Intraocular lens inserter

Abstract

An intraocular lens inserter (1) includes: an inserter body (2) having a hollow cylindrical portion capable of enclosing an intraocular lens; a moving mechanism portion (20, 30) that moves the intraocular lens in the hollow cylindrical portion; and a cover member (3) mounted to the inserter body (2); wherein the cover member (3) is detachable with respect to the inserter body (2), and is rotatable around a cylinder axis direction of the hollow cylindrical portion in a mounted state of being mounted to the inserter body (2), and is configured such that the moving mechanism portion (20, 30) performs movement of the intraocular lens as the cover member (3) rotates.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to intraocular lens inserters. Background Technology

[0002] In cataract surgery, after the cloudy lens is removed, an intraocular lens is inserted into the lens capsule to replace the lens. An intraocular lens inserter is used for this insertion.

[0003] As an invention of an intraocular lens case, there exists an intraocular lens case with the following structure: when the cover is removed, the nozzle is exposed, and the intraocular lens moves and is folded within the housing (for example, see Patent Document 1).

[0004] Existing technical documents Patent documents Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-545417 Summary of the Invention

[0005] The problem that the invention aims to solve Users of intraocular lenticule inserters (surgeons and other practitioners) sometimes prefer to fold and remove the intraocular lens at separate times (e.g., when there is a time difference). For example, after completing the pre-insertion procedures (such as lens removal), users may prefer to keep the intraocular lens folded beforehand because they find setting it up from scratch cumbersome. However, the intraocular lenticule inserter with the structure described above is ill-suited for this situation, and its convenience for users cannot be considered excellent.

[0006] Furthermore, while folding and removing the cap of the intraocular lens could be done separately, this compromises the user's operability. Folding the lens by pulling out the cap could potentially cause impact or damage to the lens depending on the user's technique, requiring careful handling and thus not necessarily offering optimal operability.

[0007] This invention provides a technology that enables the insertion of an intraocular lens with excellent convenience and operability.

[0008] Methods for solving problems The first aspect of the present invention is an intraocular lens inserter, comprising: The inserter body has a hollow cylindrical portion capable of enclosing an intraocular lens, and is configured to allow the intraocular lens enclosed in the hollow cylindrical portion to be released from the lens outlet to the outside. The moving mechanism causes the intraocular lens inside the hollow cylindrical portion to move along the cylindrical axis of the hollow cylindrical portion; A cover component is mounted to the inserter body in such a way that it at least covers the lens outlet. The cover component is detachable from the inserter body and can rotate around the cylindrical axis of the hollow cylindrical portion when installed on the inserter body, so that the moving mechanism moves the intraocular lens as the cover component rotates.

[0009] The second aspect of the present invention is: in the intraocular lens inserter described in the first aspect above, The cover component is formed as a cylinder with an opening at one end and a sealed end, configured to fit into the inserter body through the opening. The moving mechanism has a locking tab that protrudes outward from the hollow cylindrical portion. The engaging tab engages with the engaging groove formed on the inner surface of the cover component, thereby linking the cover component with the moving mechanism.

[0010] The third aspect of the present invention is: in the intraocular lens inserter described in the second aspect above, The moving mechanism includes a sliding mechanism that moves the intraocular lens within the hollow cylindrical portion.

[0011] The fourth aspect of the present invention is: in the intraocular lens inserter described in the third aspect above, The cover component, serving as the engaging groove, has: a spiral groove extending in a spiral shape relative to the cylindrical axis of the hollow cylindrical portion, and an exit groove extending in a straight line from the end of the spiral groove along the cylindrical axis of the hollow cylindrical portion.

[0012] The fifth aspect of the present invention is: in the intraocular lens inserter described in the first aspect above, The cover component has: The fixing pin is configured to protrude into the hollow cylindrical portion in the installed state; The needle support portion supports the fixed needle; When the cover component is removed from the inserter body, the fixing needle retracts from the hollow cylindrical portion due to the deformation of the needle support portion.

[0013] The sixth aspect of the present invention is: in the intraocular lens inserter described in the fifth aspect above, In addition to the fixing pin and the pin support, the cover component also has: The guide portion deforms the needle support portion according to the relative movement of the cover component and the hollow cylindrical portion in the cylindrical axis direction.

[0014] The seventh aspect of the present invention is: in the intraocular lens inserter described in the sixth aspect above, The fixing needle, the needle support, and the guide portion are rotatably configured relative to the cover member, such that their relative positions with the inserter body do not change when the cover member rotates.

[0015] The eighth aspect of the present invention is: in the intraocular lens inserter described in the second aspect above, The moving mechanism includes an ejection mechanism that pushes the intraocular lens out of the lens outlet.

[0016] The ninth aspect of the present invention is: in the intraocular lens inserter described in the eighth aspect above, It also includes a locking mechanism that restricts the ejection action of the ejection mechanism on the intraocular lens in the installed state.

[0017] The tenth aspect of the present invention is: in the intraocular lens inserter described in the ninth aspect above, The locking mechanism is configured such that the restriction on the push-out action is released as the cover component rotates.

[0018] The eleventh aspect of the present invention is: in the intraocular lens inserter described in the tenth aspect above, The cover component, serving as the engaging groove, has: a rotational direction groove extending along a portion of the inner circumferential direction of the hollow cylindrical portion, and an insertion / removal direction groove extending linearly from one end of the rotational direction groove along the cylindrical axis of the hollow cylindrical portion to the opening.

[0019] The effects of the invention According to the present invention, the intraocular lens inserter can achieve excellent convenience and operability. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing an example of the structure of an intraocular lens inserter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 2 It means Figure 1 A side sectional view of the internal structure of an example of an intraocular lens inserter.

[0022] Figure 3 It means Figure 1 The diagram shows an example of the structure of the cover component in an intraocular lens inserter, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a side view, (c) is a planar sectional view, and (d) is a side sectional view.

[0023] Figure 4 It means to use Figure 1The illustrations show an example of a specific method of inserting an intraocular lens, (a) showing the removal of the stop component, (b) showing the rotation of the cover, and (c) showing the removal of the cover.

[0024] Figure 5 It means Figure 1 A diagram illustrating an example of the locking and unlocking action in an intraocular lens inserter.

[0025] Figure 6 It means Figure 1 A diagram illustrating the retraction action of the fixing pin in an intraocular lens inserter. Detailed Implementation

[0026] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0027] (1) Example of the structure of an intraocular lens inserter First, an example of the structure of the intraocular lens inserter in this embodiment will be described.

[0028] (Overall structure) The intraocular lens inserter described in this embodiment is used to insert an intraocular lens into the eye. In this embodiment, as an example of an intraocular lens, a one-piece type is used, formed of a soft material such as silicone elastomer or soft acrylic, having a circular optical portion that performs optical functions, and a pair of support portions extending from the outer periphery of the optical portion. Furthermore, since intraocular lenses are well-known, further description is omitted here.

[0029] To perform such insertion of an intraocular lens into the eye, the intraocular lens inserter described in this embodiment is as follows: Figures 1-3 As shown in the diagram.

