Silicone device for corneal cross-linking

Abstract

A crosslinking device and system are disclosed. In various embodiments, the crosslinking device includes: a body including sidewalls; a corneal clamping portion positioned within an internal cavity and defining an anterior chamber and an ocular chamber, and defining an aperture configured to allow a portion of the cornea to pass through and extend into the anterior chamber. In various embodiments, the device includes a multipurpose fluid port positioned on the sidewalls and defining two or more fluid channels that connect a pair of external ports to an anterior chamber port and an ocular chamber port, respectively, to allow fluid to enter and exit the interior of the device. In various embodiments, the device is constructed of an elastomer, and, in response to a vacuum, the corneal clamping portion is configured to conform to the eye and seal the anterior chamber.

Description

[0001] Related applications

[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 092,759, filed October 16, 2020, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0003] public domain

[0004] This disclosure relates to the treatment of corneal diseases, and more specifically, to devices and methods for corneal cross-linking.

[0005] background

[0006] Keratoconus is an eye condition that causes the corneal structure to thin and / or weaken, leading to a gradual bulging of the cornea into a cone shape. In many patients, this condition results in blurred vision, double vision, myopia, irregular astigmatism, and light sensitivity, as well as other potential declines in quality of life. While the condition can initially be corrected with glasses or soft contact lenses, specialized lenses may be required if the condition progresses, and in a minority of cases, corneal scarring may occur, potentially necessitating a corneal transplant. Given these risks, corrective procedures such as corneal collagen cross-linking can be used to strengthen the cornea and potentially slow or stop further bulging. Similarly, cross-linking can be performed to maintain the necessary remodeling of corneal tissue resulting from ocular therapies such as thermal corneal transplantation, LASIK surgery, etc.

[0007] Typically, corneal collagen cross-linking involves applying a cross-linking solution, such as riboflavin or another suitable solution, to the eye, which is activated by light, for example, ultraviolet light. The activated solution results in the formation of new bonds between collagen chains in the stromal layer of the cornea, which restores and maintains some of the mechanical strength of the cornea. Furthermore, oxygen present in the collagen layer of the cornea is known to play a role in the cross-linking reaction. For example, it is well known that the cross-linking reaction is limited by the amount of oxygen present. See, for example, U.S. Patent Nos. 8,574,277; 9,644,089; 9,907,698; and 10,010,449, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. See also U.S. Publications 2014 / 249,509 and 2013 / 178,821, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. In addition, see Hill et al., Optimization of Oxygen Dynamics, UVA Delivery, and Drug Formulation for Accelerated Epi-On Corneal Crosslinking, Current Eye Research, 45(4), 450-458, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Further improvements to corneal collagen crosslinking devices and systems are expected.

[0008] Overview

[0009] According to embodiments of this disclosure, a corneal crosslinking device for stabilizing corneal tissue and improving its biomechanical strength is disclosed. Various embodiments offer benefits in the form of improved devices for performing crosslinking ocular therapies, including improved administration capability and increased oxygen concentration during the crosslinking process. The crosslinking rate in the cornea is related to the concentration of O2 present when the crosslinking agent is irradiated with photoactivated light. As a result, when crosslinking procedures are performed in the presence of high levels of O2, patient outcomes are typically improved due to better and more efficient crosslinking of the corneal stroma. This is particularly important when performing an "epi-on" procedure compared to an "epi-off" procedure. Preserving the corneal epithelium adds an additional challenge to obtaining sufficient riboflavin to saturate the cornea. Furthermore, during the procedure, the preserved epithelium prevents some oxygen from entering the stroma. However, by setting up a pressurized hyperoxia chamber on the cornea during UVA light application, practitioners will see more efficient crosslinking in both the epi-on and epi-off processes.

[0010] Furthermore, various implementations offer benefits in the form of devices that can be used to aid in the treatment of corneal infections. Corneal ulcers and infections can be caused by a variety of organisms, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, molds, and amoebas. These corneal infections are often difficult to treat with eye drops because the medication does not remain in contact with the cornea for an extended period before being removed from the surface of the eye through blinking and cannula drainage mechanisms. For this reason, eye drops must be used very frequently, and the medication eye drops must be formulated at very high concentrations to achieve the MIC (mean inhibitory concentration) or MBC (mean bactericidal concentration) in the corneal stroma. Therefore, various implementations offer benefits by allowing the antibiotic / antifungal / anti-amoebic drug to remain in direct contact with the corneal tissue for the required duration. Additionally, a chamber above the cornea containing the drug can be pressurized to push additional drug into the corneal tissue beyond the simple diffusion rate based on drug concentration. This chamber allows for uniform distribution across the entire cornea. This should allow the drug to reach concentrations in the corneal stroma that are much higher than those achievable with eye drops. If desired, oxygen bubbles can also be passed through the anti-infective liquid medication in the chamber to generate oxygen free radicals. UVA light can also be delivered through the top of the chamber, thereby further killing infectious organisms.

