Intraocular lens injection device

Abstract

An injector for injecting an IOL into an eye includes an injector body having a lumen wall defining a lumen, a plunger (140) having a longitudinal axis and a soft tip (142) at the distal end of the plunger. The soft tip has a concave distal surface (C). In a plane containing the longitudinal axis (LA), the plane is perpendicular to the IOL optical axis when the IOL is positioned in a staging area of ​​the injector body, and the concave distal surface extends in a direction at a non-perpendicular angle to the longitudinal axis. The concave distal surface is elliptical in a plane perpendicular to the direction, and the concave distal surface has no curvature along the direction.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] An injection device and method for controlling the folding of an intraocular lens for insertion into an eye. [Background technology]

[0002] An intraocular lens (referred to herein as an IOL, or simply a lens) is an artificial lens used to replace a patient's natural lens when the patient's natural lens is diseased or the eye is otherwise damaged. In some circumstances, the natural lens may remain in the patient's eye with the IOL implanted. The IOL may be placed in either the posterior or anterior chamber of the eye.

[0003] IOLs come in a variety of configurations and materials. Various instruments and methods are known for implanting such IOLs into the eye. Typically, an incision is made in the patient's cornea, and the IOL is inserted into the eye through the incision. In one technique, the surgeon uses surgical forceps to grasp the IOL and insert it into the eye through the incision. While this technique is still practiced today, an increasing number of surgeons are using IOL injectors, which offer advantages such as allowing the surgeon greater control over the insertion of the IOL into the eye and allowing the IOL to be inserted through a smaller incision. Relatively small incision sizes (e.g., less than approximately 3 mm) are preferred over relatively large incisions (e.g., approximately 3.2 to 5+ mm) because smaller incisions are associated with shorter postoperative healing times and fewer complications, such as induced astigmatism.

[0004] To allow the IOL to pass through a small incision, IOLs are typically folded / compressed before insertion into the eye, where they assume their original unfolded / uncompressed shape. Because IOLs are very small and delicate manufactured items, great care is taken in their handling, both when they are loaded into the injector and when the lens is injected into the patient's eye.

[0005] It is desirable that the IOL be ejected from the tip of the IOL injector into the eye intact and in a predictable orientation. If the IOL is damaged or ejected from the injector in the wrong orientation, the surgeon may need to remove or further manipulate the IOL within the eye, potentially resulting in trauma to the surrounding tissues of the eye. To achieve proper delivery of the IOL, it is desirable to consistently load the IOL into the injector device, consistently engage the lens with the plunger tip, and controllably move the lens through the injector lumen and into the eye to limit the chance of IOL displacement or damage. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Although various IOL injectors and other devices have been proposed and manufactured to attempt to address the problems associated with ejection of IOLs into the eye, there remains a need for IOL injectors and injector components that facilitate the surgical delivery of IOLs into the eye. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to an aspect of the present invention, an IOL injector includes a plunger having a longitudinal axis and a soft tip at the distal end of the plunger. The soft tip is positioned to advance an IOL through the injector lumen and into the eye. The soft tip has a concave distal surface. When the IOL is positioned in a staging region of the injector body, the concave distal surface extends non-perpendicular to the longitudinal axis in a plane that includes the longitudinal axis, which is a plane perpendicular to the IOL optical axis. Angling the concave distal surface in this manner controls contact between the concave distal surface and the IOL haptics, ensuring that the haptics are positioned on top of the IOL's optic body before and during folding and compression of the IOL as it descends through the IOL lumen.

[0008] One aspect of the present invention is directed to an injector for injecting an IOL into an eye. The injector includes an injector body having a lumen wall defining a lumen, and the IOL is delivered into the eye at a distal end of the lumen. The injector also includes a plunger having a longitudinal axis and a soft tip at the distal end of the plunger. The soft tip is positioned to advance the IOL through the lumen to the distal end of the lumen. The soft tip has a concave distal surface. In a plane containing the longitudinal axis, the plane is perpendicular to the IOL optical axis when the IOL is positioned in a staging area of ​​the injector body, and the concave distal surface extends in a direction at a non-perpendicular angle to the longitudinal axis.

[0009] In some embodiments, the concave distal surface is elliptical in a plane perpendicular to the direction, and the concave distal surface has no curvature along the direction. In some embodiments, the concave distal surface is cylindrical in a plane perpendicular to the direction, and the concave distal surface has no curvature along the direction.

[0010] The soft tip may include an elastomer.