[0030] Additionally, in the following description, when explaining the relative positions and directions of movement of the various parts of the intraocular lens inserter, such as... Figure 1 As shown, one side of the X-axis is defined as the X1 direction and the other as the X2 direction; one side of the Y-axis is defined as the Y1 direction and the other as the Y2 direction; one side of the Z-axis is defined as the Z1 direction and the other as the Z2 direction; X1 direction is defined as the front side (front), X2 direction as the rear side (rear), Y1 direction as the left side (left), Y2 direction as the right side (right), Z1 direction as the upper side (above), and Z2 direction as the lower side (below). The X-axis directions (X1 and X2 directions) correspond to the length direction of the intraocular lens inserter 1, the Y-axis directions (Y1 and Y2 directions) correspond to the width direction of the intraocular lens inserter 1, and the Z-axis directions (Z1 and Z2 directions) correspond to the height direction of the intraocular lens inserter 1.

[0031] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the intraocular lens inserter 1 of this embodiment generally includes an inserter body 2 and a cover member 3. Furthermore, the inserter body 2 includes at least a main body portion 10, a sliding mechanism portion 20, an ejection mechanism portion 30, and a locking mechanism portion 40. These components are preferably formed from molded resin materials.

[0032] The following sections will explain these constituent elements in detail.

[0033] (Main Body) The main body 10 functions as the body of the inserter body 2 and is formed into a hollow cylindrical shape capable of enclosing an intraocular lens. That is, the inserter body 2 has a main body 10 as a hollow cylindrical portion capable of enclosing an intraocular lens. More specifically, the main body 10 has: a base portion 11 formed into a cylindrical shape with an opening at the rear end; a nozzle portion 12 mounted on the front end side of the base portion 11 in a manner communicating with the interior of the base portion 11; and a flange portion 13 formed near the rear end of the base portion 11. These are preferably all formed of a light-transmitting resin material, allowing the interior of the tube to be transparent.

[0034] The base portion 11 has a lens storage portion 14 inside its tube. The lens storage portion 14 has a mounting platform for an intraocular lens and is configured to store an intraocular lens on the mounting platform. By having such a lens storage portion 14 in the main body portion 10, the intraocular lens inserter 1 of this embodiment can function as a pre-installed inserter in which an intraocular lens is pre-installed in the inserter body 2.

[0035] Furthermore, the base portion 11 has an elongated slit hole 15 extending along the cylindrical axis direction (X-axis direction) of the main body portion 10 in a portion thereof (e.g., the left and right side wall portions). The sliding engagement piece 22 of the sliding mechanism portion 20, described later, engages with the slit hole 15.

[0036] Furthermore, the base portion 11 has a guide hole 16 extending in a portion of the circumferential direction of the main body portion 10 in a different part from the slit hole 15 (for example, a part closer to the flange portion 13 than the slit hole 15). The locking engagement piece 42 of the locking mechanism portion 40, described later, engages with the guide hole 16.

[0037] Furthermore, the functions of these slit holes 15 and guide holes 16 will be explained in detail later. Also, in the following description, the cylindrical axis direction of the main body 10 will sometimes be referred to simply as the "X-axis direction".

[0038] The nozzle portion 12 is used to fold the intraocular lens, which is housed in the lens housing 14 within the main body portion 10, into the eye and guide it into the eye. For this purpose, the nozzle portion 12 has a lens outlet 18 for discharging the intraocular lens on its front end side (i.e., the cylindrical end of the main body portion 10), and is configured such that the cross-sectional area of ​​the internal space gradually narrows from the main body portion 10 side toward the lens outlet 18.

[0039] At a predetermined position within the internal space of the nozzle section 12, a turning section 19 is provided for folding and holding an intraocular lens that has been moved from the conjugate lens storage section 14. That is, the nozzle section 12 is configured to utilize the characteristic that the cross-sectional area of ​​the internal space gradually narrows, so that the moving intraocular lens can be pre-folded at the turning section 19, which is located at a predetermined position.

[0040] Furthermore, within the internal space of the nozzle portion 12, a fixing pin 71, described later, protrudes through a through hole (not shown) formed in a part of the nozzle portion 12 (e.g., the lower sidewall portion) in a manner corresponding to the turning portion 19 which is positioned at a predetermined location. The fixing pin 71 is used to properly pre-fold the intraocular lens (particularly the folding of the anterior support portion of the intraocular lens).

[0041] The flange 13 is used by a person using the intraocular lens inserter 1 (e.g., a doctor performing cataract surgery; hereinafter referred to as "operator") to place the fingers of the operating hand on it when operating the ejection mechanism 30. Therefore, the flange 13 is not limited to a specific shape or structure, as long as it can ensure the operability of the ejection mechanism 30.

[0042] (Sliding mechanism) The sliding mechanism 20 functions as one of the moving mechanisms that allows the intraocular lens within the main body 10 to move along the X-axis. Specifically, the moving mechanism includes the sliding mechanism 20, which moves the intraocular lens within the main body 10. More specifically, the sliding mechanism 20 is movably disposed within the main body 10 along the X-axis, thereby enabling the intraocular lens housed in the lens receiving section 14 to move to a predetermined position in the turning section 19. By moving the intraocular lens through the sliding mechanism 20, the intraocular lens is pre-folded within the internal space of the main body 10.

[0043] To move the intraocular lens, the sliding mechanism 20 includes: a lens support member 21 that applies pressure to the intraocular lens for movement; and a sliding engagement piece 22 connected to the lens support member 21. The sliding engagement piece 22 is formed to protrude outward from the main body 10 through a slit hole 15. The sliding engagement piece 22, thus formed, is movable along the X-axis within the range of the slit hole 15, thereby configuring the sliding mechanism 20 so that the lens support member 21 and the sliding engagement piece 22 are linked, thereby enabling movement of the intraocular lens.

[0044] (Launching the Institutional Department) The ejection mechanism 30 also functions as a moving mechanism to move the intraocular lens within the main body 10 along the X-axis. Specifically, the moving mechanism includes an ejection mechanism 30 that ejects the intraocular lens from the lens outlet 18. More specifically, the ejection mechanism 30 is configured to press the intraocular lens, which moves from the rear end side along the X-axis to the inlet 19, thereby ejecting the intraocular lens from the lens outlet 18 of the main body 10 outward (e.g., into the eye).

[0045] As for the ejection mechanism 30 that pushes the intraocular lens outward, there are known types such as: a pushing method in which the intraocular lens is ejected by a push-in operation such as a plunger; a spiral method in which the intraocular lens is ejected by a rotation operation such as a rotating member; and a method capable of handling both the pushing and spiral methods. Hereinafter, in this embodiment, the ejection mechanism 30 will be described as a pushing method. However, the ejection mechanism 30 is not limited to the pushing method; it can also be a spiral method, or a method capable of handling both the pushing and spiral methods.

[0046] The push-type ejection mechanism 30 is a movable body that can move within the main body 10 along the X-axis direction. It has at least a rod-shaped rod 31 extending along the X-axis direction and a plunger end 32 provided at the rear end of the rod 31. Furthermore, a portion of the rod 31 and the plunger end 32 are arranged to protrude from the rear end of the main body 10, while another portion of the rod 31 is arranged to be enclosed within the main body 10.

[0047] The lever portion 31 is shaped such that its front end abuts against and presses against the intraocular lens. Furthermore, by transmitting the pressing force applied to the plunger end 32 to the intraocular lens, the intraocular lens is pushed out of the main body portion 10.

