Injector with swiveling injector tip

Abstract

The invention relates to an injector (20) for introducing an intraocular lens (1) into an eye (10), comprising an injector axis (26), an injector body (30) that defines a folding chamber (21), an injector tip (22) having an opening (23), and a piston (40) that is longitudinally displaceable within the injector (20) and is configured to convey the intraocular lens (1) from the folding chamber (21) into the injector tip (22) and subsequently out of the injector (20) via the opening (23) by moving the piston (40) in an insertion direction (44) of the injector (20), wherein the injector tip (22) is chamfered in the region of the opening (23) by having an end face (27) that directly adjoins the opening (23) and whose normal includes an end face angle with the injector axis (26) that is different from 0°,wherein the injector tip (22) is pivotably mounted about the injector axis (26) and relative to the injector body (30) and has an injector tip initial state and an injector tip final state, wherein the injector tip (22) can be brought from the injector tip initial state to the injector tip final state by pivoting it in an injector circumferential direction (28) relative to the injector axis (26) by an injector tip angle which lies in a range of 90° to 270°.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an injector for inserting an intraocular lens into an eye, wherein the injector has a pivotable injector tip.

[0002] An intraocular lens can, for example, replace the natural lens of an eye during cataract treatment. In another example, the intraocular lens can be a phakic intraocular lens, which is inserted into the eye in addition to the natural lens, particularly to correct nearsightedness. Fig. Figure 1 shows a cross-section of an exemplary intraocular lens 1. The intraocular lens 1 can be convex or concave and thus has a convex side 3 and a concave side 4. Furthermore, the intraocular lens 1 has an optical axis 2, a radial direction 6 related to the optical axis 2, and a circumferential direction 7 related to the optical axis 2. The intraocular lens 1 has a haptic 5, which in this embodiment is a plate haptic, wherein the haptic 5 has a first longitudinal end 8, which forms the end of the intraocular lens 1 opposite to the radial direction 6, and a second longitudinal end 9, which forms the end of the intraocular lens 1 in the radial direction 6. Fig. 2 and Fig. Figure 3 shows an injector 20, by means of which the phakic intraocular lens 1 is inserted into an eye 10. The phakic intraocular lens 1 is to be inserted between the natural lens 12 of the eye 10 and the iris 13 of the eye 10. For this purpose, an incision is made in the cornea 11 of the eye 10, and an injector tip 22 is inserted into the eye 10 through the incision. The injector 20 has a folding mechanism by means of which the intraocular lens 1, arranged in a folding chamber 21, is folded such that the first lateral edge 80, which is arranged perpendicular to the first longitudinal end 8, and the second lateral edge 90, which is arranged perpendicular to the second longitudinal end 9 and facing away from the first lateral edge 80, are displaced towards each other. Subsequently, the intraocular lens 1 is moved out of the injector 20 into the eye 10.The folding mechanism has a first wing 35 which is to be arranged facing away from the eye 10 in order to avoid contact of the face by the first wing 35 while the intraocular lens 1 is being inserted into the eye 10.

[0003] In Fig. In Figure 2, the intraocular lens 1, before being folded, is positioned such that the convex side 3 faces a support surface 210 in the folding chamber 21. An observer thus sees the concave side 4 when looking at the intraocular lens 1 stored in the loading chamber 21. This leads to the intraocular lens 1 subsequently being folded so that the convex side 3 faces the support surface 210 of the folding chamber 21. However, this orientation results in the intraocular lens 1 being inserted into the eye 10 with the wrong orientation, in which the convex side 3 faces the natural lens 12, as shown by the dashed line of the intraocular lens 1 in Figure 2. Fig. 2.

[0004] In Fig. 3. Before folding, the intraocular lens 1 is positioned such that the convex side 3 faces an observer looking towards the folding chamber 21. This results in the intraocular lens 1 subsequently being folded so that the convex side 3 faces away from the support surface 210 in the folding chamber. This ensures that the intraocular lens 1 enters the eye 10 with the correct orientation, as the concave side 4 faces the natural lens 12 and can thus conform optimally to it (see the dashed line of the intraocular lens 1 in [reference missing]). Fig. 3. In this case, however, the intraocular lens 1 is subjected to strong mechanical stresses during the feed movement in the injector tip 22, which can lead to damage to the intraocular lens 1 and / or the injector tip 22.

[0005] The object of the invention is therefore to create an injector for inserting an intraocular lens into an eye, wherein the injector ensures correct orientation of the intraocular lens in the eye and avoids strong mechanical stresses in the intraocular lens during insertion of the intraocular lens into the eye.