[0011] Therefore, various embodiments of this disclosure provide a corneal crosslinking device comprising: a body including sidewalls extending from a top to a bottom and surrounding a central axis, the top including a top surface, and the bottom defining a bottom edge and a first orifice entering an internal cavity defined by the sidewalls and the top surface. In one or more embodiments, the device includes a corneal clamp positioned within the internal cavity and defining a separation between an anterior chamber and an ocular ventricle shaped via the internal sidewalls and the corneal clamp to conform to a patient's eye, the corneal clamp defining an orifice configured to allow a portion of the cornea to pass through and extend into the anterior chamber. In one or more embodiments, the device includes a multipurpose fluid port positioned on the sidewalls and defining two or more fluid channels connecting a pair of external ports to an anterior chamber port and an ocular ventricle port, respectively, to allow fluid to enter and exit the interior of the device.

[0012] In various embodiments, the device is made of an elastomer, and the intraocular port is attachable to a vacuum source, allowing suction to be applied between the eye and the inner wall of the intraocular chamber, such that the corneal clamp conforms to the eye and serves to seal the intraocular chamber by allowing fluid to enter the intraocular chamber without leakage through the hole between the intraocular chamber and the intraocular chamber.

[0013] The above overview is not intended to describe every illustrated embodiment or every implementation of this disclosure.

[0014] Brief description of several views in the accompanying drawings

[0015] The accompanying drawings contained in this application are incorporated in and form part of the specification. They illustrate embodiments of this disclosure and, together with the specification, serve to explain the principles of this disclosure. The drawings are merely examples of certain embodiments and do not limit the scope of this disclosure.

[0016] Figure 1 A perspective view of a crosslinking apparatus according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure is depicted;

[0017] Figure 2 A cross-sectional plan view of a cross-linking apparatus according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure is depicted;

[0018] Figure 3 A perspective view of a crosslinking apparatus in use according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure is depicted;

[0019] Figures 4A-4B Perspective views and cross-sectional views of a crosslinking apparatus in use according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure are depicted;

[0020] Figure 5 A method for corneal crosslinking using a crosslinking device according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure is described;

[0021] Figure 6 A cross-sectional plan view of a cross-linking apparatus according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure is depicted;

[0022] Figure 7 A cross-sectional plan view of a cross-linking device having an externally supported sidewall according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure is depicted;

[0023] Figure 8 A perspective view of a crosslinking device having an externally supported sidewall according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure is depicted.

[0024] While various modifications and alternatives may be made to the embodiments of this disclosure, details have been shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings and will be described in detail. However, it should be understood that the purpose is not to limit the disclosure to the specific embodiments described. Rather, it is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

[0025] Detailed description

[0026] Reference Figure 1-2The image depicts a crosslinking device 100 according to one or more embodiments. In various embodiments, the device 100 includes a body 104 defined by sidewalls 108 extending from a top 112 to a bottom 116 of the device. Figure 1 As shown, the device 100 has a generally cylindrical or tubular shape, wherein the side portion 120 of the body 104 extends between the top 112 and the bottom 116 about the central axis 122.

[0027] In one or more embodiments, top 112 defines a top surface 124, while bottom 116 defines a bottom edge 126 and a first opening 130 for access to the internal cavity 134 of the device 100 defined by sidewall 108. In one or more embodiments, the internal cavity 134 includes at least two portions, including an anterior chamber 136 and an ocular chamber 138, and a corneal clamping portion 140 is positioned between the chambers and defines a boundary therebetween. In one or more embodiments, the corneal clamping portion 140 is part of an internal sidewall 142 that extends inward toward a central axis 122 and defines an internal flange and / or ridge having an opening between the anterior chamber 136 and the ocular chamber 138. In various embodiments, the corneal clamping portion 140 includes one or more circumferential ridges 141 extending around the internal sidewall 142. In some embodiments, and further described below, portion 140 includes a vacuum recess 143 configured to allow a vacuum to be applied to the ocular chamber during use for attachment to the cornea. In such an implementation, the circumferential ridge 141 configures the clamping portion 140 to selectively bend at multiple portions of the inner sidewall between the ridges 141 to generate a clamping bending motion in use that tightly conforms the inner sidewall 142 of the device 100 to the cornea.

