Injectors for intraocular lenses

Abstract

The invention relates to an injector (1) for implanting an intraocular lens, the injector comprising a base body (10), an elongated operating element (11) partially extending into the base body from the rear side and being movably guided along an operating axis (12), wherein the movement of the operating element (11) into the base body (10) can be selectively generated by means of a pushing operation (R) along the operating axis (12) or by means of a screwing operation (S) around the operating axis (12), wherein the operating element (11) has an external thread (13) at least in one section. According to the invention, at least one spring arm (14) is arranged on a base body (10), the spring arm having a threaded engagement structure (15) on an inner surface facing the outer thread (13), wherein an adjustment element (16) interacting with the spring arm (14) is arranged on the base body (10) in a manner that it can rotate about an actuation axis (12) or can move along the actuation axis (12), wherein the adjustment element (16) cooperates with the spring arm (14) by means of operative contact, wherein at least one inner surface (17) participating in the operative contact is formed on the adjustment element (16) and / or an outer surface (18) is formed on the spring arm (14) in a manner that is inclined at an angle (α) relative to the actuation axis (12), so that a rotation or movement of the adjustment element (16) can produce an elastic deformation of the spring arm (14) towards the actuation axis (12) and away from the actuation axis (12), so that the threaded engagement structure (15) can selectively engage or disengage with the outer thread (13).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an injector for implanting an artificial lens into a human eye, the injector comprising a main body, an elongated operating element partially extending into the main body from the rear side and being movably guided along an operating axis, wherein movement of the operating element into the main body can be selectively generated by means of a pushing operation along the operating axis or by means of a screwing operation around the operating axis, and wherein the operating element has an external thread at least in one section, and wherein an adjustment element is arranged on the main body. Background Art

[0002] Injectors for implanting intraocular lenses in the human eye are sufficiently known. For this purpose, the intraocular lens can be introduced into the injector immediately before being placed in the eye or can be introduced via a lens cassette with an internal intraocular lens, for subsequent addition of viscoelastic substance / viscoelastic material to push the intraocular lens from the front side of the ejection nozzle into the posterior chamber of the eye. The ejection nozzle forms the open end of a lens guide of the injector, which is arranged at the front side of the base body.

[0003] The piston is guided in the base body in a manner that allows it to move along the operating axis, and when the operating element is pushed and thereby transmitted to the piston, the piston connected to the operating element in a manner arranged one behind the other on the operating axis contacts the intraocular lens in the direction of the ejection nozzle and ejects the intraocular lens through the ejection nozzle.

[0004] In order to move the piston in a controlled manner within the base body of the syringe and further forward in the direction of the ejection nozzle through the lens guide, an actuating element is provided, which extends into the base body in such a way that the piston only contacts the intraocular lens when the actuating element is pushed forward along the actuating axis and can be moved together with the intraocular lens in the direction of the ejection nozzle until the intraocular lens is pushed into the posterior eye chamber. Newer syringes are used as disposable syringes and are discarded after a single use and after pushing the previously inserted intraocular lens. This design of the syringe is generally referred to as a pre-load system.

[0005] Here, the operator, i.e. the ophthalmologist, usually manually pushes the actuating element into the rear opening in the base body. Injectors are known which, in a first operating mode, perform a simple push movement, which is manually introduced into the actuating element, and in a second operating mode, perform a rotational movement, which is introduced into the same actuating element, in order to thereby move the actuating element along the actuating axis. In this regard, novel syringes of a novel design enable both a push actuation and a twist actuation, for which corresponding means for switching the operating modes are provided on the syringe.

[0006] For example, EP 3476 375 A1 discloses an injector for implanting an intraocular lens, and the operating element can be pressed into the base body either by pushing from the rear side or by a screwing movement, wherein the screwing movement can be manually introduced into the adjustment element, which has a direct threaded connection with the outer thread of the operating element. If, on the other hand, the operating element is pressed into the base body manually, the adjustment element rotates freely together. If the operating element is pushed into the base body selectively by pressing on the operating element from the rear side or by rotating the adjusting element, the operating element can come into contact with the piston and push the intraocular lens out of the ejection nozzle at the front side.