[0011] In some embodiments, the concave distal surface defines a recess and the soft tip features do not extend into the recess, hi some embodiments, the concave distal surface has a blind hole formed therethrough and the blind hole extends proximally from the concave distal surface through the soft tip.

[0012] The angle of the concave distal surface relative to the longitudinal axis can be in the range of 40 to 70 degrees. The angle of the concave distal surface relative to the longitudinal axis can be in the range of 45 to 65 degrees. In some embodiments, the angle is approximately 60 degrees.

[0013] In some embodiments, the injector may have an intraocular lens (IOL) disposed in a staging region of the injector body, the IOL having haptics extending proximally from the optic, and the soft tip configured to contact less than 10% of the haptic length upon initial contact between the soft tip and the haptics, the haptic length being measured from the periphery of the optic body to the distal end of the haptics. In some embodiments, the soft tip is configured to contact no more than 50% of the haptic length at any point during plunger actuation.

[0014] The injector body may be comprised of two or more components, each forming a portion of the lumen, hi some embodiments, at least one of the components comprises an IOL shuttle.

[0015] In some embodiments, the shuttle has an IOL disposed therein in a biased state, with the center of the optic body displaced slightly downward relative to the opposing circumferential outer edge locations of the optic body.

[0016] In some embodiments, the injector body includes a finger flange and the plunger includes a thumb depression.

[0017] Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a plunger for use in an IOL injector. The plunger includes a shaft having a longitudinal axis and a soft tip at a distal end of the shaft. The soft tip has a concave surface extending along a direction that forms a non-perpendicular angle with the longitudinal axis. In some embodiments, the plunger is combined with an injector body having a lumen, the plunger being disposed for sliding movement within the lumen.

[0018] Yet another aspect of the present invention is directed to a method for inserting an intraocular lens (IOL) including an optic body and haptics into an eye through a lumen of an injector. The injector includes: i) a shaft characterized by a longitudinal axis; and ii) a plunger including a soft tip at a distal end of the shaft. The soft tip has a concave distal surface extending along a direction forming a non-perpendicular angle with the longitudinal axis. The method includes actuating the plunger to move a portion of the haptics onto the top of the optic body using the concave distal surface.

[0019] In some examples, the actuating step includes contacting less than 10% of the haptic length measured from the optic body to the distal end of the haptic upon initial contact with the haptic.

[0020] In some examples, the actuation step includes moving the IOL from a staging region of the injector body through the distal end of the lumen while contacting no more than 50% of the haptic length at any point during the IOL's movement from the staging region to the distal end of the lumen.

[0021] The concave distal surface may be elliptical in a plane perpendicular to the direction, wherein the concave distal surface has no curvature along the direction.

[0022] The term "distal" refers to a component or portion of an injector, IOL, or other device that is closer to the end of the injector where the IOL exits the injector and enters the eye; and the term "proximal" refers to a component or portion of an injector, IOL, or other device that is further from the end of the injector where the IOL exits the injector and enters the eye.

[0023] These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following detailed description and appended claims.

[0024] Exemplary and non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar components in different drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0025] [Figure 1] Schematic view of an embodiment of an assembled injector system according to an aspect of the present invention [Figure 2] Schematic view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in a disassembled state [Figure 3A] Schematic projection view of an embodiment of a plunger soft chip according to an aspect of the present invention [Figure 3B] Schematic side view taken along the direction D of the soft chip shown in FIG. 3A [Figure 3C] Schematic top view of the soft chip shown in FIG. 3A [Figure 4A] Distal end view of an embodiment of an IOL shuttle in an open position maintaining the lens in a non-biased state [Figure 4B] Cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of an IOL shuttle in an open position maintaining the lens in a non-biased state [Figure 4C] Cross-sectional top view of an embodiment of an IOL shuttle in an open position maintaining the lens in a non-biased state [Figure 5A] Distal end view of an embodiment of the shuttle shown in FIGS. 4A - 4C in a closed position maintaining the lens in a biased state [Figure 5B] Cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of the shuttle shown in FIGS. 4A - 4C in a closed position maintaining the lens in a biased state [Figure 5C] Cross-sectional top view of an embodiment of the shuttle shown in FIGS. 4A - 4C in a closed position maintaining the lens in a biased state [Figure 6A] Distal end view of an embodiment of the shuttle of FIGS. 4A - 4C with the biasing tab pushed down to ensure that the lens is in a biased state [Figure 6B]6B is a cross-sectional side view of the shuttle of FIG. 6A with the biasing tab depressed to ensure the lens is in a biased state and one side of the shuttle removed to better view the lens and biasing tab structure. [Figure 7A] 1 is a distal end view of another embodiment of a shuttle; [Figure 7B] 1 is a cross-sectional top view of another embodiment of the shuttle; [Figure 8A] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional schematic top view of the injector body of FIG. 1 with an IOL biased therein, with the plunger actuated to the point where the soft tip approaches the lens. [Figure 8B] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional schematic top view of the injector body of FIG. 1 with an IOL biased therein, with the plunger actuated to the point where the soft tip makes initial contact with the lens haptics. [Figure 8C] 8C is a cross-sectional schematic top view of the injector body of FIG. 1 with an IOL biased therein, where the plunger is actuated to the point where the soft tip contacts further along the haptic than shown in FIG. 8B, resulting in the plunger contacting a larger portion of the posterior haptic (also called the proximal haptic) than shown in FIG. 8B. [Figure 8D] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional schematic top view of the injector body of FIG. 1 with the IOL biased therein, with the plunger actuated to the point where the posterior and anterior haptics are positioned above the lens, and the IOL begins to advance within the lumen toward the distal end of the lumen. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] Aspects of the present invention will be further described with reference to the following specific examples, which are provided by way of illustration and are understood to be in no way intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention beyond the language of the claims set forth below.