[0006] The injector according to the invention for inserting an intraocular lens into an eye comprises an injector axis, an injector body, an injector tip, and a piston. The injector body defines a folding chamber. The injector tip has an opening. The piston is longitudinally displaceable within the injector and is configured to deliver the intraocular lens from the folding chamber into the injector tip and subsequently out of the injector via the opening by moving the piston in an insertion direction of the injector. The injector tip is chamfered in the region of the opening by having an end face that directly adjoins the opening and whose normal forms an angle with the injector axis that is other than 0°.The injector tip is pivotable about the injector axis and mounted relative to the injector body and has an injector tip initial state and an injector tip final state, wherein the injector tip can be brought from the injector tip initial state to the injector tip final state by pivoting it in an injector circumferential direction related to the injector axis by an injector tip angle which lies in a range of 90° to 270°.

[0007] If the intraocular lens is not symmetrical about a mirror plane whose normal is parallel to the optical axis of the intraocular lens, the lens can be positioned in the folding chamber in such a way that it is folded to minimize mechanical stress. After folding, the lens can be moved into the injector tip using the piston. The injector tip can then be moved from its initial state to its final state. This allows the end face to be oriented so that the intraocular lens can be inserted into the eye in the correct orientation.

[0008] It is conceivable that the intraocular lens has a convex side and a concave side that manipulate light by means of refraction or diffraction for optical imaging by the intraocular lens, in particular focusing it. It is conceivable that the intraocular lens is a phakic intraocular lens. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the intraocular lens is intended to replace a natural lens of the eye.

[0009] It is preferred that the injector has a folding mechanism configured to fold the intraocular lens in the folding chamber by moving the folding mechanism from a folding mechanism start state to a folding mechanism end state, wherein the folding mechanism has a projection whose distal end, in the folding mechanism end state, projects from the injector in an injector radial direction relative to the injector axis. By pivoting the injector tip relative to the injector body, the end face can be oriented relative to the projection such that, during insertion of the intraocular lens into the eye, the projection can be oriented away from the eye, thus preventing the projection from touching the patient.

[0010] It is preferred that the injector tip has a maximally long marginal fiber and a minimally short marginal fiber, which, in the injector tip's final state, are arranged facing away from the projection in the circumferential direction of the injector. This results in the minimally short marginal fiber being positioned further inward in the eye than the maximally long marginal fiber when the intraocular lens is inserted into the eye with the projection facing away from the eye. Consequently, as the intraocular lens exits the opening, it is displaced away from the cornea.

[0011] It is preferred that the folding mechanism includes a folding wedge which folds the intraocular lens when the wedge is inserted into the folding chamber. The injector may have a holder that holds the folding wedge and forms the projection. Upon insertion into the folding chamber, the folding wedge can make central contact with the intraocular lens and press it inwards, so that two ends of the intraocular lens, facing away from each other and perpendicular to the optical axis of the intraocular lens, shift towards each other. In the initial state of the folding mechanism, the folding wedge may be spaced apart from the intraocular lens. In the final state of the folding mechanism, the folding wedge may be in contact with the intraocular lens and have folded it.

[0012] Alternatively, it is preferred that the folding mechanism comprises a butterfly mechanism having a first wing and a second wing which are coupled to each other in the final folding state and whose respective distal ends project jointly from the injector in an injector radial direction relative to the injector axis in the final folding state, forming the projection. It is particularly preferred that the second wing is pivotable about the injector axis and movable towards the first wing.

[0013] The intraocular lens is preferably arranged and oriented in the folding chamber such that the folding mechanism folds the intraocular lens so that the convex side rests on a support surface for the intraocular lens within the folding chamber. This results in particularly low mechanical stresses in the intraocular lens.

[0014] The face angle is preferably in the range of 20° to 70°, 30° to 60°, or 40° to 50°. The injector tip angle is preferably in the range of 150° to 210° or 170° to 190°.

[0015] It is preferred that the injector has a passage which, contrary to the insertion direction, is directly adjacent to the opening and is externally bounded by the injector body and the injector tip, and a step which causes an enlargement of a cross-section of the passage, the normal of which is parallel to the injector axis, at a transition from the injector body to the injector tip in the direction of the opening. The provision of the step prevents the intraocular lens from being pinched between the injector body and the injector tip while the intraocular lens is being displaced by the piston.

[0016] It is preferred that the piston is mounted such that rotation of the piston in a circumferential direction relative to the insertion direction, and in particular against the circumferential direction relative to the insertion direction, is not possible. This allows the piston to maintain its orientation when the injector tip is moved from its initial state to its final state. This can be relevant, for example, if an asymmetrical cushion is applied to the piston that contacts the intraocular lens.