[0007] WO 2019 / 195951 A1 discloses another design of a syringe for implanting an intraocular lens into a human eye, wherein the syringe has a base body, an elongated operating element partially extends into the base body from the rear side and is movably guided along the operating axis, and wherein the movement of the operating element into the base body can be selectively generated by means of a push operation of the operating element along the operating axis or by means of a screw operation of the operating element around the operating axis, for which the operating element has an external thread at least in one section. In order to switch between the push operation and the screw operation of the operating element, two opposite, foldable and unfoldable wing handles are provided, wherein the operating mode can be switched to the push operation through the unfolded position, and can be switched to the screw operation in the folded position. In the operating mode of the push operation, the foldable and unfoldable wing handle can be used as a finger grip, so that the surgeon can grasp the syringe between the index finger and the middle finger at the wing handle to finally push the operating element into the base body with the thumb at the rear. If the wing handles are folded in, the actuating element can be screwed into the basic body by holding the basic body in the operator's first hand and screwing in the actuating element with the operator's second hand.

[0008] A further syringe is known from US Pat. No. 8,105,332 B2, which has an adjustment element arranged on a base body and rotatable about an actuation axis, the adjustment element having a channel through which an actuation element extends. In this case, the adjustment element cooperates with a floating ball, which contacts an inner contour of the adjustment element, wherein the inner contour has a variable radius. If the adjustment element is rotated about the actuation axis, the ball either strikes the base body from the outside, depending on the release position, or is pressed radially inwards into an opening formed in the base body, depending on the engagement position. In the release position, the actuation element can freely pass through the base body, and in the engagement position, the ball engages in an external thread on the actuation element, so that the actuation element can now be screwed into the base body.

[0009] US2016 / 0128752 A1 discloses a mixing and dispensing device for bone cement or artificial bone substitute, which has a replaceable pressure piston configured with an external thread. If the pressure piston is pressed into the matrix, the pressure piston acts together with a locking pawl arranged on the matrix. Therefore, the pressure piston can be pressed into a matrix filled with, for example, bone cement or an artificial bone substitute, and the matrix is ​​prevented from flowing out again by the locking pawl. Here, these locking pawls are radially repelled by threads during overflow, so that the pressure piston is pressed into the matrix, but can no longer be pulled out. In order to push the pressure piston in with a screwing motion when the pressure piston is pressed into and the force required for extruding a mixture composed of, for example, bone cement or a bone substitute is large, the locking sleeve can be pressed axially onto the locking pawl so that the locking sleeve no longer bounces radially and forms an internal thread in this regard, and the pressure piston can be screwed into the internal thread by means of an external thread.

[0010] Finally, US 4,810,249 A discloses a medical syringe having a piston with an external thread and, optionally, the piston of the syringe can be pressed into the base body of the syringe by a known pressing movement, or a pawl present on the base body is activated, which pawl engages with the external thread of the piston after activation, so that the piston is no longer pressed into the base body, but can only be screwed into the base body.

[0011] Usually, the syringe is adjusted by an assistant either for pushing or for twisting, so that the ophthalmologist then uses the syringe with the pre-adjusted operating mode in the following way, i.e., inserts the ejection nozzle at the front lens guide into the eyeball and then actuates the actuating element until the artificial lens has been pushed into the posterior ocular chamber. Summary of the invention

[0012] The object of the present invention is to improve an injector for implanting an intraocular lens into a human eye, wherein the injector should have a switchability between a push-in operation and a twist-in operation of an actuating element for ejecting the intraocular lens that is as simple as possible. In particular, a switchover between the push-in operation and the twist-in operation should be possible, so that the injector can be used in the same way, but the switchover between the push-in operation and the twist-in operation should be adjustable directly before the use of the injector.

[0013] The present invention includes such technical teaching, namely, at least one spring arm is arranged on the base body, and the spring arm has a threaded engagement structure on the inner surface facing the external thread, wherein the adjustment element interacts with the spring arm and can be rotated about the operating axis or can be moved along the operating axis, and wherein the adjustment element acts together with the spring arm through effective contact, wherein at least one inner surface participating in the effective contact is constructed on the adjustment element and / or the outer surface is constructed on the spring arm in an inclined manner at an angle relative to the operating axis, so that the rotation or movement of the adjustment element can produce an elastic deformation of the spring arm toward the operating axis and away from the operating axis, so that the threaded engagement structure can selectively engage or disengage with the external thread.

[0014] The core idea of ​​the present invention is an adjustment element, which can be manually rotated or moved between two adjustment positions, and in the first adjustment position, the adjustment element causes the threaded engagement structure on the spring arm to engage with the external thread of the operating element for screwing operation, and in the second adjustment position, the adjustment element releases the spring arm with the threaded engagement structure from the external thread of the operating element, so that the threaded engagement structure of the spring arm is disengaged from the external thread on the operating element, and the operating element can finally be freely moved for push operation.