[0048] The plunger end 32 is used by the operator to perform a pushing operation. For this purpose, the plunger end 32 is configured on its rear end side to allow the operator to apply pressure by hand.

[0049] Thus, a portion of the lever 31 and the plunger end 32 protrude from the rear end of the main body 10, allowing the operator to push these portions in. That is, the portion protruding from the rear end of the main body 10 (i.e., a portion of the lever 31 and the plunger end 32) functions as an operating member for the operator to perform the pushing operation. Furthermore, when the operating member is pushed in, the protruding portion of the lever 31 is pushed into the main body 10 in conjunction with it, while the front end of the lever 31 presses against the intraocular lens within the main body 10 and releases it outwards.

[0050] In the ejection mechanism 30 configured as described above, a portion of the lever 31 is provided with ribs (not shown) extending along the X-axis. Furthermore, the function of the ribs in the lever 31 will be explained in detail later.

[0051] Furthermore, in the ejection mechanism 30, a portion of the rod 31 may be provided with a sliding member (not shown) that fits into the cylinder of the base portion 11 in the main body 10, and the outer peripheral surface of the sliding member may be sealed to the inner surface of the base portion 11 by an O-ring. With such a structure, leakage after filling with the viscoelastic material (OVD), as described later, can be prevented. Furthermore, the sliding resistance of the O-ring can be used to control the ejection force during intraocular lens ejection to prevent it from becoming excessive.

[0052] (Locking down the department) The locking mechanism 40 is configured to restrict the ejection action of the ejection mechanism 30 on the intraocular lens as needed. This restriction is achieved by restricting the operation of the operating member (i.e., a portion of the plunger end 32 and the lever portion 31). That is, the locking mechanism 40 can restrict the insertion operation of the operating member (hereinafter referred to as the "restricted state") and release this restriction to make the operating member operable (hereinafter referred to as the "operable state"), thus allowing for appropriate switching between the restricted and operable states as needed. Therefore, for example, in the restricted state, the insertion operation of the operating member cannot be performed, resulting in the ejection of the intraocular lens by the ejection mechanism 30 being restricted. Furthermore, for example, in the operable state, the ejection of the intraocular lens by the ejection mechanism 30 can be performed by inserting the operating member.

[0053] In order to switch between the restricted state and the operable state, the locking mechanism 40 has a locking member 41 disposed in the main body 10.

[0054] The locking member 41 is enclosed within the base portion 11 in the region where the guide hole 16 is formed, and is configured to rotate within the cylinder of the base portion 11 about the cylindrical axis of the main body portion 10. Furthermore, the locking member 41 is provided with a locking engagement piece 42 that protrudes outward from the cylinder of the base portion 11 through the guide hole 16. This locking engagement piece 42 is movable within the range of the guide hole 16, thereby applying rotational force to the locking member 41 within the cylinder of the base portion 11, while simultaneously controlling the rotational position.

[0055] Furthermore, the locking member 41 is configured such that a portion near its rotation center is penetrated by the rod portion 31 of the push-out mechanism 30, and its relative position to the rod portion 31 in the X-axis direction is variable. Additionally, the locking member 41 has a guide groove (not shown) extending along the X-axis direction that engages with the rib of the rod portion 31.

[0056] By utilizing the locking member 41 configured in this way, the locking mechanism 40 switches between a restricted state and an operable state depending on the rotational position of the locking member 41. Specifically, if the locking member 41 is in a rotational position where the rib of the lever 31 engages with the guide groove of the locking member 41, the lever 31 can be displaced in the X-axis direction, and the operating member containing the lever 31 becomes operable. On the other hand, in other rotational positions of the locking member 41, the rib of the lever 31 does not engage with the guide groove of the locking member 41, and therefore, due to their interference, the displacement of the lever 31 in the X-axis direction is restricted, resulting in the operating member containing the lever 31 being in a restricted state.

[0057] The locking mechanism 40, which restricts the insertion operation of the operating member, is constructed by the locking member 41, the locking engagement piece 42 provided on the locking member 41, the rib of the rod 31, and the guide groove of the locking member 41. In addition, the guide hole 16 provided on the main body 10 can also be included as a component of the locking mechanism 40.

[0058] (Insertion body) The inserter body 2, comprising the main body 10, sliding mechanism 20, ejection mechanism 30, and locking mechanism 40 described above, is configured such that after the locking mechanism 40 switches from a restricted state to an operable state, the intraocular lens of the lens receiving section 14 is first moved to the turning section 19 at a predetermined position via the sliding mechanism 20, thereby reliably folding it into a predetermined shape. Then, the intraocular lens is further ejected via the ejection mechanism 30 and folded even smaller. In this state, the intraocular lens is released from the lens outlet 18 and inserted into the eye. Thus, the inserter body 2 is configured to enclose the intraocular lens and to release the enclosed intraocular lens from the lens outlet 18 to the outside. Furthermore, the inserter body 2 moves the intraocular lens along the lens travel direction (X-axis direction) in two stages, following the sequence of the sliding mechanism 20 and the ejection mechanism 30, while simultaneously folding the intraocular lens into a predetermined shape and releasing it to the outside.

[0059] Furthermore, regarding the main body 10, sliding mechanism 20, and ejection mechanism 30 constituting the inserter body 2, apart from the points described here, they can be constructed using known technologies (for example, referring to Patent No. 5413918, Patent No. 6276619, etc.).

[0060] (Cover component) The cover member 3 is mounted on the main body portion 10 of the inserter body 2 to cover the lens outlet 18 side of the inserter body 2. More specifically, the cover member 3 is formed as a cylinder with an opening at at least one end, configured to fit into the main body portion 10 through the opening at one end. For example, if the main body portion 10 has a circular cross-section, the cover member 3 is formed as a cylinder that fits into the main body portion 10. The cover member 3 is provided with a fitting depth relative to the main body portion 10 (i.e., the length of the cylinder into which the main body portion 10 can fit) to at least reach and cover the formation positions of the slit hole 15 and the guide hole 16 in the main body portion 10. In addition, the cover member 3 only needs to have an opening at at least one end; the other end can be open or sealed. In the following description, a cover member 3 with the other end sealed will be used as an example.

[0061] The cover member 3, with an opening at one end and a seal at the other, is configured to at least seal the lens outlet 18 of the inserter body 2 when installed on the main body 10 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "installed state"). Thus, in the installed state of the cover member 3, the lens outlet 18 of the inserter body 2 is protected from external forces even if the inserter body 2 is not housed in a casing or similar enclosure. Furthermore, since the lens outlet 18 is covered by the cover member 3, it is also very useful in preventing foreign objects from entering the main body 10 of the inserter body 2.

[0062] The cover member 3, when installed on the main body 10, is configured such that an operator can remove it from the main body 10 by hand. That is, the cover member 3 is configured to be detachable from the main body 10. Furthermore, the cover member 3 is configured to be rotatable relative to the main body 10 when installed on it. Additionally, the specific structure (mechanism) for detachment and rotation can be implemented using known techniques and is not limited to a particular method.

[0063] In addition to the structure described above, cover component 3, such as Figure 3 As shown, a sliding engagement groove 50, a locking engagement groove 60, and a fixing support part 70 are also provided. These will be described in turn below.

