The rotational direction groove 61 and the insertion / removal direction groove 62 are formed with groove widths and groove depths that allow the lock engagement piece 42 to move along the grooves when the lock engagement piece 42 is fitted in the groove.

[0057] The lock engagement piece 42 engages with the rotational groove 61 and the insertion / removal groove 62 that form the lock engagement groove 60, thereby mutually engaging the attached cap member 3 and the lock member 41 of the lock mechanism 40 of the inserter body 2 to which the cap member 3 is attached. As a result, as will be described in detail later, the lock engagement piece 42 moves within the rotational groove 61 in conjunction with the rotation of the cap member 3, and the lock member 41 of the lock mechanism 40 rotates depending on the movement position, thereby switching between a restricted state by the lock mechanism 40 and an operable state. Furthermore, as will also be described in detail later, the cap member 3 can be removed from the body 10 along the axial direction of the body 10 after the restriction by the lock mechanism 40 is released and the cap member 3 enters an operable state.

[0058] The tacking assisting unit 70 assists in the pre-folding of the intraocular lens by using a tacking pin 71 so that the intraocular lens can be appropriately pre-folded by the slider mechanism 20. To this end, the tacking assisting unit 70 is configured to include a tacking pin 71, a pin support unit 72, and a guide unit 73 attached to the cap member 3, as shown in Figures 3(b) and 3(d).

[0059] The tacking pin 71 is arranged so as to protrude into the cylinder of the body part 10 through a through-hole (not shown) of the nozzle part 12 when the cap member 3 is attached. By having the tacking pin 71 protrude into the cylinder of the body part 10, the posture of a part of the intraocular lens (for example, the support part on the front side) in the body part 10 is controlled by abutment with the tacking pin 71 when the intraocular lens is moved by the slider mechanism part 20, thereby ensuring appropriate pre-folding.

[0060] The pin support portion 72 is rod-shaped and supports the tacking pin 71. The tip of the rod supports the tacking pin 71, and the rod-shaped portion is configured to be elastically deformable. As a result, the tacking pin 71 supported by the pin support portion 72 is arranged to protrude into the cylindrical body portion 10 when the cap member 3 is attached, but when the cap member 3 is removed from the body portion 10, the tacking pin 71 is retracted from the cylindrical body portion 10 due to the elastic deformation of the pin support portion 72.

[0061] The guide portion 73 is formed by an inclined surface provided on the rod-shaped tip side of the pin support portion 72, and causes elastic deformation of the pin support portion 72 in response to relative movement in the X-axis direction when the cap member 3 is removed from the body portion 10. In other words, the guide portion 73 guides the tacking pin 71 to retract by using the inclined surface that causes deformation in the pin support portion 72.

[0062] The tacking assist portion 70, which is composed of the tacking pin 71, pin support portion 72, and guide portion 73, is provided as a part of the cap member 3. However, the tacking assist portion 70 is formed as a separate piece from the main body portion that forms the outer shape of the cap member 3, and is disposed so as to be rotatable relative to the main body portion of the cap member 3. As a result, when the cap member 3 rotates relative to the body portion 10, the tacking assist portion 70 rotates relative to the main body portion of the cap member 3, so that its relative position with respect to the body portion 10 does not change. Therefore, even if the cap member 3 rotates relative to the body portion 10, the protruding position of the tacking pin 71 into the body portion 10 does not change.

[0063] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cap member 3 having the above-described structure is preferably provided with a stopper member 4 in addition to the above-described structure.

[0064] The stopper member 4 is formed in a shape that fits into dedicated through-holes 4a, 4b provided on both the attached cap member 3 and the body portion 10 of the inserter main body 2 to which the cap member 3 is attached. The stopper member 4 is also configured so that it can be removed from the fitted state in the through-holes 4a, 4b by holding it with one hand and pulling it out.

[0065] If the stopper member 4 having such a configuration is provided, the following functions are realized when the cap member 3 is attached.