[0015] That is, if the adjustment element is rotated into the second adjustment position, a spring arm or a plurality of spring arms, in particular two spring arms opposite to each other, can be elastically sprung outward relative to the actuation axis, so that the threaded engagement releases the external thread of the actuation element. According to the invention, the effective connection between the adjustment element and the spring arm is produced by an effective contact, i.e., the effective contact is designed such that, when the adjustment element is axially moved relative to the spring arm, a movement of the spring arm in the radial direction relative to the actuation axis is produced, i.e., the spring arm can move toward the actuation axis and thus toward the external thread of the actuation element and away from the external thread. Here, the axial direction refers to a direction extending on the actuation axis, while the radial direction refers to a direction perpendicular to the actuation axis. In this regard, the axial direction and the radial direction are perpendicular to each other in the present sense.

[0016] In order to generate a movement in the spring arm by the movement of the adjusting element, at least one of the surfaces involved in the effective contact has an inclined surface, which forms an angle with respect to the direction of the actuation axis. In this case, the angle can be obtained between the actuation axis and a vector located in the participating surface, i.e. the inner surface and / or the outer surface, wherein the vector runs through the contact point or contact line between the inner surface and the outer surface. Of course, the inner surface and / or the outer surface of the adjusting element or the spring arm can also be curved or designed in another way to deviate from a plane, but at the same time this does not deviate from the concept according to the invention of forming the effective contact at an angle.

[0017] The inclined surface of the participating surface can be an inner surface of the adjusting element, while the outer surface of the spring arm is designed to run straight, ie without an angle in the extension direction relative to the actuation axis, while the outer surface is correspondingly inclined or curved.

[0018] In this way, the outer surface of the spring arm can also run straight and the inner surface of the adjustment element can be inclined or curved.

[0019] Of course, the principle of action according to the invention works particularly well between the adjusting element and the spring arm when both the inner surface and the outer surface have an incline or curvature, which in particular each encloses the same angle relative to the actuation axis. However, in each case of the design of the inner surface and the outer surface, an effective contact is produced which is inclined at an angle relative to the actuation axis. The adjusting element does not have to be designed in one piece and can also be designed in multiple parts, so that the inner surface is also designed on the adjusting element part that cannot be manually actuated from the outside.

[0020] Particularly advantageously, the surfaces involved in the operative contact can have a coating which enables these surfaces to slide particularly advantageously on one another, ie both the inner surface and / or the outer surface have a coating.

[0021] For example, the setting element is designed as a slider element and is movably arranged in or on the base body. The inner surface can be designed on the slider element in such a way that when the slider element is moved on the base body, the inner surface is displaced relative to the spring arm and thus the principle of effective contact in the slider element can also be used in the form of an angle relative to the actuation axis. In a preferred case, the setting element is designed in an annular or sleeve-shaped manner and surrounds the actuation element over part of the circumference or over the entire circumference.

[0022] If the adjusting element is designed to be annular or sleeve-shaped, the adjusting element is preferably arranged on the base body in such a way that the axis of rotation of the annular or sleeve-shaped adjusting element coincides with the actuation axis.

[0023] Here, operating the syringe via a rotatable adjusting element is usually simpler and more comfortable than moving the slider element between two locking positions, but it is also conceivable that the adjusting element designed in an annular or sleeve shape can also be moved along the actuation axis on the base body, so that the adjusting element can be moved between two locking positions.

[0024] Finally, it is conceivable that the setting element has a translation-rotational mobility in the arrangement on the base body, whereby the most preferred variant is achieved, namely that the setting element can be moved on the base body by means of a threaded guide between the setting element and the base body. If the setting element is then turned manually and contact is achieved between the setting element and the base body by means of a corresponding threaded guide, an axial displacement of the setting element along the actuation axis can be achieved very conveniently in this way.

[0025] In particular, the adjusting element is formed as a rotating body which can be rotated manually about an actuating axis, the rotating body having an inner channel into which at least one spring arm extends and through which the actuating element passes. The spring arm is therefore at least partially located in a radial gap, in particular an annular gap, formed between the actuating element extending inside and the adjusting element on the outside.

[0026] More advantageously, the inner surface is formed in an inner channel of the adjusting element and / or the inner surface forms an inner cone around the actuating axis. That is, if the adjusting element is moved along the actuating axis, the outer surface at the spring arm contacts different sections of the inner surface in the adjusting element and thus contacts different radii of the inner surface, and depending on whether the adjusting element is moved axially in the first direction or in the second direction, the inner surface in the adjusting element presses the spring arm in the direction of the actuating element by means of the inclined surface due to the conical structure or increases the distance to the actuating element again. The movement of the adjusting element along the actuating axis can be superimposed on the rotational movement of the adjusting element about the actuating axis.