[0064] Sliding part locking groove 50 Figure 3 (b) ~ Figure 3 As shown in (d), a groove-like structure is formed on the inner surface of the cover member 3, configured to engage with the sliding engagement piece 22 of the sliding mechanism 20 (particularly the portion protruding outward from the cylinder of the main body 10). More specifically, as the sliding engagement groove 50, a spiral groove 51 extending spirally relative to the X-axis direction is provided, and an exit groove 52 extending linearly from the end of the spiral groove 51 along the X-axis direction to the rear opening of the main body 10. Furthermore, these spiral grooves 51 and exit grooves 52 are formed such that, when the sliding engagement piece 22 is engaged in the groove, the sliding engagement piece 22 can move along the groove in terms of groove width and groove depth.

[0065] The cover member 3, in its installed state, engages with the sliding mechanism 20 of the inserter body 2, which is mounted on the cover member, by engaging the sliding engagement piece 22 with the spiral groove 51 and the exit groove 52 of the sliding engagement groove 50. Thus, as will be explained in detail later, the sliding mechanism 20 moves the intraocular lens as the cover member 3 rotates. Furthermore, as will be explained in detail later, the cover member 3 can be removed from the body 10 along the cylindrical axis direction when the sliding mechanism 20 has moved the intraocular lens to the predetermined position of the turning part 19.

[0066] Like the sliding member engagement groove 50, the locking engagement groove 60 is a groove-like structure formed on the inner surface of the cover member 3. However, unlike the sliding member engagement groove 50, the locking engagement groove 60 is configured to engage with the locking engagement piece 42 of the locking mechanism 40 (particularly the portion protruding outward from the cylinder of the main body 10). More specifically, the locking engagement groove 60 includes a rotational direction groove 61 extending along a portion of the inner circumferential direction of the main body 10, and an insertion / removal direction groove 62 extending linearly from one end of the rotational direction groove 61 along the X-axis direction to the rear end opening of the main body 10. Furthermore, these rotational direction grooves 61 and insertion / removal direction grooves 62 are configured such that, when the locking engagement piece 42 is engaged in the groove, the locking engagement piece 42 can move along the groove in terms of groove width and groove depth.

[0067] By engaging the locking tab 42 with the rotation direction groove 61 and the insertion direction groove 62 of the locking engagement slot 60, the cover member 3 in the installed state engages with the locking member 41 in the locking mechanism section 40 of the inserter body 2 on which the cover member 3 is mounted. Thus, as explained in detail later, as the cover member 3 rotates, the locking tab 42 moves within the groove of the rotation direction groove 61, and depending on its position, the locking member 41 of the locking mechanism section 40 rotates, thereby switching the locking mechanism section 40 between a restricted state and an operable state. Furthermore, as explained in detail later, after the restriction of the locking mechanism section 40 is released and it becomes operable, the cover member 3 can be removed from the body section 10 along the cylindrical axis direction.

[0068] The fixation support unit 70 is used to support the pre-folding of the intraocular lens using the fixation pin 71, so as to properly perform the pre-folding of the intraocular lens based on the sliding mechanism unit 20. For this purpose, the fixation support unit 70 is as follows: Figure 3 (b) and Figure 3 As shown in (d), it is configured to have a fixing pin 71, a pin support portion 72 and a guide portion 73 attached to the cover member 3.

[0069] With the cap component 3 installed, the fixing pin 71 is positioned so that it protrudes into the cylinder of the main body 10 through the through hole (but not shown) of the nozzle portion 12. By protruding into the cylinder of the main body 10 with the fixing pin 71, the posture of a part of the intraocular lens (e.g., the anterior support portion) within the main body 10 is controlled by contact with the fixing pin 71 when the sliding mechanism portion 20 moves, thereby achieving proper pre-folding.

[0070] The needle support portion 72 is a rod-shaped member that supports and fixes the needle 71. The needle 71 is fixed at its rod-shaped front end, and its rod-shaped portion is configured to be elastically deformable. Thus, the fixed needle 71 supported by the needle support portion 72 is arranged to protrude into the cylinder of the main body portion 10 when the cover member 3 is installed. On the other hand, when the cover member 3 is removed from the main body portion 10, it retracts from the cylinder of the main body portion 10 due to the elastic deformation of the needle support portion 72.

[0071] The guide portion 73 is composed of an inclined surface provided on the rod-shaped front end side of the needle support portion 72. When the cover member 3 is removed from the main body portion 10, the needle support portion 72 is elastically deformed according to their relative movement in the X-axis direction. That is, the guide portion 73 guides the needle support portion 72 to retract by means of the inclined surface that deforms the needle support portion 72.

[0072] The fixing support 70, composed of the fixing pins 71, the pin support 72, and the guide 73, is provided as part of the cover member 3. However, the fixing support 70 is formed as a separate component, distinct from the main body portion that constitutes the shape of the cover member 3, and is rotatably configured relative to the main body portion of the cover member 3. Therefore, when the cover member 3 rotates relative to the main body portion 10, the fixing support 70 rotates relative to the main body portion 10, and its relative position to the main body portion 10 does not change. Thus, even if the cover member 3 rotates relative to the main body portion 10, the protruding position of the fixing pins 71 into the main body portion 10 does not change.

[0073] In the cover component 3 of the above structure, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in addition to the above structure, a stop component 4 is preferably provided.

[0074] The stop member 4 is formed to fit into the dedicated through holes 4a and 4b provided in both the cover member 3 in the installed state and the main body 10 of the inserter body 2 on which the cover member 3 is installed. In addition, the stop member 4 is configured to be able to be pulled out from the fitted state with the through holes 4a and 4b by hand.

[0075] If a stop member 4 with such a structure is provided, the following functions are achieved when the cover member 3 is installed.

[0076] When the stop member 4 is in the engagement state with the through holes 4a and 4b, it functions to restrict the rotation of the cover member 3 relative to the main body 10 by passing through these holes.

[0077] Furthermore, when the stop member 4 is in the engagement state with the through holes 4a and 4b, it protrudes into the internal space of the main body 10, thereby limiting the positional displacement (unintended movement of the intraocular lens) of the intraocular lens in the lens storage section 14 of the main body 10.

[0078] Furthermore, the stop component 4 can be configured to perform the above functions, and is not limited to a specific shape or structure.

[0079] The stop member 4 may be provided with a through hole (but not shown) that connects the inside and outside of the main body 10 when engaged with the through holes 4a and 4b. If a through hole is provided, viscoelastic substances (OVD) such as sodium hyaluronate can be injected into the internal space of the main body 10 through this through hole. In this case, the through hole is preferably formed in a conical shape to facilitate the guidance of the OVD injection needle and make the injection operation easier. However, OVD injection may also be performed without utilizing the through hole of the stop member 4, but by other methods.

[0080] (2) How to use the intraocular lens inserter Next, use Figures 4-6 Here is an example illustrating the specific method of using the intraocular lens inserter 1 with the above structure.

[0081] When using the intraocular lens inserter 1, it is supplied in a sterile bag (sealed). Hereinafter, the intraocular lens inserter 1 is described as being in the sterile bag or simply removed from the sterile bag without any further action, as the initial state before use. Furthermore, the initial state of the intraocular lens inserter 1 assumes that the inserter body 2 pre-encloses an intraocular lens. However, this is not a limitation; the intraocular lens can also be inserted into the inserter body 2 without an intraocular lens enclosed, either during OVD injection (described later) or before OVD injection.