[0028] Thus, in one or more embodiments, and further described below, the ocular chamber 138 is shaped via the corneal clamp 140 into a curved or substantially hemispherical shape, which is configured to conform to and suit the shape of the patient's eye and / or cornea in use.

[0029] In one or more embodiments, the anterior chamber 136 has a volume defined by the arrangement of the corneal clamping portion 140 along the length of the side portion 120 and / or the diameter of the top surface 124. For example in Figure 1-2 As depicted, the corneal clamping portion 140 is positioned approximately one-third of the total vertical length of the side portion 120 from the bottom edge 126. Consequently, approximately two-thirds of the length of the side portion 120 defines the volume of the anterior chamber, while approximately one-third of the length of the side portion defines the volume of the ocular chamber 138. It is also depicted that the diameter of the top surface 124 is larger than the diameter of the first aperture 130 defined by the bottom edge 126. Thus, a greater volume is contributed to the upper portion of the device 100.

[0030] In such an embodiment, the volume of the anterior chamber 136 will be greater than the volume of the ocular chamber 138. In some embodiments, the volume of the anterior chamber 136 is 5% to 50% larger than the volume of the ocular chamber 138. However, in some embodiments, the volume of the anterior chamber 136 may be 50% larger than the volume of the ocular chamber 138.

[0031] In various embodiments, a multipurpose fluid port 146 is positioned on the side 120 of the sidewall 108 and defines a pair of fluid channels 150, 152 that connect a pair of external fluid ports 153, 154 to anterior chamber port 155 and eye chamber port 156, respectively. In such embodiments, the fluid channels 150, 152 define paths allowing liquids, gases, and other fluids to enter and exit the interior of the device. Thus, as used herein, the term "fluid" is intended to refer to both liquids and gases.

[0032] In one or more embodiments, the multipurpose fluid port 146 includes two or more fluid channels leading into the interior of the device. In such embodiments, port 146 allows multiple fluid input or fluid extraction functions to occur simultaneously while the device is being used. For example, as further described below, port 146 allows a vacuum to be applied to one fluid channel while other fluids can be input into or extracted from the device via another fluid channel.

[0033] In one or more embodiments, a pressure relief port 170 is additionally included in the side portion 120 of the sidewall. In such embodiments, port 170 defines an additional fluid passage into the anterior chamber 136, which can be selectively opened or closed via a plug 174, valve, pressure valve, or other device. In one or more embodiments, pressure relief port 170 allows pressure equalization of the anterior chamber to prevent damage to the device and / or ejection during use. For example, as further described below, when the device is attached to a patient's eye, port 170 allows the use of a pump to introduce riboflavin or other fluids into the anterior chamber without over-pressurizing the anterior chamber. If excessive pressure is applied, the device may rupture during use or simply eject from the patient's eye. Similarly, port 170 allows a vacuum to be applied to the chamber to remove riboflavin from the anterior chamber while also preventing the sidewall from collapsing due to the pressure of the applied vacuum. Figure 1-4B As shown, port 170 is selectively opened and closed via a plastic plug 174 having a rounded flange and a handle at one end. However, in various embodiments, port 170 may be selectively opened / closed via a pressure switch, pressure valve, or other device. For example, in Figure 6Another embodiment of the pressure relief port 604, as depicted, is shown in the form of a slit valve, which is a self-sealing slit in the apex of the ring that provides pressure relief and prevents the device from ejecting. In such an embodiment, no plastic plug or separate device is required. Instead, the pressure relief port 604 is designed to open at a specified pressure to allow balance in or out of the device.

[0034] In one or more embodiments, device 100 is composed of one or more polymers, elastomers, etc. For example, in various embodiments, device 100 is composed of one or more silicone, rubber, latex. In one or more embodiments, device 100 is configured as a single workpiece. However, in some embodiments, device 100 may be composed of multiple workpieces assembled or otherwise joined together.