[0027] A further advantage can be achieved if the base body has a receiving section which has a channel through which the actuating element extends, and wherein the adjusting element is at least partially received or arranged in a rotatable or movably manner at or on the receiving section, and wherein at least one spring arm extends into the area between the inner surface of the adjusting element and the actuating element.

[0028] The adjusting element is received in a manner guided at or on the receiving section so as to be axially movable along an actuating axis and / or rotatable about an actuating axis, wherein a rear section of the adjusting element projects beyond the receiving section, and an inner surface inclined at an angle in the receiving section is constructed on the adjusting element, the inner surface cooperating with at least one spring arm.

[0029] Finally, at least one spring arm, two opposing spring arms, three, four or more spring arms can be arranged on the receiving section or on the base body at the end side or on the inner side of the receiving section, the spring arms projecting from the open end of the sleeve-shaped receiving section on the inner side and interacting with the inner surface of the adjustment element.

[0030] For example, if multiple spring arms are arranged between the inner operating element and the outer adjusting element, especially evenly distributed on the circumference, a design scheme according to the clamping pliers can be achieved, wherein, in the arrangement scheme of multiple spring arms around the operating element and its external thread, the resulting internal thread is composed of multiple threaded engagement structures of spring arms evenly distributed on the circumference almost over the entire circumference.

[0031] However, the embodiment according to the invention with a single spring arm at one peripheral position is also technically feasible, for example an actuating element with an external thread - at a position opposite the single spring arm - is held in a bearing sleeve opposite the spring arm. This variant is advantageous when the adjusting element is designed as a simple slide switching element which is also arranged at only one peripheral position.

[0032] In order to realize the guideway, since the adjustment element is moved along the actuating axis at the same time as the rotational movement is manually introduced into the adjustment element, i.e. the rotational movement is superimposed on the linear movement, it is particularly advantageous to introduce at least one groove in the outer circumference of the receiving section, wherein at least one pin is formed on the inner side of the adjustment element and is guided in the groove. The form of the guideway is realized by this groove-pin connection, wherein the groove is preferably formed helically on a section of the accommodation section or on the entire circumference. For example, the adjustment element can be rotated 90° or 180° about the actuating axis, so that the adjustment element thus performs an axial displacement along the actuating axis, which axial displacement is so great that the spring arm is pressed far enough into the outer thread of the actuating element by the outer surface of the spring arm and the inner surface of the adjustment element in an angular manner to produce a threaded connection between the threaded engagement of the spring arm and the outer thread of the actuating element. Particularly advantageously, two opposite or three grooves evenly distributed over the circumference are introduced into the outer circumference of the receiving section in a spiral design, in which grooves an associated pin can extend, which is formed on the inside in the inner surface of the adjusting element. The region of the inner surface of the adjusting element extending on the receiving section adjoins a region in which an inclined surface, in particular an inner conical surface, is formed in the inner surface.

[0033] In particular, an advantageous embodiment results when the adjusting element is arranged on the receiving section by means of a screw connection, so that by rotating the adjusting element about the actuation axis, the adjusting element is simultaneously displaced along the actuation axis.

[0034] Finally, the base body can have a wing handle, wherein the receiving section is connected as a projection to the rear side of the wing handle. The receiving section, the wing handle and the rest of the base body can be designed in one piece and of the same material and can be manufactured in particular as an injection molded part.

[0035] It is also advantageous if the injector has a receptacle for the intraocular lens, wherein the intraocular lens is inserted into a lens cartridge and wherein the lens cartridge with the intraocular lens can be inserted into the receptacle. Injectors of this type can be used multiple times in particular, provided that the injector can be sterilized again. However, the injector which can be loaded with a lens cartridge can also be designed as a single-use device.

[0036] The injector can also be implemented as a so-called pre-load system, according to which the injector has a receiving chamber formed in the base body and / or in the lens guide formed at the front side of the base body, into which the intraocular lens has already been inserted / placed by the manufacturer, so that the injector with the inserted intraocular lens forms a single unit that can be handled and sold. In this regard, the injector according to the invention can be used as a pre-load system or a lens box system.

[0037] Finally, a piston is accommodated in the base body, which can be moved axially by means of an operating element advantageously via a rotation transmitter. In particular, when the syringe is switched to a screw-operated operation, the operating element must perform a rotational movement, while the piston only performs a linear movement along the operating axis, and does not rotate around the operating axis itself.

[0038] Advantageously, the base body is integrally formed with the receiving section and with the wing handle and consists solely of a plastic body, wherein a lens guide arranged on the front side on the base body is configured with a top-side outlet nozzle for discharging the intraocular lens and is in particular detachably arranged on the base body. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] Other measures to improve the present invention are described in detail below together with the description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention according to the accompanying drawings. Among them:

[0040] Figure 1 shows a stereoscopic view of a syringe for implanting an intraocular lens into a human eye,

[0041] Figure 2 Shown according to Figure 1 An exploded view of the main components of the syringe.