[0066] When the stopper member 4 is fitted into the through-holes 4a and 4b, it penetrates them to restrict rotation of the attached cap member 3 relative to the body portion 10. Furthermore, when the stopper member 4 is fitted into the through-holes 4a and 4b, it protrudes into the internal space of the body portion 10 to restrict misalignment of the intraocular lens (unintended movement of the intraocular lens) in the lens housing portion 14 within the body portion 10. The stopper member 4 is not limited to a specific shape or configuration, as long as it is configured to achieve the above-described function. The stopper member 4 may be provided with a through-hole (not shown) that communicates the inside and outside of the body portion 10 when fitted into the through-holes 4a and 4b. If a through-hole is provided, a viscoelastic substance (OVD) such as sodium hyaluronate can be injected into the internal space of the body portion 10 through the through-hole. In this case, the through-hole is preferably tapered to facilitate the introduction of an OVD injection needle and facilitate the injection operation. However, the OVD injection may be performed by other methods than using the through-holes in the stopper member 4 .

[0067] (2) Usage of Intraocular Lens Inserter Next, an example of a specific usage of the intraocular lens inserter 1 having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0068] When using the intraocular lens inserter 1, the intraocular lens inserter 1 is supplied sealed in a sterilized bag. Hereinafter, the state in which the intraocular lens inserter 1 is stored in a sterilized bag, or the state in which the intraocular lens inserter 1 has been removed from the sterilized bag without any operations being performed, will be referred to as the initial state before use. Note that the initial state of the intraocular lens inserter 1 is one in which the inserter body 2 already contains an intraocular lens. However, this is not limited to this, and an intraocular lens may be placed in the inserter body 2 in conjunction with or before the OVD injection, which will be described later, for an inserter body 2 that does not yet contain an intraocular lens.

[0069] In the initial state of the intraocular lens inserter 1, the cap member 3 is attached to the body portion 10 of the inserter main body 2, and the stopper member 4 is fitted to these. Therefore, in the initial state, the stopper member 4 restricts movement of the relative positions of the inserter main body 2 and the cap member 3, making it impossible to rotate the cap member 3 or remove the cap member 3 from the inserter main body 2.

[0070] Furthermore, in the initial state of the intraocular lens inserter 1, the lens pushing-out operation is limited by the locking mechanism 40. Specifically, the rotational position of the locking member 41 constituting the locking mechanism 40 within the base 11 is set so that the operating member (i.e., the plunger end 32 and a portion of the rod 31) is in a restricted state. This rotational position is a position where the rib of the rod 31 and the guide groove of the locking member 41 interfere with each other without engaging with each other. More specifically, this position is a position where the locking engagement piece 42 provided on the locking member 41 is positioned within the guide hole 16 of the base 11 and is positioned toward one end of the guide hole 16. By arranging the locking member 41 and the locking engagement piece 42 in this rotational position, the locking mechanism 40 places the operating member in a restricted state. Therefore, even when the cap member 3 does not entirely cover the inserter main body 2 and the operating member protrudes from the rear end of the body 10, the pushing operation of the operating member is limited. That is, there is no risk of the operating member being pressed in by mistake.

[0071] These facts mean that, in the initial state, if the cap member 3 is attached, there is no need for a case to house the entire intraocular lens inserter 1. In other words, the cap member 3 can be used as a substitute for the case. This makes it possible to simplify the configuration of the intraocular lens inserter 1, which is desirable in terms of lowering product costs through the reduction in resin material that accompanies simplification, and is also desirable in terms of environmental issues such as waste plastic.

[0072] When using such an intraocular lens inserter 1, that is, when inserting an intraocular lens into the eye using the intraocular lens inserter 1, first, the OVD is injected into the internal space of the body portion 10 that houses the intraocular lens, for example, by using the through-hole of the stopper member 4 to fill the internal space. This is one of the preparatory steps required for using the intraocular lens inserter 1.

[0073] After the OVD is filled, the stopper member 4 is removed by manually pulling it out as shown in FIG. 4(a) (see arrow A in the figure).

[0074] This releases the stopper member 4 from restricting the positional displacement of the intraocular lens inside the body portion 10. Therefore, the intraocular lens inside the body portion 10 can be expelled to the outside by the pushing operation of the pushing mechanism portion 30. This, along with the injection of the OVD, is one of the preparatory steps required for use of the intraocular lens inserter 1.

[0075] Furthermore, when the stopper member 4 is removed, the restriction on the rotation of the cap member 3 by the stopper member 4 is released, and the cap member 3 becomes rotatable. However, at this point, the cap member 3 cannot be pulled out linearly along the X-axis direction, even though it is rotatable, due to the positions at which the slider engagement piece 22 and the lock engagement piece 42 are engaged, as will be described later.