[0027] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an example of an assembled injector system 100 (shown in FIG. 2) for injecting an IOL 150 into an eye, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of injector system 100 shown in an exploded state for ease of illustration.

[0028] The injector system 100 includes an injector body 102 and a plunger 140. The injector body has luminal walls 112a, 112b, and 112c that define a lumen L. An IOL 150 is delivered into the eye at a distal end DL of the lumen L. The plunger 140 has a longitudinal axis LA and a soft tip 142 at the distal end of a plunger shaft 144. The soft tip 142 is positioned to advance the IOL 150 through the lumen L to the distal end DL. The soft tip 142 has a concave distal surface C (shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B). The IOL 150 includes an optic body 152 (including an imaging portion called the optic) with two or more haptics 154a, 154b extending therefrom to position and support the optic within the implanted eye.

[0029] As discussed in more detail below, concave surface C is configured to facilitate positioning of proximal haptics 154b before and / or during compression and folding of the IOL as it is advanced through lumen L. According to an embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 8A , in a plane containing longitudinal axis LA (plane A that is perpendicular to optical axis OA of IOL 150 when the lens is in the staging region of the injector), concave distal surface C extends in a direction at a non-perpendicular angle to longitudinal axis LA. The staging region is the location within the injector where the IOL is located before being advanced through the lumen by plunger 140.

[0030] In the illustrated embodiment, the injector body 102 is comprised of three components (main injector component 110, lens shuttle 120, and cartridge 130), each of which forms a portion of the lumen L through which the IOL travels from the staging area to the distal end DL; however, it should be understood that the injector body may be comprised of one or more components that form a lumen. Also, in the illustrated embodiment, the shuttle 120 is comprised of two halves 120a and 120b, which are snapped together or otherwise coupled to form the entire shuttle. In the illustrated embodiment, the various components of the injector system 100 are supported by the main injector component 110.

[0031] Plunger 140 includes an actuator 142 for retracting plunger 140 within the injector body and advancing IOL 150 within lumen L. In the illustrated embodiment, a finger flange 114 is formed on the injector body and the actuator is realized as a thumb press, which combine to facilitate movement of the plunger within the injector body; however, any suitable manual, electromechanical, or pneumatic actuator design may be used.

[0032] 3A-3C are schematic diagrams of examples of soft tip 142 according to aspects of the present invention. As described above, plane A includes longitudinal axis LA, and plane A is perpendicular to optical axis OA of IOL 150 when the lens is in the staging area. In plane A, concave distal surface C extends along direction D at a non-perpendicular angle φ to longitudinal axis LA. For example, the concave shape can be cylindrical, with circular curvature in a plane perpendicular to the axis extending in direction D, and no curvature along the axis extending in direction D; alternatively, the concave shape can be cylindrical, with elliptical curvature (or another curved shape) perpendicular to the axis extending in direction D, and no curvature along the axis extending in direction D. In some embodiments, the distal surface may have curvature (convex or concave) along direction D in addition to curvature in a plane perpendicular to direction D.