[0042] Figure 3 A perspective view of a syringe with a setting element shown in section is shown, wherein the setting element is arranged in a first position in which the syringe can be actuated by a push actuation,

[0043] Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a syringe with a setting element shown in section, wherein the setting element is arranged in a second position in which the syringe can be operated by a screwing actuation,

[0044] Figure 5 A further perspective view of a syringe with a cut-away adjusting element is shown, wherein an axial displacement of the adjusting element in a first position is shown, in which the syringe can be operated by means of a push actuation, and

[0045] Figure 6A perspective view of a syringe with an adjusting element shown in section is shown, wherein an axial displacement of the adjusting element in a second position is shown, in which the syringe can be operated by means of a screw actuation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] Figure 1 The present invention shows a perspective view of an injector 1 for implanting an intraocular lens into a human eye. The injector 1 has a base body 10 as a main structural component, and an elongated actuating element 11 with a handle 32 at the end is partially inserted into the base body 10 at the rear. The actuating element 11 has a section provided with an external thread 13 over its substantial length, and the actuating element 11 is partially inserted into the base body 10 at the rear, so that the handle 32 is formed at the free end of the actuating element 11.

[0047] A lens guide 30 is arranged on the front side of the base body 10, in which an intraocular lens is received in a manner not shown in detail. The main components of the base body 10 are approximately cylindrical or designed to be ergonomically suitable for the human hand in terms of handling and have an elongated extension. The injector 1 with the base body 10, the lens guide 30 with the front side and the operating element 11 inserted at the rear side extends longitudinally along the operating axis 12. Here, the operating axis 12 simultaneously forms the push axis and the rotation axis for the selectively movable or rotatable operating element 11.

[0048] For better handling, a wing handle 23 is provided on the rear part of the base body 10, so that the syringe 1 can be held between the index finger and the middle finger by the wing handle 23, and at the same time the thumb can be pressed on the handle 32 at the rear. The adjusting element 16 is connected to the rear side of the wing handle 23, and the adjusting element is accommodated on the base body 10 in a rotatable manner about the actuation axis 12, and the adjusting element 16 has a channel, through which the actuation element 11 extends. Here, the adjusting element 16 is arranged on the base body 10 in such a way that the adjusting element does not directly contact the actuation element 11 and does not directly cooperate with the actuation element, in particular does not cooperate with the threaded connection.

[0049] An input opening 33 is shown on the lens guide 30, through which a viscoelastic substance can be injected before using the injector 1. The viscoelastic substance then wets the intraocular lens located inside and, in particular, the inner cavity in the lens guide 30, in order to facilitate the ejection process of the intraocular lens or to enable the ejection of the intraocular lens without damage. Finally, the ejection of the intraocular lens is carried out at the free top end of the lens guide 30 via the ejection nozzle 31.

[0050] The syringe 1 is realized by the adjusting element 16 so that the syringe 1 can be switched between the pushing operation and the twisting operation by the adjusting element. Figure 1 In the embodiment of the present invention, in order to switch between push actuation and screw actuation, the adjusting element 16 is configured on the base body 10 in a manner rotatable about the actuation axis 12, wherein the interaction between the adjusting element 16 and the actuation element 11 is shown in detail in the other figures.

[0051] Figure 2 The syringe 1 is shown in an exploded view, in which the main components of the syringe 1 are shown, wherein there are other components of the syringe 1 that are not shown, because these components are not required for explaining the present invention, but should also be components of the syringe 1 according to the present invention, so that the figure should not be understood as excluding these components.

[0052] The illustration shows a base body 10, a lens guide 30 is separated out separately, and the lens guide 30 shown aligned with the manipulation axis 12 is designed with a receiving cavity 27, in which an intraocular lens 24 is inserted (visible through one of the haptics), and another lens guide 30 shown on the lower side forms an alternative design and has a receiving part 24 for receiving a lens cartridge 25, into which an intraocular lens 26 shown separately is inserted. If the intraocular lens 26 is inserted into the lens cartridge 25 and then the lens cartridge 25 is inserted into the receiving part 24, the intraocular lens 26 can be pushed into the posterior chamber of the human eye by the piston 28 from the front side of the ejection nozzle 31. If the injector is designed as a pre-filled system, the lens guide 30 shown on the upper side can be used, which has a receiving cavity 27, into which the intraocular lens 26 has already been inserted during production.