[0076] After the stopper member 4 is removed, the cap member 3, which is now rotatable, is rotated by hand in one direction (for example, counterclockwise when viewed from the tip end) as shown in Figure 4(b) (see arrow B in the figure). Note that during rotation, the cap member 3 does not move in the X-axis direction. In other words, the rotation around the cylindrical axis of the body portion 10 and the movement in the X-axis direction (the cylindrical axis direction of the body portion 10) represent different operations, and are not performed simultaneously.

[0077] At this time, the slider engagement piece 22 of the slider mechanism 20 protrudes from the slit hole 15 of the body part 10 of the inserter main body 2 to the outside of the cylinder of the body part 10 through the slit hole 15. The protruding portion of the slider engagement piece 22 engages with the screw groove 51 of the cap member 3 so as to be positioned within the groove of the screw groove 51. Therefore, the slider engagement piece 22 is movable within the opening range of the slit hole 15, and the screw groove 51 that engages with the slider engagement piece 22 extends spirally, so that when the cap member 3 rotates, the engagement position of the slider engagement piece 22 with the screw groove 51 is guided by the slit hole 15 and gradually moves toward the tip side.

[0078] As a result, inside the body portion 10, the slider mechanism 20 moves the intraocular lens in conjunction with the rotation of the cap member 3. The cap member 3 continues to rotate until the slider mechanism 20 moves the intraocular lens from the lens housing portion 14 to the transition portion 19. In other words, the shapes and positions (particularly the groove end positions) of the slit hole 15 in the body portion 10 and the screw groove 51 in the cap member 3 are set so that the intraocular lens reaches the transition portion 19 in conjunction with the rotation of the cap member 3. In this way, when the slider mechanism 20 moves the intraocular lens in conjunction with the rotation of the cap member 3, the movement speed of the intraocular lens depends on the number of rotations of the cap member 3. This means that the movement speed of the intraocular lens by the slider mechanism 20 can be adjusted by setting the number of rotations of the cap member 3. Furthermore, similar to setting the number of rotations, the movement speed of the intraocular lens can also be adjusted by setting the screw groove 51 (e.g., setting the helical pitch).

[0079] When the intraocular lens moves to the transition section 19, the cap member 3 is in an attached state, and the tacking pin 71 of the tacking assist section 70 provided on the cap member 3 protrudes into the cylindrical body section 10. Moreover, even if the cap member 3 rotates, the protruding position of the tacking pin 71 into the body section 10 does not change. Therefore, when the intraocular lens reaches the transition section 19, the posture of the intraocular lens is controlled by the abutment between the intraocular lens and the tacking pin 71. In other words, the tacking pin 71 can ensure appropriate pre-folding of the intraocular lens.

[0080] Furthermore, in the initial state before the cap member 3 rotates, the lens pushing-out operation is restricted by the locking mechanism 40. Specifically, the rotational position of the locking member 41 within the base 11 is set so that the operating member is in the restricted state, and the locking engagement piece 42 is positioned toward one end of the guide hole 16. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5 , the tip of the locking engagement piece 42 protrudes outside the barrel of the base 11 through the guide hole 16. However, even though the locking engagement piece 42 protrudes outside the barrel of the base 11, the protruding portion of the locking engagement piece 42 is engaged with the rotational direction groove 61 of the cap member 3 so as to be positioned within the groove. Therefore, even though the locking engagement piece 42 protrudes outside the barrel of the base 11, the presence of the rotational direction groove 61 does not hinder the rotation of the cap member 3 from the initial state.

[0081] However, as the cap member 3 continues to rotate, one end of the rotational direction groove 61 (specifically, the end where the insertion / removal direction groove 62 is formed) reaches the position of the lock engagement piece 42, and further rotation of the cap member 3 causes the one end of the rotational direction groove 61 to apply a pressing force to the lock engagement piece 42. As a result, the lock engagement piece 42 moves while being guided by the guide hole 16. Then, as the lock engagement piece 42 moves, the lock member 41 of the lock mechanism 40 rotates within the base part 11. In other words, in conjunction with the rotation of the cap member 3, the lock member 41 of the lock mechanism 40 also rotates in the same direction as the cap member 3.

[0082] 5, the locking member 41 rotates until the guide groove 43 formed in the locking member 41 moves and reaches the position where the rib 33 is formed on the rod portion 31 that passes through the locking member 41. When the guide groove 43 reaches the rib 33, they are positioned so that they can fit together. This causes the locking mechanism 40 to switch the state of the operating member from the restricted state to the operable state.