[0033] In planes perpendicular to direction D (at various positions along direction D), the curvature of surface C may be symmetrical with respect to direction D or may deviate from symmetry. The orientation of direction D relative to longitudinal axis LA and the remainder of the injector and IOL is discussed in more detail below.

[0034] Distal surface C is selected to be concave in a plane perpendicular to direction D to facilitate positioning of proximal haptic 154b on top of optic body 152. As discussed in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 8A-8C , distal surface C is angled with respect to longitudinal axis LA to engage proximal haptic 154b in a manner that causes haptic 154b to bend relative to the optic-haptic connection, thereby causing distal end DE2 of the haptic and a portion of haptic arm A to be consistently moved to a position on top of optic body 152 rather than being compressed against the side of optic body 152.

[0035] The soft tip 142 is elastically deformable, allowing it to compress as it advances through the lumen L (which has a reduced cross-section to compress the IOL 150) and return to its original shape when the deformation or compressive force is removed. For example, the soft tip may be made from an elastomer (e.g., silicone rubber), a deformable plastic, or a deformable thermoplastic. The material is typically of the same or lower hardness as the material from which the IOL is made to avoid damage to the IOL. The material may be a different material than the IOL 150 being injected, or the same material. It should be appreciated that the concave shape of the soft tip, in combination with the lumen shape selected to compress the tip, reduces the likelihood that the proximal haptics or lens body will be positioned underneath the tip as it advances through the lumen. Furthermore, as the soft tip advances through the lumen, the distal-most portions of the soft tip may approach each other and form a gripping action around the optic body and / or haptics, thereby stabilizing the lens as it advances through the lumen.

[0036] In some embodiments, distal surface C has no features that extend into recess CA formed by distal surface C. However, in some embodiments, it has been found to be beneficial to have a void of material (e.g., blind hole B) extending through the distal surface and extending proximally from the distal surface through the soft tip, which facilitates compression of the tip as it advances through lumen L. In some embodiments, in a plane perpendicular to direction D (other than any plane containing the blind hole), the distal surface has a continuous curvature.

[0037] Voids V1, V2 can be formed in the outer contour of the soft tip 142 to facilitate compression of the tip 142 and / or for designs where the soft tip 142 extends beyond the distal end DL of the lumen L when the plunger 140 is pushed (as shown in FIG. 1), facilitating re-entry of the soft tip 142 into the lumen L when the plunger is retracted.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 3C , in plane A, concave distal surface C extends in direction D, which extends at a non-perpendicular angle φ relative to longitudinal axis LA. Angle φ can have a value ranging from 40 to 70 degrees; in some instances, 45 to 65 degrees; for example, an angle of approximately 60 degrees may be used; φ is specified herein using the acute angle between D and LA; of course, the angle between direction D and LA can be specified using an obtuse angle between D and LA that corresponds to the acute angle specified above. The above angles are representative and can be selected based on the IOL structure (including the haptics or other structures). As described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 8B , in some embodiments, the plunger starts by contacting less than 10% of the haptic length (measured from the edge of optic body 152 to the distal end DE2 of the haptic), typically contacting progressively more of the haptic as the plunger advances and the haptic flexes. While it is not necessary that the percentage of haptics contacted by the soft tip does not decrease as the plunger advances, it is typically advantageous for the plunger to not contact more than 50% at any point during the plunger's movement (i.e., until delivery of the IOL through the distal end of the lumen and into the eye).

[0039] 4A-4C show a distal end view, a cross-sectional side view, and a cross-sectional top view, respectively, of an embodiment of shuttle 400 (corresponding to shuttle 120 in FIG. 1) maintaining an IOL in an unbiased state in an open position (the shuttle and lens positioned in this manner are also referred to as a storage configuration). Maintaining the lens in a stress-free state allows for long-term storage of the lens without affecting its physical and optical properties.

[0040] In the illustrated embodiment, shuttle 400 comprises a first plate 420a and a second plate 420b, which are constructed and operative substantially as described in U.S. Patent No. 11,278,395 to Valle et al., the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Although shuttle 400 is shown as comprising two components, in some embodiments the shuttle is a single, integrated part (FIGS. 7A and 7B), and in other embodiments, it comprises three or more components.

[0041] 4A and 4B show end views of plane A. Plane A contains longitudinal axis LA and is perpendicular to lens optical axis OA of IOL 150 when the IOL is positioned in the staging area of ​​shuttle 400 and / or injector system 100 (as in FIG. 1 ).