[0035] In various embodiments, the material of device 100 is at least partially transparent. For example, in various embodiments, the material is transparent enough that UV light can pass through the material of the device to activate the cross-linked solution within the anterior chamber 136. For example, in various embodiments, the top surface 124 of device 100 is made of silicone, which has the desired properties that allow for excellent UV light transmission. Furthermore, it allows the surgeon to clearly visualize the corneal surface during use.

[0036] refer to Figure 3 and 4A -4B depicts a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of a crosslinking device 100 in use according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0037] In one or more embodiments, the device is centered and lowered above and onto the patient's eye 304. As described, the inner sidewall 142 of the eye chamber 138 has a shape and size configured to conform to the cornea 308. In one or more embodiments, the corneal clamping portion 140 defines a second aperture 312 configured to allow a portion 404 of the cornea 308 to pass through into the anterior chamber 136, such that the portion 404 can be exposed to a crosslinking solution and / or a UV light source 401 positioned above the device 100.

[0038] As described, the ventricle port 154 defines a fluid passage 152 for entering the ventricle 138 of the device 100. Thus, when the device 100 is placed on the eye 304, the ventricle port 154 can be connected to a vacuum source 410 and suction can be applied via the fluid passage 152 to apply suction in the vacuum recess 143 between the eye 304 and the inner wall 142 of the ventricle 138, thereby holding the device tightly to the cornea 308.

[0039] In various embodiments, because the device 100 is made of an elastomer or other flexible material such as silicone, the device 100 will contract and conform to the eye in response to the force of a vacuum applied between the eye 304 and the inner wall 142. As a result, in various embodiments, the corneal clamping portion 140, the circumferential ridge 141, and the inner sidewall 142 are tightly conformed to the eye, and the corneal clamping portion 140 functions to seal the anterior chamber 136 and allow the insertion of liquids or other solutions into the anterior chamber 136 without leakage via the orifice 312. Consequently, crosslinking solutions can be more tightly controlled to expose only the exposed portion 404 of the cornea 308, while keeping the rest of the eye unexposed. In one or more embodiments, the circumferential ridge 141 configures the clamping portion 140 to selectively bend at multiple portions of the inner sidewall between the ridges 141 to produce a clamping bending motion that, in use, tightly conforms the inner sidewall 142 of the device 100 to the cornea.

[0040] In one or more embodiments, the anterior chamber port 153 defines a fluid passage 150 into the anterior chamber cavity 136. In one or more embodiments, a fluid supply system 414, including a reservoir 416 and an oxygen source 418, is connected to port 153 via one or more conduits 420, such that once the anterior chamber 136 is sealed using the corneal clamp 140 and the vacuum source 410, fluid can be supplied to or drained from the anterior chamber using the respective supply sources 416, 418. In various embodiments, the fluid supply system 414 may include elements such as pumps, valves, or other elements for controlling fluid flow. For example, in one or more embodiments, the reservoir 416 includes a crosslinked solution, such as riboflavin, which is initially pumped or otherwise introduced through port 153. After saturation, the liquid can be aspirated through port 153 and oxygen can then be pumped in via the oxygen source 418 through the same port 153.

[0041] Reference Figure 5 This invention describes a method 500 for crosslinking using a crosslinking device according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. In one or more embodiments, method 500 includes positioning the crosslinking device on the eye at operation 504. In various embodiments, the crosslinking device is the same as or substantially similar to the device 100 described and depicted above, comprising at least two portions having an anterior chamber and an ocular chamber, and a corneal clamping portion positioned between the chambers and defining a boundary therebetween. In one or more embodiments, the corneal clamping portion defines a second aperture configured to allow a portion of the cornea to pass through into the anterior chamber. In this embodiment, the cornea of ​​the eye is generally aligned with the aperture such that the portion of the cornea to be crosslinked will pass through the aperture.

[0042] In various embodiments, method 500 includes, at operation 508, applying a vacuum through the device's multipurpose port to secure the device to the eye and seal the anterior chamber. As described, because the device is made of an elastomer or other flexible material such as silicone, when a vacuum is applied between the eye and the inner wall of the anterior chamber, the device will contract and conform to the eye in response to the force of the vacuum. As a result, in various embodiments, the corneal clamp and the inner sidewalls conform tightly to the eye, and the corneal clamp functions to seal the anterior chamber and allow the insertion of liquids or other solutions into the anterior chamber without leakage.