[0083] Such state switching by the locking mechanism 40 (i.e., the arrival of the guide groove 43 at the rib 33 as the locking member 41 rotates) is preferably timed to coincide with the timing of the intraocular lens reaching the transition portion 19. In other words, the shapes and formation positions (particularly groove end positions) of the guide hole 16 in the body portion 10 and the rotational direction groove 61 and insertion / removal direction groove 62 in the cap member 3 are set so that the guide groove 43 reaches the rib 33 as the locking member 41 rotates in conjunction with the timing of the intraocular lens reaching the transition portion 19, thereby switching the state of the locking mechanism 40 from the restricted state to the operable state.

[0084] When the locking mechanism unit 40 switches from a restricted state to an operable state, the restriction imposed by the locking mechanism unit 40 is released, and the plunger end 32 and rod unit 31 that constitute the pushing mechanism unit 30 become movable along the X-axis direction.

[0085] After the intraocular lens reaches the transition section 19 and the restriction imposed by the locking mechanism section 40 is released, the attached cap member 3 is then manually pulled out toward the tip side, as shown in Figure 4 (c), to remove the cap member 3 from the inserter body 2 (see arrow C in the figure).

[0086] At this time, the slider engagement piece 22 engages with the eject groove 52 located at the end of the screw groove 51, and is movable within the eject groove 52. Furthermore, the lock engagement piece 42 engages with the insertion / extraction direction groove 62 located at one end of the rotation direction groove 61, and is movable within the insertion / extraction direction groove 62. Therefore, even if the slider engagement piece 22 and the lock engagement piece 42 protrude outside the body portion 10, when removing the cap member 3, the slider engagement piece 22 moves within the eject groove 52, and the lock engagement piece 42 moves within the insertion / extraction direction groove 62, so that the removal operation of the cap member 3 is not hindered. In other words, the cap member 3 is rotatable around the cylindrical axis of the body portion 10, and when it rotates to a position where the guide groove 43 of the locking member 41 reaches the rib 33 of the rod portion 31 (hereinafter referred to as the "predetermined rotation position"), it becomes detachable from the body portion 10 at that predetermined rotation position, and can be removed from the body portion 10.

[0087] Furthermore, when the cap member 3 is removed, the relative positions of the cap member 3 and the inserter main body 2 change. This change in relative position causes elastic deformation of the pin support portion 72 in the tacking assist portion 70 attached to the cap member 3, as shown in FIG. 6 . Specifically, the change in relative position causes the guide portion 73 to abut against the side wall surface of a through hole (not shown) provided corresponding to the tacking pin 71, and as the guide portion 73 moves further, it is pressed along the inclined surface, thereby elastically deforming the pin support portion 72 in a direction in which the tacking pin 71 retracts from the cylindrical interior of the body portion 10. Therefore, even if the tacking pin 71 protrudes into the cylindrical interior of the body portion 10, the tacking pin 71 retracts from the cylindrical interior of the body portion 10 due to elastic deformation of the pin support portion 72 when the cap member 3 is removed, and therefore does not interfere with the removal operation of the cap member 3.

[0088] As described above, in this embodiment, the operator performs two steps of rotating and removing the cap member 3, which are different in the direction of movement, on the intraocular lens insertion device 1 in its initial state. These steps may be performed consecutively as a series of operations (i.e., as one continuous step), or may be performed at their own timing (e.g., with a time lag). In either case, performing these steps makes it possible to operate the slider mechanism 20 in conjunction with the movement of the cap member 3.

[0089] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the intraocular lens inserter 1 is in its initial state, the operator can perform two operations with different directions, namely, rotating and removing the cap member 3, which releases the restriction imposed by the locking mechanism 40 in conjunction with the operation of the cap member 3, thereby switching the state of the operating member from a restricted state to an operable state.

[0090] As a result, it becomes possible to perform a pushing operation of the operating member after removing the cap member 3. Then, when the operating member is pushed, the pushing mechanism 30 pushes out the intraocular lens, and the intraocular lens is released from the lens release port 18.

[0091] At this time, because the slider mechanism 20 is interlocked with the operation of the cap member 3, the intraocular lens pushed out by the push-out mechanism 30 is one that has been pre-folded by the slider mechanism 20. Therefore, by simply pushing the operating member after removing the cap member 3, the intraocular lens can be released from the lens release port 18 in a small folded state, thereby preventing improper folding when the intraocular lens is released. In other words, because the cap member 3 is interlocked with the slider mechanism 20, the intraocular lens can be successfully released from the lens release port 18 by simply pushing the operating member.