[0053] To eject the intraocular lens 26 , the piston 28 performs a linear movement along the actuation axis 12 and the actuation element 11 is screwed into the basic body 10 by a screw actuation, so that the rotation transmitter 29 ensures that no rotational movement of the actuation element 11 is transmitted to the piston 25 .

[0054] In other words: instead of using a lens guide 30 with an artificial lens 26 directly accommodated in the accommodation cavity 27, a lens guide 30 can alternatively be used, which is equipped with a accommodation 24 into which a lens cartridge 25 with an artificial lens 26 already introduced can be inserted. Here, the lens guide 30 together with the accommodation cavity 27 forms a pre-filled system, according to which the injector 1 can be sold together with the artificial lens 26 already inserted into the injector at the factory. Alternatively, the injector 1 can also be provided without a pre-inserted artificial lens 26, for which the lens guide 30 has a accommodation 24 into which a lens cartridge 25 with an artificial lens 26 can be inserted before the use of the injector 1, which is referred to as a so-called lens cartridge system. In this regard, the receptacle 24 for accommodating the lens box and / or the receptacle cavity 27 for directly accommodating the artificial lens 26 can alternatively also be arranged in the base body 10, or when the lens guide 30 is already arranged on the base body 10, the receptacle 24 or the receptacle cavity 27 is constructed in the area between the lens guide 30 and the base body 10.

[0055] After the wing handle 23, the base body 10 comprises in the form of a shaped part a receiving section 20, on which the adjusting element 16 is mounted so as to be rotatable about the actuating axis 12. In this case, the outer surface of the receiving section 20 has a groove 21, which is spirally introduced into the receiving section on the receiving section 20, so that when the adjusting element 16 is rotated about the actuating axis 12, the adjusting element 16 simultaneously performs a movement along the actuating axis 12. A latching element 34 can be introduced at the end section of the groove 21 and, if the adjusting element 16 is rotated into the corresponding end position, a tactile feedback is provided to the user and the adjusting element 16 is automatically held in the end position. For effective connection with the groove 21, a pin is introduced on the inside of the adjusting element 16, which pin extends in the groove 21 and is only not shown in the illustrated figures, so that reference is made to the end position. Figure 3 .

[0056] The receiving section 20 is designed in the form of a sleeve and is connected integrally to the base body 10, in particular behind the wing handle 23. For example, three spring arms 14 are arranged within the receiving section 20, wherein the spring arms 14 are arranged elastically either inside the receiving section 20 or behind the base body 10 or the wing handle 23. Therefore, the spring arms 14 can be elastically moved inwards in the direction of the actuation axis 12 or outwards away from the actuation axis 12 by elastic deformation. When the spring arms 14 are arranged without force load, the spring arms have a spacing from each other or relative to the actuation axis 12, due to which the external thread 13 on the actuation element 11 can move freely in the middle between the spring arms 14. Therefore, the delivery state of the syringe 1 should be set in the following position of the adjustment element 16, that is, in this position, the adjustment element is in the adjustment position for the push actuation, so that the spring arms 14 are not continuously loaded with force and retain their resilient effect over a longer storage time.

[0057] By the axial displacement of the adjustment element 16 along the actuation axis 12, an elastic spring movement of the spring arm 14 in the direction of the central actuation axis 12 is generated, in particular when the adjustment element 16 is moved toward the wing handle 23, preferably by rotation, so that the guidance of the groove 21 causes the adjustment element 16 to move along the actuation axis 12 in the direction of the wing handle 23. By contacting the inner surface of the adjustment element 16, the spring arm 14 is elastically pressed inwardly toward the actuation axis 12, so that the threaded engagement structure 15 on the inner side of the spring arm 14 can engage with the outer thread 13 of the actuation element 11, so that the syringe 1 is then set for screw-operation.

[0058] Figure 3 and Figure 4 According to Figure 3 The syringe 1 is shown in a diagram in a setting for a push operation P, and in Figure 4 Illustration of the syringe in the setting for the screw control S.

[0059] exist Figure 3 In the embodiment, the adjusting element 16 received on the base body 10 behind the wing handle 23 is located in a rear position facing away from the wing handle 23 in such a way that the adjusting element 16 is rotated counterclockwise along the actuation axis 12 as seen in the direction of the wing handle 32. In this process, the pin 22 on the inner side of the adjusting element 16 is displaced in the groove 21 in such a way that the adjusting element 16 is axially displaced by the manually induced rotational movement about the actuation axis 12 and Figure 3 In FIG. 1 , the adjusting element 16 is located in a rear position in which the spring arms 14 are open, so that the spring arms 14 with the inner threaded engagement 15 do not engage in the outer thread 13 on the actuating element 11 .