[0043] In one or more embodiments, method 500 includes operations 512-520: treating corneal tissue in the anterior chamber with a crosslinking agent applied through a multipurpose port, removing the crosslinking agent through the multipurpose port, and providing a first amount of oxygen to the exposed portion of the cornea through the multipurpose port. As described, the anterior chamber port of the device defines a fluid passage into the anterior chamber cavity. In one or more embodiments, after the anterior chamber has been sealed using the corneal clamp and vacuum source, fluid can be supplied to or drained from the anterior chamber using a corresponding supply source.

[0044] In one or more embodiments, method 500 includes, at operation 524, initiating the crosslinking agent by activating it with a light source. In various embodiments, the light source is UV light, which initiates crosslinking activity by causing the applied crosslinking agent, such as riboflavin, to release reactive oxygen species in the corneal tissue. This agent acts as a sensitizer, converting O2 into singlet oxygen, thereby leading to crosslinking within the corneal tissue.

[0045] While in various embodiments, method 500 involves treating corneal tissue with a crosslinking agent and activating the agent with a light source, it is intended that the treatment method may include treating the cornea with any suitable drug through the device and / or irradiating the cornea with light. For example, in various embodiments, the method may include treating the cornea with an antibiotic / antifungal / anti-amoebic drug and inserting the drug through a multi-purpose port using the device such that the drug will remain in direct contact with the corneal tissue for the required duration. Furthermore, a chamber above the drug-containing cornea may be pressurized to push additional drug into the corneal tissue beyond a simple diffusion rate based on drug concentration. This chamber allows for uniform distribution across the entire cornea. This should allow the drug to reach concentrations in the corneal stroma that are much higher than those achievable with eye drops. If desired, oxygen may also be bubbled through the anti-infective liquid drug within the chamber to generate oxygen free radicals. UVA light may also be delivered through the top of the chamber to further kill infectious organisms.

[0046] refer to Figure 7-8The diagram depicts a cross-sectional plan view and a perspective view of a cross-linking device 700 having an external support sidewall 704 according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. As described above, refer to... Figure 1 and 2 The device 700 includes a body 104 defined by sidewalls 108 extending from a top 112 to a bottom 116. For example, the device 100 has a generally cylindrical or tubular shape, wherein a side portion 120 of the body 104 extends about a central axis between the top 112 and the bottom 116. In one or more embodiments, the top 112 defines a top surface 124, while the bottom 116 defines a bottom edge 126 and a first opening 130 for access to an internal cavity 134 of the device 100 defined by the sidewalls 108. In one or more embodiments, the internal cavity 134 includes at least two portions, including an anterior chamber 136 and an ocular chamber 138, wherein a corneal clamping portion 140 is positioned between the chambers and defines a boundary therebetween. A multipurpose fluid port 146 is located on a side portion 120 of the sidewall 108 and defines a pair of fluid channels 150, 152 that connect a pair of external fluid ports 153, 154 to anterior chamber port 155 and an eye chamber port 156, respectively. In such an embodiment, the fluid channels 150, 152 define paths allowing liquids, gases, and other fluids to enter and exit the interior of the device. A pressure relief port 170 is also included in the side portion 120 of the sidewall. In such an embodiment, port 170 defines an additional fluid passage into anterior chamber 136, which can be selectively opened or closed via a plug 174, valve, pressure valve, or other means. In one or more embodiments, pressure relief port 170 allows pressure equalization of the anterior chamber to prevent damage to the device and / or device ejection during use.

[0047] exist Figure 7-8 As depicted, the device 700 further includes a rigid sidewall support 704, which, in various embodiments, is a relatively inflexible ring or shell that, when combined with the relatively flexible sidewall 108, helps maintain the shape of the sidewall 108 in response to compressive or expansive forces. For example, in various embodiments, the sidewall support 704 is made of plastic, metal, or other materials and has lower flexibility compared to the rest of the device to help maintain the shape of the sidewall 108 in the radial direction relative to the central axis. In various embodiments, the support 704 has an annular shape and extends from the top 720 to the bottom 722 and may include various holes 730, 734 corresponding respectively to the multipurpose fluid port 146 and the pressure relief port 170.