[0092] Furthermore, the operation of the cap member 3 is linked not only to the slider mechanism 20 but also to the switching of the state of the operating member. Specifically, when the operating member is in an operable state, the rib 33 of the rod portion 31 is guided by the guide groove 43 of the locking member 41, thereby enabling the rod portion 31 to move along the X-axis direction and push out the intraocular lens. At this time, the rod portion 31 is prevented from rotating relative to the body portion 10 by the presence of the rib 33, and always contacts the intraocular lens in a fixed position. Therefore, even when the intraocular lens is pushed out by pressing with the tip of the rod portion 31, a stable pushing operation in a fixed position is possible, which also contributes to the smooth release of the intraocular lens from the lens release port 18.

[0093] (3) Effects of this Embodiment According to this embodiment, one or more of the following effects can be obtained.

[0094] (a) In the intraocular lens inserter 1 according to this embodiment, the slider mechanism 20 moves the intraocular lens in conjunction with the rotation of the cap member 3. However, the movement of the intraocular lens is not linked to the attachment and detachment of the cap member 3 (i.e., movement in the X-axis direction). Therefore, a user of the intraocular lens inserter 1 (a surgeon such as a doctor) must perform the rotation of the cap member 3 (i.e., pre-folding of the intraocular lens) and the removal of the cap member 3 as two steps with different directions of movement. These steps may be performed consecutively (i.e., as one continuous step) or at separate timings (e.g., with a time lag). For example, this can accommodate cases where, after completing a pre-insertion step (such as lens removal) and finding it cumbersome to set up the intraocular lens inserter 1 from scratch, the user may want to keep the intraocular lens folded in advance. In other words, this intraocular lens inserter 1 provides excellent convenience for users. Furthermore, with the intraocular lens inserter 1 according to this embodiment, both the rotation of the cap member 3 and the removal of the cap member 3 are performed as operations on the cap member 3. In other words, rather than performing each operation as separate operations, the operations are performed as operations with different directions of movement on the same cap member 3. This prevents the ease of use of the intraocular lens inserter 1 from being impaired for the user. Furthermore, unlike, for example, folding a lens by pulling out a cap, there is no risk of the intraocular lens being impacted or damaged by the user's operation, and no special operational precautions are required from the user. As described above, the intraocular lens inserter 1 according to this embodiment can achieve excellent convenience and operability.

[0095] (b) In the intraocular lens inserter 1 according to this embodiment, the cap member 3 is attached to the body portion 10 of the inserter main body 2 so as to cover the lens release port 18 side. Removing the cap member 3 from the body portion 10 enables the intraocular lens inserter 1 to be used (i.e., to release the intraocular lens from the lens release port 18). Therefore, compared to when the intraocular lens inserter 1 needs to be removed from a case housing the entire device, simply removing the cap member 3 is sufficient. This eliminates the inconvenience to the operator using the intraocular lens inserter 1 (e.g., a physician performing cataract surgery), resulting in superior operability (convenience) for the operator. Furthermore, covering the lens release port 18 side with the cap member 3 ensures minimal protection while simplifying the configuration compared to a case housing. This simplification reduces the amount of resin material used, which is advantageous in terms of reducing product costs and also in terms of environmental issues such as waste plastic. In other words, this embodiment allows the intraocular lens inserter 1 to achieve superior convenience through a simplified configuration.

[0096] (c) In the intraocular lens inserter 1 according to this embodiment, the cap member 3 is rotatable around the cylindrical axis of the body portion 10, and is configured so that the cap member 3 is detachable from the body portion 10 at a predetermined rotational position. In other words, when the cap member 3 is attached, it cannot be removed from the body portion 10 by simply pulling the cap member 3 in the X-axis direction. However, if the cap member 3 is rotated to a predetermined rotational position, it can be removed from the body portion 10. Therefore, according to this embodiment, when the inserter main body 2 is partially protected by the cap member 3, it is possible to achieve excellent operability (convenience) for the operator using the intraocular lens inserter 1 while ensuring the necessary and sufficient protective function.