[0060] In order to produce a radial displacement of the spring arm 14 in the direction of the actuating axis 12, the adjustment element 16 has an inner cone 19 which forms part of the inner face 17 of the adjustment element 16. The outer face 18 of the spring arm 14 faces the inner face 17 of the adjustment element 16 and according to this embodiment the outer face 18 and the inner face 17 also have a chamfer which extends at an angle α to the actuating axis 12. Thus, if the adjustment element 16 is displaced along the actuating axis 12, the position of the spring arm 14 is pressed radially inwards or released radially outwards again, depending on whether the adjustment element 16 is adjusted in the direction of the wing handle 23 or away from the wing handle 23, by means of the chamfer or the slope of the inner face 17 and the outer face 18 which are in contact with each other.

[0061] therefore, Figure 3 The position of the adjusting element 16 spaced apart from the wing grip 23 is shown so that the spring arms 14 can spring open by contacting the inner surface 17 on the larger diameter of the inner cone 19 so that the syringe 1 can be operated by a push actuation P.

[0062] On the contrary, Figure 4 The following position of the adjusting element 16 is shown, namely, in which the adjusting element is pressed onto the wing handle 23, so that the outer surface 18 of the spring arm 14 contacts the region of the inner cone 19 of the inner surface 17 of the adjusting element 16, which already has a smaller diameter, so that the threaded engagement structure 15 engages with the outer thread 13 of the actuating element 11. The syringe 1 can thus be operated by a screwing actuation S.

[0063] Figure 5 and Figure 6 Another embodiment of a syringe 1 is shown, which has an arrangement of an adjustment element 16 on a receiving section 20 of a base body 10, and in which the adjustment element 16 acts on a spring arm 14 during an axial movement as described above, so that the spring arm can establish and release an effective connection with the external thread 13 of the actuating element 11 using its inner threaded engagement structure 15.

[0064] If Figure 5 As shown in the figure, when the adjusting element 16 is arranged in a position where the adjusting element and the wing-shaped handle 23 have a larger position, the spring arm 14 springs outward, and if the adjusting element 16 is moved in the direction of the wing-shaped handle 23, the spring arm 14 is pressed inward, and the threaded engagement structure 15 on the inner side of the spring arm engages in the external thread 13 of the operating element 11.

[0065] Here, Figure 5 The position of the adjusting element 16 at a greater distance from the wing handle 23 is shown, so that the syringe can be operated by a push operation P, and Figure 6, the adjusting element 16 is shown in a position near the wing handle 23 and presses the spring arms 14 inwards, so that the syringe 1 can be actuated by a screw-actuation S.

[0066] Here, the groove on the receiving section 20 runs parallel to the actuating axis 12, so that according to this embodiment, the adjusting element 16 cannot be rotated and the operator can only move the adjusting element 16 axially between the two end positions mentioned above, which can be implemented in particular as a locking position with tactile feedback. The embodiment described here is that the adjusting element 16 can also be implemented as a slide, wherein the adjusting element 16 does not necessarily have to surround the actuating element 11 over the entire circumference and is not necessarily connected to the actuating element 11 according to the embodiment. Figure 5 and Figure 6 Different from the illustration, the adjustment element 16 can also be designed as a slide block arranged at a peripheral position.

[0067] The syringe 1 thus offers the advantage that the surgeon can decide, for example, with one hand or through a surgeon's assistant, directly before insertion into the human eye whether he wants to operate the syringe 1 by a push actuation P or by a twist actuation S. The handle 32 is shown only as an example and can also be designed in an alternative manner, and likewise the wing grip 23 does not have to be designed in a transversely extending manner, but can also be designed as a disk grip with a flange designed around the actuation axis 12. In this case, according to Figure 5 and Figure 6 The embodiments may also be used as a pre-loaded system or a lens box system.

[0068] The invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments given above in its embodiment. On the contrary, it is also conceivable to use a variety of variants of the solution described in principle in different types of embodiments. All features and / or advantages derived from the claims, the description or the drawings, including structural details or spatial arrangements, can be important contents of the invention not only by themselves but also in different combinations.