[0048] Therefore, in various embodiments, the sidewall support 704 prevents damage to the device and / or device ejection during use by maintaining the shape of the sidewall 108. For example, when the device is attached to a patient's eye, the sidewall support 704 resists the compressive force indicated by arrow 708. Such a force 708 can occur from the patient's eyelids during use, for example, when the patient intentionally or unintentionally squeezes the device 700 downward by attempting to close their eyelids while the device 700 is attached. Similarly, in various embodiments, the sidewall support 704 also resists the expansion force, as indicated by arrow 712. This force can also cause ejection, for example, during the use of a pump to introduce riboflavin or other fluids into the anterior chamber.

[0049] like Figure 7-8 While the sidewall support 704 is depicted as a single ring or shell surrounding the exterior of the device 700, in embodiments, the sidewall support 704 may include multiple rings. In some embodiments, the sidewall support 704 may be positioned inside the device 700. For example, the support may be positioned inside the anteroom. In some embodiments, the support 704 may be positioned within the sidewall 108. For example, the support 704 may be molded or otherwise inserted into the sidewall 108. In some embodiments, the sidewall support may include one or more wires or strands that surround or are included within the sidewall 108 as structural support.

[0050] Various embodiments of this disclosure have been described for illustrative purposes, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein is chosen to explain the principles of the embodiments, their practical application, or technical improvements relative to existing technologies in the market, or to enable others skilled in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A crosslinking apparatus, the crosslinking apparatus comprising: A body comprising uninterrupted sidewalls, a top, and a bottom, the uninterrupted sidewalls extending from a top surface to a bottom edge and around a central axis, the top surface having a radius from the central axis to the sidewalls, the top including the top surface, and the bottom including the bottom edge and defining a first hole for entry into an internal cavity defined by the sidewalls and the top surface; A corneal clamping portion is positioned within the internal cavity and defines an anterior chamber and an ocular chamber, the ocular chamber being shaped via the corneal clamping portion to conform to the eye. The corneal clamping portion defines a second aperture configured to allow a portion of the cornea to pass through and extend into the anterior chamber. The corneal clamping portion includes a plurality of circumferential ridges arranged along an inner wall, wherein the circumferential ridges configure the clamping portion to selectively bend at multiple portions of an inner sidewall adjacent to the one or more ridges to generate a bending movement that conforms the corneal clamping portion to the cornea when suction is applied between the inserted eye and the inner wall of the ocular chamber. A fluid port, located on the sidewall and defining two or more fluid channels, the two or more fluid channels connecting a pair of external ports to an anterior chamber port and an ocular chamber port respectively, to allow fluid to enter into and exit the internal cavity of the device; and An anterior chamber pressure port, located in the side wall of the body, is used to selectively open and close to balance the pressure in the anterior chamber; The device is made of an elastomer, and the intraocular port is attachable to a vacuum source to allow suction to be applied between the eye and the inner wall of the intraocular chamber, and wherein, in response, the corneal clamp is adapted to the inserted eye and serves to seal the intraocular chamber for the insertion of liquids or other solutions.

2. The crosslinking device according to claim 1, wherein the device is composed of one or more elastomers selected from silicone, latex and rubber.

3. The crosslinking device according to claim 1, wherein the top surface is made of organosilicon.

4. The crosslinking device according to claim 1, wherein when suction is applied between the inserted eye and the inner wall of the eye chamber, fluid is introduced into or extracted from the device via the fluid port.

5. The crosslinking apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: A sidewall support, comprising a housing surrounding a portion of the body, the sidewall support being made of a material having relatively lower flexibility than the body portion, for maintaining the shape of the body portion in a radial direction relative to the central axis.

6. The crosslinking device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a plurality of workpieces assembled or otherwise assembled together.

7. The crosslinking device according to claim 1, wherein the device is at least partially transparent.

8. The crosslinking device according to claim 1, wherein the volume of the anterior chamber is greater than the volume of the ocular chamber.

9. The crosslinking device of claim 1, wherein the anterior chamber has a volume defined by the arrangement of the corneal clamping portion along the length of the sidewall and the diameter of the top surface.

10. The crosslinking device according to claim 9, wherein the volume of the anterior chamber is 5% to 50% larger than the volume of the ocular chamber.

11. The crosslinking device of claim 9, wherein approximately two-thirds of the length of the sidewall defines the volume of the anterior chamber, and approximately one-third of the length of the sidewall defines the volume of the ocular chamber.