[0097] (d) In the intraocular lens inserter 1 according to this embodiment, the cap member 3 is attached to the body portion 10 of the inserter main body 2 so as to cover the side of the lens release port 18. The cap member 3 and the slider mechanism 20 of the inserter main body 2 are interlocked, and the slider mechanism 20 moves the intraocular lens in response to the rotation of the cap member 3. Therefore, when the cap member 3 is rotated to remove it, the intraocular lens in the body portion 10 moves to the transition portion 19, which is a predetermined position. In other words, when using the intraocular lens inserter 1, by performing the series of operations of rotating and removing the cap member 3 as one continuous step, it is possible to insert an intraocular lens into the eye using the inserter main body 2. Therefore, for the operator using the intraocular lens inserter 1, the operability (convenience) is significantly superior to that of an intraocular lens inserter housed in a case, and use is not cumbersome. Furthermore, because the slider mechanism 20 is operated by rotating the cap member 3, unlike when the operator directly operates the slider mechanism 20 to move it in a linear manner, the possibility of an operator making an operational error can be reduced, which is preferable in terms of preventing the intraocular lens from being folded improperly. More specifically, when the operator directly operates the slider mechanism 20 to move it in a linear manner, depending on the operation method, an unintended usage mode may occur, or the usage mode itself may vary (it is difficult to perform the exact same operation every time), which may result in a negative impact on the lens release performance. However, according to this embodiment, the operator does not need to directly operate the slider mechanism 20, which reduces operational errors, variation in usage mode, and the like.

[0098] (e) The intraocular lens inserter 1 according to this embodiment is configured so that the cylindrical cap member 3 fits into the body portion 10, and the cap member 3 and the slider mechanism portion 20 are interlocked by utilizing the engagement between the slider engagement groove 50 formed on the cylindrical inner surface of the cap member 3 and the slider engagement piece 22 of the slider mechanism portion 20. In other words, with a very simple configuration, it is possible to realize protection of the inserter main body 2 by the cap member 3 and to realize interlocking of the cap member 3 and the slider mechanism portion 20. Therefore, this embodiment is very preferable in terms of achieving excellent operability (convenience) with a simplified configuration.

[0099] (f) In the intraocular lens inserter 1 according to this embodiment, a tacking pin 71 is attached to the cap member 3, and is arranged so that the tacking pin 71 protrudes into the cylindrical body portion 10 of the inserter main body 2 when the cap member 3 is attached. Therefore, when moving the intraocular lens within the cylindrical body portion 10, the tacking pin 71 can be used to ensure appropriate pre-folding of the intraocular lens. Moreover, the tacking pin 71 only needs to be provided in association with the cap member 3, and does not need to be provided as a component separate from the inserter main body 2 and the cap member 3, so the configuration of the intraocular lens inserter 1 is not complicated.

[0100] Furthermore, when the cap member 3 is removed from the body portion 10 of the inserter main body 2, the tacking pin 71 attached to the cap member 3 is retracted from the cylindrical interior of the body portion 10 due to elastic deformation of the pin support portion 72. Therefore, the tacking pin 71 does not interfere with the removal operation of the cap member 3, and the cap member 3 can be easily removed from the body portion 10 of the inserter main body 2. In this respect, too, the intraocular lens inserter 1 offers excellent operability (convenience) for the operator.

[0101] As described above, according to this embodiment, the tacking pin 71 can be used to properly pre-fold the intraocular lens, while still achieving excellent convenience for the intraocular lens insertion device 1 with a simplified configuration.

[0102] (g) In the intraocular lens inserter 1 according to this embodiment, the intraocular lens pushing-out operation by the pushing-out mechanism 30 of the inserter main body 2 is restricted by the locking mechanism 40. Therefore, even if the cap member 3 does not cover the entire inserter main body 2 and a part of the rod portion 31 and the plunger end 32 that constitute the pushing-out mechanism 30 are exposed, the lens pushing-out operation by the pushing-out mechanism 30 is restricted, and the lens pushing-out operation will not be performed by mistake.

[0103] Furthermore, the locking mechanism 40 is configured to release the restriction on the pushing-out operation by the pushing-out mechanism 30 in conjunction with the rotation of the cap member 3. Therefore, when using the intraocular lens inserter 1, simply rotating the cap member 3 releases the restriction by the locking mechanism 40, meaning that the restriction is released in one step of operating the cap member 3, eliminating the need to perform a separate operating step for releasing the restriction.

[0104] As described above, according to this embodiment, the restriction by the locking mechanism 40 and the release of that restriction are linked to the cap member 3, which provides excellent operability (convenience) for the operator using the intraocular lens insertion device 1.