[0082] In the initial state of the intraocular lens inserter 1, the cover member 3 is mounted on the main body 10 of the inserter body 2, and the stop member 4 is engaged with it. Therefore, in the initial state, the relative positional movement between the inserter body 2 and the cover member 3 is restricted by the stop member 4, so that the cover member 3 cannot be rotated or removed from the inserter body 2.

[0083] Furthermore, in the initial state of the intraocular lens inserter 1, the lens ejection action is restricted by the locking mechanism 40. Specifically, the rotational position of the locking member 41 within the base 11 of the locking mechanism 40 is set such that the operating member (i.e., part of the plunger end 32 and the rod 31) is restricted. This rotational position is such that the rib of the rod 31 does not engage with the guide groove of the locking member 41, thus interfering with each other. More specifically, it is such that the locking tab 42 provided on the locking member 41 is located within the guide hole 16 of the base 11 and is positioned biased towards one end of the guide hole 16. By positioning the locking member 41 and the locking tab 42 in such a rotational position, the locking mechanism 40 restricts the operating member. Therefore, even when the cover member 3 does not cover the entire inserter body 2 and the operating member protrudes from the rear end of the body 10, the insertion operation of the operating member is restricted. That is, erroneous operation of the operating member, such as accidental insertion, is prevented.

[0084] This means that in the initial state, if the cover component 3 is in the installed state, there is no need for a housing to house the entire intraocular lens inserter 1. That is, the cover component 3 can serve as a substitute for the housing. Therefore, the structure of the intraocular lens inserter 1 can be simplified, and the reduction of resin material along with the simplification is preferable in terms of reducing product costs, and further preferable in terms of environmental problems caused by waste plastics.

[0085] When using such an intraocular lens inserter 1, that is, when inserting an intraocular lens into the eye using the intraocular lens inserter 1, firstly, OVD is injected into the internal space of the main body 10 that houses the intraocular lens, for example, through the through hole of the stop member 4, and the internal space is filled. This is one of the preparatory steps required when using the intraocular lens inserter 1.

[0086] After OVD filling, as Figure 4 As shown in (a), the stop part 4 is removed by grasping it with your hand and pulling it out (see arrow A in the figure).

[0087] This removes the restriction imposed by the stop member 4 on the positional displacement of the intraocular lens within the main body 10. Therefore, the intraocular lens within the main body 10 can be ejected externally by the ejection mechanism 30. This, along with the injection of OVD, is one of the preparatory steps required for using the intraocular lens inserter 1.

[0088] Furthermore, when the stop component 4 is removed, the restriction on the rotation of the cover component 3 by the stop component 4 is released, and the cover component 3 becomes rotatable. However, at this time, as described later, due to the positional relationship between the sliding engagement piece 22 and the locking engagement piece 42, even if the cover component 3 can rotate, it cannot be pulled out in a straight line along the X-axis direction.

[0089] After removing stop component 4, then, as follows: Figure 4 As shown in (b), the rotatable cover component 3 is rotated by hand in one direction (e.g., counterclockwise when viewed from the tip side) (see arrow B in the diagram). Furthermore, during rotation, the cover component 3 does not move in the X-axis direction. That is, rotation around the cylindrical axis of the main body 10 and movement in the X-axis direction (the cylindrical axis of the main body 10) are distinct actions and do not occur simultaneously.

[0090] At this time, the sliding engagement piece 22 of the sliding mechanism 20 protrudes outward from the cylinder of the main body 10 through the slit hole 15 of the main body 10 in the inserter body 2. Furthermore, the protruding portion of the sliding engagement piece 22 engages with the spiral groove 51 in the cover member 3 in such a way that it is located within the groove of the spiral groove 51. Therefore, the sliding engagement piece 22 can move within the opening range of the slit hole 15. Since the spiral groove 51 engaging with the sliding engagement piece 22 extends spirally, when the cover member 3 rotates, the engagement position of the spiral groove 51 and the sliding engagement piece 22 is guided by the slit hole 15 and gradually moves towards the front end.

[0091] Therefore, inside the main body 10, as the cover member 3 rotates, the sliding mechanism 20 moves the intraocular lens. The rotation of the cover member 3 continues until the intraocular lens, based on the sliding mechanism 20, moves from the lens receiving section 14 to the turning section 19. That is, the shape and formation position (especially the groove end position) of the slit hole 15 of the main body 10 and the spiral groove 51 of the cover member 3 are set such that the intraocular lens reaches the turning section 19 as the cover member 3 rotates. Thus, when the intraocular lens is moved by the sliding mechanism 20 as the cover member 3 rotates, the movement speed of the intraocular lens depends on the number of rotations of the cover member 3. This means that by setting the number of rotations of the cover member 3, the movement speed of the intraocular lens based on the sliding mechanism 20 can be adjusted. Furthermore, similar to setting the number of rotations, the movement speed of the intraocular lens can also be adjusted by setting the spiral groove 51 (e.g., setting the spiral pitch).

[0092] When the intraocular lens moves to the turning section 19, the cover member 3 is in the installed state, and the fixing pin 71 of the fixing support part 70 provided on the cover member 3 protrudes into the cylinder of the main body 10. Moreover, even if the cover member 3 is rotated, the protruding position of the fixing pin 71 into the main body 10 will not change. Therefore, when the intraocular lens reaches the turning section 19, the posture of the intraocular lens is controlled by the contact between the intraocular lens and the fixing pin 71. That is, the fixing pin 71 enables the appropriate pre-folding of the intraocular lens.

[0093] Furthermore, in the initial state before the cover component 3 rotates, the lens extension action is restricted by the locking mechanism 40. Specifically, the rotational position of the locking member 41 within the base 11 is set such that the operating member is in a restricted state, and the locking engagement piece 42 is positioned biased towards one end of the guide hole 16. At this time, the locking engagement piece 42 is as follows: Figure 5 As shown, its front end protrudes outward from the cylinder of the base portion 11 through the guide hole 16. However, even though it protrudes outward from the cylinder of the base portion 11, the protruding portion of the locking engagement piece 42 engages with the rotation direction groove 61 in such a way that it is located within the groove of the rotation direction groove 61 in the cover member 3. Therefore, even though the locking engagement piece 42 protrudes outward from the cylinder of the base portion 11, the presence of the rotation direction groove 61 does not hinder the rotation of the cover member 3 in the initial state.

[0094] However, as the cover member 3 continues to rotate, one end of the rotation direction groove 61 (specifically, the forming end of the insertion / removal direction groove 62) reaches the position of the locking piece 42. With further rotation of the cover member 3, one end of the rotation direction groove 61 applies pressure to the locking piece 42. As a result, the locking piece 42 moves in a manner guided by the guide hole 16. Furthermore, as the locking piece 42 moves, the locking member 41 of the locking mechanism 40 rotates within the base 11. That is, as the cover member 3 rotates, the locking member 41 of the locking mechanism 40 also rotates in the same direction as the cover member 3.

[0095] The rotation of locking component 41 is as follows Figure 5 As shown, the movement continues until the guide groove 43 formed by the locking member 41 reaches the position where the rib 33 is formed in the rod portion 31 of the locking member 41. When the guide groove 43 reaches the rib 33, they are in a positional relationship that allows them to engage with each other. Thus, the locking mechanism 40 switches the operating member from a restricted state to an operable state.