12. A crosslinking system, the crosslinking system comprising: Crosslinking apparatus, the crosslinking apparatus comprising: The body includes sidewalls extending from top to bottom and surrounding a central axis, the top including a top surface having a radius from the central axis to the sidewalls, and the bottom defining a bottom edge and a first hole for entering an internal cavity of the housing defined by the sidewalls and the top surface; A corneal clamping portion is positioned within the internal cavity and defines an anterior chamber and an ocular chamber, the ocular chamber being shaped via the corneal clamping portion to conform to the eye. The corneal clamping portion defines a second aperture configured to allow a portion of the cornea to pass through and extend into the anterior chamber. The corneal clamping portion includes a plurality of circumferential ridges arranged along an inner wall, wherein the circumferential ridges configure the clamping portion to selectively bend at multiple portions of an inner sidewall adjacent to the one or more ridges to generate a bending movement that conforms the corneal clamping portion to the cornea when suction is applied between the inserted eye and the inner wall of the ocular chamber. A multipurpose fluid port, positioned on the sidewall and defining two or more fluid channels, the two or more fluid channels connecting a pair of external ports to an anterior chamber port and an ocular ventricle port respectively, to allow fluid to enter and exit the internal cavity of the device; and An anterior chamber pressure port, located in the side wall of the body, is used to selectively open and close to balance the pressure in the anterior chamber; The device is made of an elastomer, and the eye chamber port is attachable to a vacuum source to allow suction to be applied between the eye and the inner wall of the eye chamber, and wherein, in response, the corneal clamp is adapted to the inserted eye and serves to seal the anterior chamber for the insertion of liquids or other solutions. A vacuum source, connected to the eye chamber via the multipurpose fluid port; and A fluid supply system comprising a reservoir and an oxygen source connected to the anterior chamber via the multipurpose fluid port; After the anterior chamber has been sealed using the corneal clamp and the vacuum source, the fluid supply system is used to move fluid into or out of the anterior chamber.

13. The crosslinking system of claim 12, wherein the volume of the anterior chamber is greater than the volume of the ocular chamber.

14. The crosslinking system of claim 12, wherein the top surface is made of organosilicon.

15. The crosslinking system of claim 12, wherein the anterior chamber has a volume defined by the arrangement of the corneal clamping portion along the length of the sidewall and the diameter of the top surface.

16. The crosslinking system of claim 15, wherein the volume of the anterior chamber is 5% to 50% larger than the volume of the ocular chamber.

17. The crosslinking system of claim 15, wherein approximately two-thirds of the length of the sidewall defines the volume of the anterior chamber, and approximately one-third of the length of the sidewall defines the volume of the ocular chamber.

18. The crosslinking system according to claim 12, further comprising: A sidewall support, comprising a housing surrounding a portion of the body, the sidewall support being made of a material having relatively lower flexibility than the body portion, for maintaining the shape of the body portion in a radial direction relative to the central axis.

19. A crosslinking apparatus, the crosslinking apparatus comprising: The body includes sidewalls extending from top to bottom and surrounding a central axis, the top including a top surface, and the bottom defining a bottom edge and a first opening into an internal cavity of the housing defined by the sidewalls and the top surface. A corneal clamping portion is positioned within the internal cavity and defines an anterior chamber and an ocular chamber, the ocular chamber being shaped via the corneal clamping portion to conform to the patient's eye, the corneal clamping portion defining an aperture configured to allow a portion of the cornea to pass through to extend into the anterior chamber; The corneal clamping portion includes a plurality of circumferential ridges arranged along the inner sidewall; and A multipurpose fluid port is positioned on the sidewall and defines two or more fluid channels that connect a pair of external ports to an anterior chamber port and an ocular chamber port, respectively, to allow fluid to enter into and exit the internal cavity of the device. The device is made of an elastomer, and the eye chamber port is attachable to a vacuum source so that suction can be applied between the eye and the inner wall of the eye chamber, and wherein, in response, the corneal clamp is adapted to the eye and serves to seal the anterior chamber by allowing liquid or other solution to be inserted into the anterior chamber without leakage through the orifice.

20. The crosslinking device according to claim 19, wherein the device is composed of one or more elastomers selected from silicone, latex and rubber.