[0017] Alternatively, it is preferred that the piston is mounted such that rotation of the piston is possible in a circumferential direction relative to the insertion direction, and in particular against the circumferential direction relative to the insertion direction. This allows the piston to follow the pivoting of the injector tip. This is particularly relevant if the piston has a fork that contacts the intraocular lens.

[0018] The injector tip preferably has a stop configured such that, in the injector tip's initial state, the piston abuts the stop when moved towards the opening, and in the injector tip's final state, the stop allows the piston to move towards the opening. This prevents incorrect operation of the injector, where the intraocular lens is ejected from the injector before the injector tip reaches its final state. It is particularly preferred that the piston has a piston projection that abuts the stop in the injector tip's initial state. It is conceivable that the piston projection can move past the stop in the injector tip's final state. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the injector tip is configured to remove the piston projection from the piston when the injector tip is moved from its initial state to its final state.For this purpose, the injector tip can have an injector tip driver that carries the piston projection along when the injector tip is moved from the injector tip start state to the injector tip end state.

[0019] It is preferred that the piston is configured to drive the injector tip in the circumferential direction by shifting in the insertion direction. For example, the piston can have a piston driver and the injector tip can have a helical recess in which the piston driver slides while the piston driver is shifted towards the opening.

[0020] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the attached schematic drawings. These show Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a cross-section through an intraocular lens, Fig. 2 a schematic representation of a cross-section of an eye and a conventional injector inserted into the eye, wherein a convex side of the intraocular lens faces a support surface of a folding chamber, Fig. 3 a schematic representation of the cross-section made of Fig. 2 and a cross-section of an intraocular lens, wherein a concave side of the intraocular lens faces the mounting surface of the folding chamber, Fig. 4 a schematic representation of a cross-section through a first injector according to the invention, Fig. 5 a schematic representation of a perspective view of a second injector according to the invention at a first time point in time, Fig. 6 the view from Fig. 5 at a second time and Fig. 7 the view from Fig. 5 at a third point in time.

[0021] How it looks Fig. As can be seen from Figures 4 to 7, an injector 20 for introducing an intraocular lens 1 into an eye 10 has an injector axis 26, an injector body 30, an injector tip 22, and a piston 40. The injector body 30 defines a folding chamber 21 or is configured to receive a folding chamber 21 in which the intraocular lens 1 can be arranged. The injector tip 22 has an opening 23. The piston 40 is arranged to be longitudinally displaceable within the injector 20 and is configured to deliver the intraocular lens 1 from the folding chamber 21 into the injector tip 22 and subsequently out of the injector 20 via the opening 23 by moving the piston 40 in an insertion direction 44 of the injector 20. The injector tip 22 is chamfered in the area of ​​the opening 23 by having an end face 27 which is directly adjacent to the opening 23 and whose normal forms an end face angle with the injector axis 26 which is different from 0°.The injector tip 22 is pivotable about the injector axis 26 and mounted relative to the injector body 30. Furthermore, the injector tip 22 has an initial injector tip state and an end injector tip state, wherein the injector tip 22 can be moved from the initial injector tip state to the end injector tip state by pivoting it in an injector circumferential direction 28 relative to the injector axis 26 by an injector tip angle that lies in a range of 90° to 270°.

[0022] The intraocular lens 1 can have a convex side 3 and a concave side 4, which is arranged facing away from the convex side 3 (see Fig. 1 to 3). The convex side 3 and the concave side 4 are designed to manipulate light by refraction or diffraction, in particular to focus it, so that the intraocular lens 1 can perform an optical imaging.

[0023] The intraocular lens 1 can be a phakic intraocular lens 1. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the intraocular lens 1 is designed to replace a natural lens 12 of the eye 10.

[0024] The insertion direction 44 and the injector axis 26 can be arranged parallel to each other and, in particular, coincide.

[0025] The face angle can, for example, be in a range of 20° to 70°, 30° to 60°, or 40° to 50°. The injector tip angle can, for example, be in a range of 150° to 210° or 170° to 190°.

[0026] The piston 40 can have a cushion 41 (see Fig. 4), which is configured to contact the intraocular lens 1 when the piston 40 displaces the intraocular lens 1, and may be configured to deform when the cushion 41 enters the injector tip 22. It is conceivable that the piston 40 is mounted such that rotation of the piston 40 in a circumferential direction relative to the insertion direction 44, and in particular against the circumferential direction relative to the insertion direction 44, is not possible. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the piston 40 is mounted such that rotation of the piston 40 in a circumferential direction relative to the insertion direction 44, and in particular against the circumferential direction relative to the insertion direction 44, is possible.