[0105] (4) Modifications, etc. Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above disclosure shows exemplary embodiments of the present invention. In other words, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[0106] In the above embodiment, the inserter main body 2 includes the slider mechanism 20 and the locking mechanism 40, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the inserter main body 2 can release the intraocular lens as long as it includes at least the body 10 and the push-out mechanism 30. In this case, if the cap member 3 is detachably attached to the inserter main body 2, the excellent convenience of the intraocular lens inserter 1 can be achieved with a simplified configuration.

[0107] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the extrusion mechanism 30 that releases the intraocular lens is of a push type that pushes out the intraocular lens by pushing the plunger end 32, etc., but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the extrusion mechanism 30 is not limited to the push type, but may be of a screw type, or may be compatible with both the push type and the screw type.

[0108] In the above embodiment, when the slider mechanism 20 is provided, an example is given in which the cap member 3 and the slider mechanism 20 are configured to move in conjunction with each other, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the slider mechanism 20 may be configured to move the intraocular lens independently of the cap member 3. However, if the cap member 3 and the slider mechanism 20 are moved in conjunction with each other as in the above embodiment, the operability (convenience) is excellent, which is preferable in terms of preventing the intraocular lens from failing to fold.

[0109] In the above embodiment, when the cap member 3 and the slider mechanism 20 are interlocked, the interlocking is achieved by the engagement between the slider engagement piece 22 and the slider engagement groove 50 (the screw groove 51 and the eject groove 52), but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the interlocking between the slider mechanism 20 and the cap member 3 may be achieved by other configurations, mechanisms, etc.

[0110] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, an example was given in which the slider mechanism 20, which functions as one of the movement mechanisms, is linked to the rotation of the cap member 3, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the push-out mechanism 30, which functions as another of the movement mechanisms, may be configured to be linked to the rotation of the cap member 3. In other words, the present invention is applicable only to any movement mechanism that moves the intraocular lens in the body portion 10 and is configured to be linked to the rotation of the cap member 3.

[0111] In the above embodiment, when the locking mechanism 40 is provided, the locking mechanism 40's restriction and release of the restriction are linked to the cap member 3. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the locking mechanism 40 may be configured to restrict and release the restriction independently of the cap member 3. In this case, the locking mechanism 40 may be configured to restrict and release the restriction in conjunction with an operating means, such as a knob, that is operable by the operator of the intraocular lens insertion device 1. This means that the locking mechanism 40, which corresponds to the state switching of the operating member, does not necessarily require the presence of the cap member 3, and may be configured to restrict the extrusion operation of the extrusion mechanism 30 even without the cap member 3.

[0112] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, when the locking mechanism 40 and the cap member 3 are interlocked, the interlocking is achieved by the engagement between the locking engagement piece 42 and the locking engagement groove 60 (the rotational direction groove 61 and the insertion / removal direction groove 62), but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the interlocking between the locking mechanism 40 and the cap member 3 may be achieved by other configurations, mechanisms, etc.

[0113] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the locking mechanism 40 includes a locking member 41 that is rotatable about the cylindrical axis of the body 10, and when the locking member 41 rotates to a predetermined rotational position, the locking mechanism 40 switches from a restricted state to an operable state. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if the rod 31 of the push-out mechanism 30 is configured to be rotatable about the cylindrical axis of the body 10, a lock engagement piece 42 may be provided on the rod 31, and the state may be switched between the restricted state and the operable state depending on the rotational position of the rod 31. In this case, the locking member 41 is not required, thereby simplifying the configuration of the locking mechanism 40. However, a configuration that includes the locking member 41 allows the rod 31 to perform a stable push-out operation with the intraocular lens in a fixed position without rotating, which is highly preferable for successfully releasing the intraocular lens.

[0114] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the locking mechanism 40 restricts and releases the restriction by utilizing the rotation of the locking member 41 and whether the rib 33 of the rod 31 and the guide groove 43 of the locking member 41 engage with or interfere with each other, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the restriction and release of the restriction by the locking mechanism 40 may be achieved by other configurations or mechanisms. For example, one such mechanism is a so-called latch mechanism that restricts by abutting against a protrusion and releases the restriction by passing over the protrusion.

[0115] In the above embodiment, the cap member 3 has been described as having a single component, i.e., a one-piece structure, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the cap member 3 may have a multi-piece structure, i.e., a combination of multiple components. In this case, it is possible to make the engaging portion with the slider mechanism 20 and the engaging portion with the locking mechanism 40 separate pieces. In other words, when the cap member 3 has a multi-piece structure, it is possible to make each piece separable or to assign each piece to a different function.