21. The crosslinking apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the top surface is made of organosilicon.

22. The crosslinking device of claim 19, wherein when suction is applied between the eye and the inner wall of the eye chamber, fluid is introduced into or extracted from the device via the multipurpose fluid port.

23. The crosslinking apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the apparatus comprises a single workpiece.

24. The crosslinking device according to claim 19, wherein the device comprises a plurality of workpieces assembled or otherwise assembled together.

25. The crosslinking device according to claim 19, wherein the device is at least partially transparent.

26. The crosslinking device according to claim 19, wherein the volume of the anterior chamber is greater than the volume of the ocular chamber.

27. The crosslinking device of claim 19, wherein the anterior chamber has a volume defined by the arrangement of the corneal clamping portion along the length of the sidewall and the diameter of the top surface.

28. The crosslinking device according to claim 27, wherein the volume of the anterior chamber is 5% to 50% larger than the volume of the ocular chamber.

29. The crosslinking device of claim 27, wherein approximately two-thirds of the length of the sidewall defines the volume of the anterior chamber, and approximately one-third of the length of the sidewall defines the volume of the ocular chamber.

30. The crosslinking device according to claim 19, further comprising a pre-chamber pressure port in the side wall of the body.

31. The crosslinking apparatus of claim 30, further comprising a plug configured to selectively open and close the pre-chamber pressure port to balance the pressure in the pre-chamber.

32. The crosslinking device of claim 19, wherein the plurality of circumferential ridges configure the clamping portion to selectively bend at a plurality of portions of the inner sidewall between the plurality of ridges to generate a bending motion that tightly conforms the inner sidewall to the cornea when suction is applied between the eye and the inner wall of the eye chamber.

33. A crosslinking system, the crosslinking system comprising: Crosslinking apparatus, the crosslinking apparatus comprising: The body includes sidewalls extending from top to bottom and surrounding a central axis, the top including a top surface, and the bottom defining a bottom edge and a first hole for entering an internal cavity of the housing defined by the sidewalls and the top surface; A corneal clamping portion, positioned within the internal cavity and defining an anterior chamber and an ocular chamber, the ocular chamber being shaped via an internal sidewall to conform to the patient's eye, the corneal clamping portion defining an aperture configured to allow a portion of the cornea to pass through and extend into the anterior chamber; the corneal clamping portion including a plurality of circumferential ridges arranged along the internal sidewall; and A multipurpose fluid port is positioned on the sidewall and defines two or more fluid channels that connect a pair of external ports to an anterior chamber port and an ocular chamber port, respectively, to allow fluid to enter into and exit the internal cavity of the device. The device is made of an elastomer, and the eye chamber port is attachable to a vacuum source so that suction can be applied between the eye and the inner wall of the eye chamber, and wherein, in response, the corneal clamp is adapted to the eye and serves to seal the anterior chamber by allowing liquid or other solution to be inserted into the anterior chamber without leakage through the orifice. A vacuum source, connected to the eye chamber via the multipurpose fluid port; and A fluid supply system comprising a reservoir and an oxygen source connected to the anterior chamber via the multipurpose fluid port; After the anterior chamber has been sealed using the corneal clamp and the vacuum source, the fluid supply system is used to move fluid into or out of the anterior chamber.

34. The crosslinking system of claim 33, wherein the volume of the anterior chamber is greater than the volume of the ocular chamber.

35. The crosslinking system of claim 33, wherein the top surface is made of organosilicon.

36. The crosslinking system of claim 33, wherein the anterior chamber has a volume defined by the arrangement of the corneal clamping portion along the length of the sidewall and the diameter of the top surface.

37. The crosslinking system of claim 36, wherein the volume of the anterior chamber is 5% to 50% larger than the volume of the ocular chamber.

38. The crosslinking system of claim 36, wherein approximately two-thirds of the length of the sidewall defines the volume of the anterior chamber, and approximately one-third of the length of the sidewall defines the volume of the ocular chamber.

39. The crosslinking system of claim 34, wherein the crosslinking device of the crosslinking system further includes a pre-chamber pressure port in the sidewall of the body, and includes a plug configured to selectively open and close the pre-chamber pressure port to balance the pressure in the pre-chamber.

40. The crosslinking system of claim 33, wherein the plurality of circumferential ridges configure the clamping portion to selectively bend at a plurality of portions of the inner sidewall between the plurality of ridges to generate, in use, a bending motion that tightly conforms the inner sidewall to the cornea.

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