[0027] Fig. Figure 4 shows that the injector 20 can have a folding mechanism 34 which is configured to fold the intraocular lens 1 by bringing the folding mechanism 34 from a folding mechanism initial state which is in Fig. The folding mechanism 34, as shown in Figure 4, folds into a final folding state (not shown in the figures) within the folding chamber 21. The folding mechanism 34 has a first wing 35 and a second wing 36. The second wing 36 can be coupled to the first wing 35 by pivoting about the injector axis 26, for example by snapping it into place, and thus reach a final folding state. In this configuration, the first wing 35 and the second wing 36 project jointly from the injector 20 in an injector radial direction 29 relative to the injector axis 26. The first wing 35 can be rigidly arranged, allowing only the second wing 36 to pivot towards the first wing 35. Alternatively, the injector 20 can be configured such that the first wing 35 and the second wing 36 can move towards each other.

[0028] For the sake of clarity, the following is included in the Fig. In figures 5 to 7 only the first wing 35 is shown, whereas the second wing 36, which is locked into the first wing 35, is not shown.

[0029] Because the injector tip 22 is chamfered in the area of ​​the opening 23, the injector tip 22 has a maximally long edge fiber 24 and a minimally short edge fiber 25, compare Fig. 2 to 4. The minimally short edge fiber 25 can be arranged in the injector circumferential direction 28 at an angle of 180° starting from the maximally long edge fiber 24.

[0030] In Fig. 5 and at the first time that occurs in Fig. Figure 5 shows the injector tip 22 in its initial injector tip state. In this initial state, the minimally short edge fiber 25 can be arranged in the circumferential direction 28 of the injector in a plane in which the first wing 35 is also located. Starting from this initial state, the injector tip 22 can be pivoted towards the final injector tip state. This is shown at the second time point in Fig. Figure 6 shows the injector tip 22 can have a handle 33 for this purpose (compare Figure 6). Fig. 4 to 7), which is graspable by one hand, so that the injector tip 22 can be pivoted by hand. In Fig. Figure 7 shows the injector tip 22 at the third time point in its final injector tip state, in which the minimally short edge fiber 25 can be arranged facing away from the first wing 35. In particular, the minimally short edge fiber 25 in the final injector tip state can be arranged at an angle in the injector circumferential direction 28, starting from the plane of the first wing 35, which lies in the range of 150° to 210°, 160° to 200°, or 170° to 190°. It is conceivable that the injector tip 22 is pivotable only in the direction towards the final injector tip state in the initial injector tip state and only in the direction towards the initial injector tip state in the final injector tip state.

[0031] How it looks Fig. As can be seen in Figure 4, the injector body 30 can have an injector body bearing surface 31 and the injector tip 22 a tip bearing surface 32. The injector body bearing surface 31 and the tip bearing surface 32 can slide against each other when the injector tip 22 pivots about the injector axis 26 and relative to the injector body 30. Fig. Figure 4 shows that the injector body bearing surface 31 can be arranged facing inwards and the tip bearing surface 32 can be arranged facing outwards. However, it is also conceivable that the injector body bearing surface 31 is arranged facing outwards and the tip bearing surface 32 is arranged facing inwards.

[0032] Fig. Figure 4 shows that the folding mechanism 34 can have a “butterfly mechanism” in which the second wing 36 can be pivoted around the injector axis 26 towards the first wing 35.

[0033] It is conceivable that the intraocular lens 1 is arranged and oriented in the folding chamber 21 such that the folding mechanism 4 folds the intraocular lens 1 in such a way that the convex side 3 of the support surface 210 is arranged facing the folding chamber 21.

[0034] How it looks Fig. As can be seen in Figure 4, the injector 20 can have a passage 42, which adjoins the opening 23 directly opposite the insertion direction 44 and is externally bounded by the injector body 30 and the injector tip 22, and a step 43, which causes an enlargement of the cross-section of the passage 42, the normal of which is parallel to the injector axis 26, at a transition from the injector body 30 to the injector tip 22 in the direction towards the opening 23. The step 43 can be formed completely in the circumferential direction 28 of the injector.

[0035] It is conceivable that the injector tip 22 has a stop configured such that, in the injector tip's initial state, the piston 40 abuts the stop when moved towards the opening 23, and in the injector tip's final state, the stop allows the piston 40 to move towards the opening 23. The piston 40 can have a piston projection that abuts the stop in the injector tip's initial state. The piston projection can protrude from the piston 40 in a direction transverse to the insertion direction 44. It is conceivable that, in the injector tip's final state, the piston projection can move past the stop. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the injector tip 22 is configured to remove the piston projection from the piston 40 when the injector tip 22 is moved from the injector tip's initial state to the injector tip's final state.