[0096] Such a state switching based on the locking mechanism 40 (i.e., the guide groove 43 reaching the rib 33 as the locking member 41 rotates) preferably coincides with the timing of the intraocular lens reaching the turning part 19. That is, the shape and formation position (especially the groove end position) of the guide hole 16 of the main body 10 and the rotation direction groove 61 and insertion / removal direction groove 62 of the cover member 3 are set such that, as the cover member 3 rotates, coinciding with the timing of the intraocular lens reaching the turning part 19, the guide groove 43 reaches the rib 33 along with the rotation of the locking member 41, thereby switching the locking mechanism 40 from the restricted state to the operable state.

[0097] When the locking mechanism 40 switches from the restricted state to the operable state, the restriction of the locking mechanism 40 is released, so the plunger end 32 and the rod 31 constituting the ejection mechanism 30 become capable of moving along the X-axis direction.

[0098] After the restriction on the intraocular lens reaching the advancing section 19 and the locking mechanism section 40 is released, then, as Figure 4 As shown in (c), the cover component 3 in the installed state is pulled out from the inserter body 2 by hand (see arrow C in the figure).

[0099] At this time, the sliding engagement piece 22 engages with the exit groove 52 located at the end of the spiral groove 51, allowing it to move within the exit groove 52. Furthermore, the locking engagement piece 42 engages with the insertion / removal direction groove 62 located at one end of the rotation direction groove 61, allowing it to move within the insertion / removal direction groove 62. Therefore, even if the sliding engagement piece 22 and the locking engagement piece 42 protrude outwards from the main body 10, when the cover component 3 is removed, the sliding engagement piece 22 moves within the exit groove 52, and the locking engagement piece 42 moves within the insertion / removal direction groove 62, thus not hindering the removal of the cover component 3. That is, the cover component 3 can rotate around the cylindrical axis of the main body 10, and when it rotates to the position where the guide groove 43 of the locking member 41 reaches the rib 33 of the rod 31 (hereinafter referred to as the "prescribed rotation position"), it can be attached to or detached from the main body 10 at this prescribed rotation position, and can be removed from the main body 10.

[0100] Furthermore, when the cover component 3 is removed, the relative position of the cover component 3 and the inserter body 2 will shift. This shift in relative position will cause the retaining support 70 attached to the cover component 3 to... Figure 6 As shown, the needle support portion 72 undergoes elastic deformation. Specifically, through relative positional movement, the guide portion 73 abuts against the side wall surface of the through hole (not shown) corresponding to the fixing needle 71. With further movement, the guide portion 73 is pressed along the inclined surface, thereby causing the needle support portion 72 to elastically deform in the direction in which the fixing needle 71 retracts from the cylinder of the main body portion 10. Therefore, even if the fixing needle 71 protrudes into the cylinder of the main body portion 10, when the cover member 3 is removed, the elastic deformation of the needle support portion 72 causes the fixing needle 71 to retract from the cylinder of the main body portion 10, thus not hindering the removal of the cover member 3.

[0101] As described above, in this embodiment, for the intraocular lens inserter 1 in its initial state, the operator performs two-stage operations with different directions of motion: rotating the cover member 3 and removing it. These operations can be performed continuously as a series of operations (i.e., as a single, continuous step), or they can be performed at independent times (e.g., at times with a time difference). In either case, through these operations, the sliding mechanism 20 can be made to move in conjunction with the movement of the cover member 3.

[0102] Furthermore, in this embodiment, for the intraocular lens inserter 1 in its initial state, the operator can perform two-stage operations with different directions of motion, such as rotating and removing the cover component 3, so that the restriction of the locking mechanism 40 is released in conjunction with the movement of the cover component 3, and the operating component is switched from a restricted state to an operable state.

[0103] As a result, after removing the cover component 3, the operation of pushing in the operating component can be performed. Furthermore, when the operation of pushing in the operating component is performed, the intraocular lens is released from the lens outlet 18 through the push-out mechanism 30 pushing out the intraocular lens.

[0104] At this time, due to the linkage between the sliding mechanism 20 and the cover member 3, the intraocular lens pushed out by the ejection mechanism 30 is pre-folded by the sliding mechanism 20. Therefore, by simply pushing in the operating member after removing the cover member 3, the intraocular lens can be released from the lens outlet 18 in a slightly folded state, thereby suppressing folding defects during intraocular lens release. In other words, through the linkage between the cover member 3 and the sliding mechanism 20, the intraocular lens can be smoothly released from the lens outlet 18 simply by pushing in the operating member.

[0105] Furthermore, the movement of the cover component 3 is not only linked to the sliding mechanism 20, but also to the state switching of the operating member. Specifically, when the operating member is in the operable state, the rib 33 of the lever 31 is guided by the guide groove 43 of the locking member 41, thereby allowing the lever 31 to move along the X-axis and eject the intraocular lens. At this time, the lever 31 cannot rotate relative to the main body 10 due to the presence of the rib 33, and always maintains a certain posture in contact with the intraocular lens. Therefore, even when the intraocular lens is pressed and ejected by the front end of the lever 31, a stable ejection action with a certain posture can be performed, which also allows for good ejection of the intraocular lens from the lens ejection port 18.

[0106] (3) Effects of this implementation method According to this embodiment, one or more of the effects shown below can be obtained.

[0107] (a) In the intraocular lens inserter 1 of this embodiment, the sliding mechanism 20 moves the intraocular lens as the cover member 3 rotates. However, the installation and removal of the cover member 3 (i.e., movement in the X-axis direction) does not accompany the movement of the intraocular lens. Therefore, the user of the intraocular lens inserter 1 (such as a surgeon) performs the rotation of the cover member 3 (i.e., pre-folding of the intraocular lens) and the removal of the cover member 3 as two-stage operations with different directions of action. These operations can be performed continuously as a series of operations (i.e., as a single continuous step) or at independent times (e.g., at times with a time difference). For example, if, after completing the pre-stage work for inserting the intraocular lens (such as lens removal), the user finds setting up the intraocular lens inserter 1 cumbersome from scratch and wants to hold the intraocular lens in a folded state beforehand, this can also be addressed. In other words, the convenience for the user of the intraocular lens inserter 1 is excellent.

[0108] Furthermore, in the intraocular lens inserter 1 of this embodiment, the rotation of the cover member 3 and the removal of the cover member 3 are both performed as operations related to the cover member 3. That is, they are not performed as separate operations, but as operations with only different directions of movement of the same cover member 3. Therefore, it is also possible to suppress any impairment of operability for the user of the intraocular lens inserter 1. Moreover, unlike the case of lens folding by pulling out the cover, for example, the intraocular lens is not subjected to impact or damage due to the user's operation, and the user does not need to pay special attention to the operation.

[0109] As described above, the intraocular lens inserter 1 according to this embodiment can achieve excellent convenience and operability.

[0110] (b) In the intraocular lens inserter 1 of this embodiment, the cover member 3 is installed on the main body portion 10 of the inserter body 2 in such a way that it covers the lens outlet 18 side. Furthermore, by removing the cover member 3 from the main body portion 10, the intraocular lens inserter 1 can be used (i.e., the intraocular lens is released from the lens outlet 18). Therefore, compared to the case where it is necessary to remove it from the housing that houses the entire intraocular lens inserter 1, only the cover member 3 needs to be removed, so the operator using the intraocular lens inserter 1 (e.g., a doctor performing cataract surgery) will not find it cumbersome, and the operability (convenience) is excellent for the operator.