[0116] In the above embodiment, the components of the intraocular lens inserter 1 are described as being formed from molded resin parts, but the present invention is not limited to this and the components may be formed from metal parts such as stainless steel or titanium.

[0117] In the above embodiment, the tacking pin 71 is retracted by elastic deformation of the pin support portion 72, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the deformation for retracting the tacking pin 71 may be plastic deformation.

[0118] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...intraocular lens inserter, 2...inserter body, 3...cap member, 4...stopper member, 10...body portion, 11...base portion, 12...nozzle portion, 13...flange portion, 14...lens storage portion, 15...slit hole, 16...guide hole, 18...lens release port, 19...transition portion, 20...slider mechanism portion, 21...lens support member, 22...slider engagement piece, 30...push-out mechanism portion, 31...rod portion, 32...plunger end, 40...lock mechanism portion, 41...lock member, 42...lock engagement piece, 50...slider engagement groove, 51...screw groove, 52...eject groove, 60...lock engagement groove, 61...rotation direction groove, 62...insertion / removal direction groove, 70...tacking support portion, 71...tacking pin, 72...pin support portion, 73...guiding guide portion

Claims

1. An intraocular lens inserter comprising: an inserter body having a hollow cylindrical portion capable of containing an intraocular lens and configured to be able to release the intraocular lens contained in the hollow cylindrical portion to the outside through a lens release port; a movement mechanism portion that moves the intraocular lens inside the hollow cylindrical portion along the cylindrical axis direction of the hollow cylindrical portion; and a cap member that is attached to the inserter body so as to cover at least the lens release port, wherein the cap member is detachable from the inserter body and is rotatable around the cylindrical axis of the hollow cylindrical portion when attached to the inserter body, and the movement mechanism portion is configured to move the intraocular lens in conjunction with the rotation of the cap member.

2. An intraocular lens inserter according to claim 1, wherein the cap member is formed in a cylindrical shape with an opening at one end and a sealed other end, and is configured to fit into the inserter body through the opening, and the moving mechanism has an engaging piece that protrudes outside the hollow cylindrical part, and the engaging piece engages with an engaging groove formed on the inner surface of the tube of the cap member, thereby linking the cap member and the moving mechanism.

3. An intraocular lens inserter according to claim 2, wherein the movement mechanism includes a slider mechanism that moves the intraocular lens within the hollow cylindrical portion.

4. An intraocular lens inserter as described in claim 3, wherein the cap member has, as the engagement groove, a screw groove extending spirally in the axial direction of the hollow cylindrical portion, and an ejection groove extending linearly from the groove end of the screw groove along the axial direction of the hollow cylindrical portion.

5. An intraocular lens inserter as described in claim 1, wherein the cap member has a tacking pin arranged to protrude into the hollow cylindrical portion when attached, and a pin support portion that supports the tacking pin, and is configured so that when the cap member is removed from the inserter body, the tacking pin retracts from the hollow cylindrical portion due to deformation of the pin support portion.

6. An intraocular lens inserter according to claim 5, wherein the cap member has, in addition to the tacking pin and the pin support portion, a guide portion that causes deformation of the pin support portion in response to relative movement between the cap member and the hollow cylindrical portion in the axial direction of the cylinder.

7. An intraocular lens inserter as described in claim 6, wherein the tacking pin, the pin support portion, and the guide portion are arranged to be freely rotatable relative to the cap member, and are configured so that their relative positions with the inserter body do not change when the cap member rotates.

8. An intraocular lens inserter according to claim 2, wherein the movement mechanism includes a push-out mechanism that pushes out the intraocular lens from the lens release port.

9. An intraocular lens inserter according to claim 8, further comprising a locking mechanism that restricts the pushing-out operation of the intraocular lens by the pushing-out mechanism in the attached state.

10. An intraocular lens inserter according to claim 9, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to release the restriction on the pushing-out operation in conjunction with the rotation of the cap member.

11. An intraocular lens inserter as described in claim 10, wherein the cap member has, as the engagement groove, a rotational groove extending in a part of the circumferential direction inside the hollow cylindrical portion, and an insertion / removal groove extending linearly from one end of the rotational groove along the cylindrical axis direction of the hollow cylindrical portion to the opening.

Images