[0036] The piston 40 can be arranged to drive the injector tip 22 in the injector circumferential direction 28 by moving it in the insertion direction 44. Reference symbol list 1 Intraocular lens 2 optical axis 3 convex side 4 concave sides 5 Haptics 6 Radial direction 7 Circumferential direction 8 first longitudinal end 9 second longitudinal end 10 Eye 11 Cornea 12 natural lenses 13 Iris 20 injectors 21 Folding chamber 22 Injector tip 23 Opening 24 maximum length edge fiber 25 minimally short edge fiber 26 Injector axis 27 Front surface 28 Injector circumferential direction 29 Injector radial direction 30 injector bodies 31 Injector body bearing surface 32 Peak storage area 33 Handle 34 Folding mechanism 35 first wing 36 second wing 40 pistons 41 pillows 42 Passage 43rd level 44 Insertion direction 80 first side margin 90 second side margin 210 contact area

Claims

[1] Injector for inserting an intraocular lens (1) into an eye (10), having an injector axis (26), an injector body (30) which delimits a folding chamber (21), an injector tip (22) which has an opening (23), and a piston (40) which is arranged to be longitudinally displaceable in the injector (20) and is designed to convey the intraocular lens (1) by displacing the piston (40) in an insertion direction (44) of the injector (20) from the folding chamber (21) into the injector tip (22) and then via the opening (23) out of the injector (20), wherein the injector tip (22) is bevelled in the region of the opening (23) in that the injector tip (22) has an end face (27) which directly borders the opening (23) and whose normal has a frontal angle with the injector axis (26) which is different from 0°,wherein the injector tip (22) is pivotally mounted about the injector axis (26) and relative to the injector body (30) and has an injector tip initial state and an injector tip final state, wherein the injector tip (22) can be brought from the injector tip initial state to the injector tip final state by pivoting in an injector circumferential direction (28) relative to the injector axis (26) by an injector tip angle which lies in a range of 90° to 270°. [2] Injector according to claim 1, wherein the injector (20) has a folding mechanism (34) which is configured to fold the intraocular lens (1) by bringing the folding mechanism (34) from a folding mechanism initial state into a folding mechanism final state in the folding chamber (21), wherein the folding mechanism (34) has a projection whose distal end, in the folding mechanism final state, protrudes from the injector (20) in an injector radial direction (29) relative to the injector axis (26). [3] Injector according to claim 2, wherein the injector tip (22) has a maximum length edge fiber (24) and a minimum length edge fiber (25) which, in the injector tip end state, is arranged facing away from the projection in the injector circumferential direction (28). [4] Injector according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the folding mechanism (34) comprises a folding wedge which folds the intraocular lens (1) by inserting the folding wedge into the folding chamber (21). [5] Injector according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the folding mechanism (34) has a butterfly mechanism which has a first wing (35) and a second wing (36) which are coupled to one another in the folding mechanism end state and whose respective distal ends, in the folding mechanism end state, jointly protrude from the injector (20) in an injector radial direction (29) relative to the injector axis (26) and form the projection, in particular wherein the second wing (36) is pivotable about the injector axis (26) and movable towards the first wing (35). [6] Injector according to one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the intraocular lens (1) has a convex side (3) and a concave side (4) which manipulate light by means of refraction or diffraction for an optical imaging of the intraocular lens (1), and is arranged and oriented in the folding chamber (21) such that the folding mechanism (34) folds the intraocular lens (1) such that the convex side (3) is arranged on a support surface (210) for the intraocular lens in the folding chamber (21). [7] Injector according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the intraocular lens (1) is a phakic intraocular lens (1). [8] Injector according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the injector (20) has a passage (42) which directly adjoins the opening (23) opposite to the insertion direction (44) and is delimited externally by the injector body (30) and the injector tip (22), and a step (43) which causes an enlargement of a cross-section of the passage (42), the normal of which is parallel to the injector axis (26), at a transition from the injector body (30) to the injector tip (22) in the direction of the opening (23). [9] Injector according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the injector tip (22) has a stop which is arranged such that in the injector tip initial state the piston (40) abuts against the stop when the piston (40) is displaced towards the opening (23) and in the injector tip end state the stop enables the piston (40) to be displaced towards the opening (23). [10] Injector according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the piston (40) is arranged to drive the injector tip (22) in the injector circumferential direction (28) by displacement in the insertion direction (44).

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