[0111] Furthermore, by covering the lens outlet 18 with the cover component 3, the structure can be simplified compared to the case of housing, while ensuring the minimum protection function. The simplification reduces the amount of resin material, which is preferable in terms of reducing product cost, and is also preferable in terms of environmental problems caused by waste plastics.

[0112] That is, according to this embodiment, the excellent convenience of the intraocular lens inserter 1 can be achieved through a simplified structure.

[0113] (c) In the intraocular lens inserter 1 of this embodiment, the cover member 3 is rotatable about the cylindrical axis of the main body 10, and is configured to be able to be installed and removed from the main body 10 at a predetermined rotation position. That is, when the cover member 3 is installed, it cannot be removed from the main body 10 even if the cover member 3 is pulled directly in the X-axis direction, but it can be removed from the main body 10 if the cover member 3 is rotated to a predetermined rotation position.

[0114] Therefore, according to this embodiment, by using the cover member 3 to partially protect the inserter body 2, it is possible to achieve excellent operability (convenience) for the operator using the intraocular lens inserter 1 while ensuring the necessary and sufficient protection function.

[0115] (d) In the intraocular lens inserter 1 of this embodiment, the cover member 3 is installed on the main body 10 of the inserter body 2 to cover the lens outlet 18 side. The cover member 3 is linked to the sliding mechanism 20 of the inserter body 2, and is configured such that the sliding mechanism 20 moves the intraocular lens according to the rotation of the cover member 3. Therefore, when the cover member 3 is rotated to remove it, the intraocular lens inside the main body 10 moves to the turning part 19, which is a predetermined position. That is, when using the intraocular lens inserter 1, if the series of operations of rotating and removing the cover member 3 are performed as a single, continuous step, the intraocular lens can be inserted into the eye using the inserter body 2. Therefore, for the operator using the intraocular lens inserter 1, the operability (convenience) is much better than that of an intraocular lens inserter housed in a housing, and the use is not cumbersome. Furthermore, since the sliding mechanism 20 is activated by rotating the cover member 3, unlike the case where the operator directly operates the sliding mechanism 20 to make it move linearly, the possibility of operator error can be suppressed, which is preferable in suppressing intraocular lens folding defects. More specifically, in the case where the operator directly operates it to make it move linearly, depending on the operation method, it may become an unintended usage mode, or the usage mode itself may deviate (it is difficult to perform the exact same operation every time), which may adversely affect the lens emission performance. However, according to this embodiment, the operator does not need to directly operate the sliding mechanism 20, thus reducing operation errors and deviations in usage mode.

[0116] (e) In the intraocular lens inserter 1 of this embodiment, the cylindrical cover member 3 is configured to fit into the main body 10. The cover member 3 and the sliding mechanism 20 are linked by the engagement of the sliding member engagement groove 50 formed on the inner surface of the cover member 3 with the sliding member engagement piece 22 of the sliding mechanism 20. That is, protection of the inserter main body 2 based on the cover member 3 and the linkage between the cover member 3 and the sliding mechanism 20 can be achieved with a very simple structure. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is highly preferable in terms of achieving excellent operability (convenience) through a simplified structure.

[0117] (f) In the intraocular lens inserter 1 of this embodiment, the cover member 3 is provided with a fixing pin 71. When the cover member 3 is installed, the fixing pin 71 is arranged to protrude into the barrel of the main body 10 of the inserter body 2. Therefore, when moving the intraocular lens inside the barrel of the main body 10, the fixing pin 71 can be used to achieve appropriate pre-folding of the intraocular lens. Moreover, the fixing pin 71 only needs to be attached to the cover member 3 and does not need to be provided as a separate component from the inserter body 2 and the cover member 3, thus avoiding the complexity of the structure of the intraocular lens inserter 1.

[0118] Furthermore, when the cover part 3 is removed from the main body 10 of the inserter body 2, the retaining pin 71 attached to it retracts from the cylinder of the main body 10 due to the elastic deformation of the pin support part 72. Therefore, the retaining pin 71 does not obstruct the removal of the cover part 3, and the cover part 3 can be easily removed from the main body 10 of the inserter body 2. From this point of view, the operability (convenience) is also very good for the operator using the intraocular lens inserter 1.

[0119] As described above, according to this embodiment, the pre-folding of the intraocular lens can be appropriately achieved using the fixing pin 71, and even in this case, the excellent convenience of the intraocular lens inserter 1 can be achieved through a simplified structure.

[0120] (g) In the intraocular lens inserter 1 of this embodiment, the ejection mechanism 30 of the inserter body 2 is restricted from ejecting the intraocular lens by the locking mechanism 40. Therefore, even when the cover member 3 does not cover the entire inserter body 2 and a part of the rod 31 constituting the ejection mechanism 30 and the plunger end 32 are exposed, the lens ejection action of the ejection mechanism 30 is restricted, and the lens ejection action will not be performed erroneously.

[0121] Furthermore, the locking mechanism 40 is configured such that as the cover member 3 rotates, the restriction on the ejection action of the ejection mechanism 30 is released. Therefore, when using the intraocular lens inserter 1, if the cover member 3 is rotated, the restriction of the locking mechanism 40 is released. Thus, the restriction is released simultaneously in one step of operating the cover member 3, eliminating the need for separate operation steps for the restriction release.

[0122] As described above, according to this embodiment, since the locking mechanism 40 restricts and its release is linked with the cover component 3, the operability (convenience) is excellent for the operator using the intraocular lens inserter 1.

[0123] (4) Variations, etc. The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the above disclosure represents exemplary embodiments of the present invention. That is, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above exemplary embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from its spirit.

[0124] In the above embodiment, the case where the inserter body 2 has a sliding mechanism portion 20 and a locking mechanism portion 40 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, as long as the inserter body 2 has at least a body portion 10 and an ejection mechanism portion 30, it is possible to eject the intraocular lens. In this case, as long as the cover portion 3 is installed on the inserter body 2 in a detachable manner, the excellent convenience of the intraocular lens inserter 1 can be achieved through a simplified structure.

[0125] Furthermore, regarding the ejection mechanism 30 for ejecting the intraocular lens, the above embodiment has described an example of ejecting the intraocular lens by pushing in an operation such as the plunger end 32, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the ejection mechanism 30 is not limited to the pushing method; it may also be a spiral method, or a method capable of handling both the pushing and spiral methods.

[0126] In the above embodiment, the sliding mechanism 20 is described as an example where the cover member 3 is linked to the sliding mechanism 20, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the sliding mechanism 20 may also be configured to move the intraocular lens without being linked to the cover member 3. However, as in the above embodiment, if the cover member 3 is linked to the sliding mechanism 20, the operability (convenience) is excellent, and it is preferred in suppressing poor folding of the intraocular lens.

[0127] When the cover component 3 and the sliding mechanism 20 are linked, the above embodiment describes the linkage as achieved by the engagement of the sliding engagement piece 22 with the sliding engagement groove 50 (spiral groove 51, exit groove 52), but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the linkage between the sliding mechanism 20 and the cover component 3 can also be achieved by other structures or mechanisms.