[0069] List of reference numerals:

[0070] 1 syringe

[0071] 10 Matrix

[0072] 11. Control elements

[0073] 12 control axis

[0074] 13 External thread

[0075] 14 Spring Arm

[0076] 15 Threaded joint structure

[0077] 16 Adjustment elements

[0078] 17 Internal surface

[0079] 18 external sides

[0080] 19 inner tapered part

[0081] 20 Accommodation Section

[0082] 21 slots

[0083] 22 pins

[0084] 23 Wing handle

[0085] 24 Containers

[0086] 25 Lens Box

[0087] 26Intraocular lens

[0088] 27 Accommodation cavity

[0089] 28 Piston

[0090] 29 Rotating Transmitter

[0091] 30 Lens guide

[0092] 31 ejection nozzle

[0093] 32 handles

[0094] 33 Input opening

[0095] 34 card lock

[0096] P Push Operation

[0097] S Twist-operated

[0098] α Angle

Claims

1. An injector (1) for implanting an intraocular lens, the injector comprising a base body (10), an elongated actuating element (11) partially extending into the base body from the rear side and being guided movably along an actuating axis (12), wherein: The invention relates to a method for producing a movement of an operating element (11) into a base body (10) selectively by means of a push-in operation (P) along an operating axis (12) or by means of a screw-in operation (S) about the operating axis (12), wherein the operating element (11) has an external thread (13) at least in one section, wherein an adjustment element (16) is arranged on the base body (10), characterized in that at least one spring arm (14) is arranged on the base body (10), the at least one spring arm having a threaded engagement structure (15) on an inner surface facing the external thread (13), wherein the adjustment element (16) interacts with the spring arm (14) and can be moved about the operating axis The thread (12) is rotated or movable along the operating axis (12), wherein the adjustment element (16) cooperates with the spring arm (14) through effective contact, wherein at least one inner surface (17) participating in the effective contact is configured on the adjustment element (16) and / or the outer surface (18) is configured on the spring arm (14) in a manner inclined at an angle (α) relative to the operating axis (12), so that the rotation or displacement of the adjustment element (16) can produce an elastic deformation of the spring arm (14) towards the operating axis (12) and away from the operating axis (12), so that the threaded engagement structure (15) can selectively engage or disengage with the external thread (13).

2. The syringe (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The adjusting element (16) is designed as a slide element and is movably arranged in or on the base body (10), and / or the adjusting element (16) is designed in an annular or sleeve-shaped manner and surrounds the actuating element (11) over part of the circumference or over the entire circumference.

3. The syringe (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The adjusting element (16) forms a rotating body which can be rotated manually about an actuating axis (12), the rotating body having an inner channel into which at least one spring arm (14) projects and through which the actuating element (11) extends.

4. The syringe (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The inner surface (17) is constructed in the inner channel of the adjustment element (16) and forms an inner cone (19) around the actuation axis (12), so that when the adjustment element (16) is axially moved along the actuation axis (12), the outer surface on the spring arm (14) contacts different sections of the inner surface in the adjustment element (16) and thus different radii of the inner surface.

5. The syringe (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The base body (10) has a receiving section (20) having a channel through which an actuating element (11) extends, wherein the actuating element (11) is movably received at or on the receiving section (20), wherein at least one spring arm (14) extends into a region between an inner surface (17) of an adjusting element (16) and the actuating element (11).

6. The syringe (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that The adjusting element (16) is guided on or in a receiving section (20) so as to be axially movable along an actuation axis (12) and / or rotatable about the actuation axis (12).

7. The syringe (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that Two opposing spring arms (14), three, four or more spring arms (14) are arranged on the receiving section (20) or on the base body (10) at the end face of the receiving section (20) or within the receiving section.

8. The syringe (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that At least one groove (21) is introduced into the outer circumference of the receiving section (20), wherein at least one pin (22) is formed on the inside in the adjustment element (16) and is guided in the groove (21).

9. The syringe (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that The adjusting element (16) is arranged on the receiving section (20) by means of a screw connection, so that by rotating the adjusting element (16) about the actuating axis (12), the adjusting element (16) is moved along the actuating axis (12).

10. The syringe (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that The base body (10) has a wing handle (23), wherein the receiving section (20) adjoins the rear side of the wing handle (23) as a projection.

11. The syringe (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The injector (1) has a receptacle (24) for an intraocular lens (26), wherein the intraocular lens (26) is introduced into a lens cartridge (25), wherein the lens cartridge (25) with the intraocular lens (26) can be inserted into the receptacle (24).

12. The syringe (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The injector (1) has a receiving cavity (27) constructed in a base body (10) and / or in a lens guide (30) constructed on the front side of the base body (10), into which an artificial lens (26) is inserted, so that the injector (1) with the inserted artificial lens (26) forms a single unit that can be operated and sold.

13. The syringe (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that A piston (28) is accommodated in the base body (10) and can be axially displaced by means of an actuating element (11) via a rotation transmitter (29).

14. The syringe (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The base body (10) is formed integrally with the receiving section (20) and the wing handle (23) from a plastic body, wherein a lens guide (30) arranged at the front side of the base body (10) is configured with an apical ejection nozzle (31) for ejecting an intraocular lens.

Images