[0128] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an example of rotational linkage between the sliding mechanism 20, which functions as one of the moving mechanism parts, and the cover member 3 was described, was provided, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the push-out mechanism 30, which functions as another moving mechanism part, can also be configured to rotate in linkage with the cover member 3. That is, the present invention is only required to have the moving mechanism part that moves the intraocular lens within the main body 10 rotate in linkage with the cover member 3.

[0129] In the above embodiment, the locking mechanism 40 is described as an example where its restriction and release are linked to the cover member 3, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the locking mechanism 40 may also be configured to perform restriction and release without being linked to the cover member 3. In this case, the locking mechanism 40 may be linked to an operating means such as a knob that can be operated by the operator of the intraocular lens inserter 1 to perform restriction and release. This means that the locking mechanism 40, which corresponds to the state switching of the operating member, does not necessarily require the presence of the cover member 3, and can be configured to restrict the pushing action of the pushing mechanism 30 even without the cover member 3.

[0130] Furthermore, in the case where the locking mechanism 40 is linked with the cover component 3, the above embodiment describes the linkage as achieved by the engagement of the locking engagement piece 42 with the locking engagement groove 60 (rotation direction groove 61, insertion / removal direction groove 62), but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the linkage between the locking mechanism 40 and the cover component 3 can also be achieved by other structures or mechanisms.

[0131] Furthermore, regarding the locking mechanism 40, in the above embodiment, an example was described where the locking mechanism 40 switches from a restricted state to an operable state when the locking member 41, which is rotatable around the cylindrical axis of the main body 10, rotates to a predetermined rotation position. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if the lever 31 of the ejection mechanism 30 is configured to rotate around the cylindrical axis of the main body 10, a locking engagement piece 42 can be provided on the lever 31, and the state switching between the restricted state and the operable state can be performed according to the rotation position of the lever 31. In this case, since the locking member 41 is not required, the structure of the locking mechanism 40 can be simplified. However, if the structure has a locking member 41, the lever 31 does not rotate, and a stable ejection action of the intraocular lens can be performed in a certain posture, which is highly preferable in terms of good delivery of the intraocular lens.

[0132] Furthermore, regarding the locking mechanism 40, in the above embodiment, the example described is the case where the locking mechanism 40 is used to achieve restriction and release by means of the engagement or interference between the rib 33 of the lever 31 and the guide groove 43 of the locking member 41 through rotation of the locking member 41. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the restriction and release based on the locking mechanism 40 can also be achieved by other structures or mechanisms. For example, as other mechanisms, a so-called latching mechanism can be cited, which restricts by abutting against a protrusion and releases the restriction by passing over the protrusion.

[0133] In the above embodiments, an example of a so-called single-piece structure consisting of the cover component 3 as a single constituent element has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the cover component 3 may also be a so-called multi-piece structure consisting of multiple constituent elements. In this case, for example, it is possible to make the engaging portion of the sliding mechanism 20 and the engaging portion of the locking mechanism 40 different components. That is, when the cover component 3 is a multi-piece structure, it is possible to make each component separable or to make each component perform different functions.

[0134] In the above embodiments, it is described that each component of the intraocular lens inserter 1 is formed of a resin molded article, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and may also be formed of metal components such as stainless steel or titanium.

[0135] In the above embodiment, the case in which the fixing pin 71 is retracted by the elastic deformation of the pin support portion 72 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the deformation used to retract the fixing pin 71 may also be a plastic deformation.

[0136] Explanation of symbols: 1...Intraocular lens inserter, 2...Inserter body, 3...Cover part, 4...Stop part, 10...Main body, 11...Base part, 12...Nozzle part, 13...Flange part, 14...Lens storage part, 15...Slit hole, 16...Guide hole, 18...Lens outlet, 19...Turning part, 20...Sliding mechanism part, 21...Lens support member, 22...Sliding engagement piece, 30...Ejection mechanism part, 31...Rod part, 32...Plunger end, 40...Locking mechanism part, 41...Locking member, 42...Locking engagement piece, 50...Sliding engagement groove, 51...Helical groove, 52...Ejection groove, 60...Locking engagement groove, 61...Rotation direction groove, 62...Insertion and extraction direction groove, 70...Fixed support part, 71...Fixed pin, 72...Pin support part, 73...Guide part

Claims

1. An intraocular lens inserter, comprising: The inserter body has a hollow cylindrical portion capable of enclosing an intraocular lens, and is configured to allow the intraocular lens enclosed in the hollow cylindrical portion to be released from the lens outlet to the outside. The moving mechanism causes the intraocular lens inside the hollow cylindrical portion to move along the cylindrical axis of the hollow cylindrical portion; as well as A cover component is mounted to the inserter body in such a way that it at least covers the lens outlet. The cover component is detachable from the inserter body and can rotate around the cylindrical axis of the hollow cylindrical portion when the cover component is installed on the inserter body, so that the moving mechanism moves the intraocular lens as the cover component rotates.

2. The intraocular lens inserter according to claim 1, wherein, The cover component is formed as a cylinder with an opening at one end and a sealed end, configured to fit into the inserter body through the opening. The moving mechanism has a locking tab that protrudes outward from the hollow cylindrical portion. The engaging tab engages with the engaging groove formed on the inner surface of the cover component, thereby linking the cover component with the moving mechanism.

3. The intraocular lens inserter according to claim 2, wherein, The moving mechanism includes a sliding mechanism that moves the intraocular lens within the hollow cylindrical portion.

4. The intraocular lens inserter according to claim 3, wherein, The cover component, serving as the engaging groove, has: a spiral groove extending in a spiral shape relative to the cylindrical axis of the hollow cylindrical portion, and an exit groove extending in a straight line from the end of the spiral groove along the cylindrical axis of the hollow cylindrical portion.

5. The intraocular lens inserter according to claim 1, wherein, The cover component has: The fixing pin is configured to protrude into the hollow cylindrical portion in the installed state; as well as The needle support portion supports the fixed needle; When the cover component is removed from the inserter body, the fixing needle retracts from the hollow cylindrical portion due to the deformation of the needle support portion.

6. The intraocular lens inserter according to claim 5, wherein, In addition to the fixing pin and the pin support, the cover component also has: The guide portion deforms the needle support portion according to the relative movement of the cover component and the hollow cylindrical portion in the cylindrical axis direction.

7. The intraocular lens inserter according to claim 6, wherein, The fixing needle, the needle support, and the guide portion are rotatably configured relative to the cover member, and are configured such that their relative positions with the inserter body do not change when the cover member rotates.

8. The intraocular lens inserter according to claim 2, wherein, The moving mechanism includes an ejection mechanism that pushes the intraocular lens out of the lens outlet.

9. The intraocular lens inserter according to claim 8, further comprising: The locking mechanism restricts the ejection action of the ejection mechanism on the intraocular lens in the installed state.

10. The intraocular lens inserter according to claim 9, wherein, The locking mechanism is configured such that the restriction on the push-out action is released as the cover component rotates.

11. The intraocular lens inserter according to claim 10, wherein, The cover component, serving as the engaging groove, has: a rotational direction groove extending along a portion of the inner circumferential direction of the hollow cylindrical portion, and an insertion / removal direction groove extending linearly from one end of the rotational direction groove along the cylindrical axis of the hollow cylindrical portion to the opening.

Images