[0042] The illustrated embodiment of shuttle 400 includes biasing tabs 445. The biasing tabs move IOL 150 (primarily optic body 152) from a substantially flat shape (i.e., unbiased state) to a slightly U-shaped shape (also called a smile shape; shown in FIG. 5A ) in which the center of optic body 152 is displaced slightly downward relative to the circumferential outer edge location of optic body 152 (e.g., so that the optic may contact and partially conform to lumen wall 412 a).

[0043] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4A-4C, the biasing tab 445 is positioned to be disposed between the first plate 420a and the second plate 420b, as shown in FIG. 4B; after connecting the components 420a and 420b together, the components 420a and 420b maintain the biasing tab 445 therebetween. The biasing tab 445 includes a finger press 446, retraction fingers 447a and 447b, and a lens press 448. The operation of the biasing tab is discussed below with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B. In some embodiments, an inclined surface 414 (also referred to as a ramp) having a height that increases distally is added to the side of the lumen L, so that as the haptic 154b advances within the lumen L toward the distal end DL (shown in FIG. 1), the distal end DE2 of the haptic 154b rides up the inclined surface, further supporting proper positioning of the folded haptic 154b on top of the optic body 152.

[0044] 5A-5C show a distal end view, a cross-sectional side view, and a cross-sectional top view, respectively, of shuttle 400 maintaining lens 150 biased in the closed position.

[0045] Closing the shuttle and maintaining it in the closed position can be accomplished using retention tabs 420a, 420b to interact with injector body 110 as described in U.S. Patent No. 11,278,395 (shown in FIGS. 1 and 2), or may be closed by any other suitable technique. For example, retention tabs 420a and 420b may include a snap-fit ​​structure (not shown) such that the retention tabs manually snap together without flexing or hinges (e.g., components 420a, 420b) of the shuttle to achieve the closed position.

[0046] Regardless of the technique used to close the shuttle 400, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 11,278,395, the inner surfaces of the staging area are moved relative to one another when the shuttle is closed so that the width dimension of the lumen is slightly smaller than the outer dimension of the optic body, slightly compressing the optic body and allowing the elliptical cross-sectional shape of the lumen to bias the optic body downward.

[0047] While the lumen shape can be selected to achieve biasing of the lens upon shuttle closure, biasing tab 445 can be used to ensure that the lens is biased downward (i.e., the portion of the optic body at optical axis OA is disposed downward relative to opposing circumferential outer edges OE1 and OE2) prior to actuation of the plunger. Figures 6A-6B show distal end and cross-sectional side views, respectively, of shuttle 400 with biasing tab 445 depressed and lens 150 in a biased state. In Figure 6A, shuttle 400 is in a configuration in which the lumen walls form a closed circumference (also referred to as a closed or loaded configuration; shown as oval lumen walls), or in which the biasing tab is depressed to ensure the lens is in a biased state. As shown in Figure 6B, when pressure is applied to finger press 446 and biasing tab 445 is depressed, retraction fingers 447a and 447b move outward along landings 449a and 449b, respectively. When pressure on finger press 446 is removed, fingers 447a and 447b move inward along landings 449a and 449b, retracting lens press 448. Because optic body 152 is slightly compressed while located in the staging area, the pressure on the optic body causes IOL 150 to achieve and maintain a smile shape.

[0048] 7A-7B show a distal end view and a cross-sectional top view, respectively, of another example of a shuttle 700. In the illustrated embodiment, the shuttle 700 may be formed from a single, rigid component (i.e., no moving parts, unlike the embodiment described above with reference to FIGS. 4A-4C ), or may comprise two or more components for ease of manufacture or other reasons. FIG. 7A shows a distal end view of a plane A that includes the longitudinal axis LA and is perpendicular to the lens optical axis OA of the IOL 150 when the IOL is positioned in the staging area. The shuttle 700 maintains the IOL 150 in a biased state in contact with at least a portion of the lumen wall 712. The above embodiments have been described as the IOL automatically achieving the biased state upon closing the shuttle or depressing a biasing tab. However, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B , any suitable technique can be used to achieve the biased state. For example, biasing may be achieved manually using a human finger or forceps to manipulate the lens into the biased state.

[0049] IOL 150 is advanced within lumen L by plunger 140 (shown in FIG. 1 ) as described above. As noted above, ramps 714 may be present on the sides of the lumen corresponding to the free ends of proximal haptics 154 b to facilitate positioning of the proximal haptics on top of the optic, although this is not required. Additionally, while the lens is illustrated as being biased while in the staging area, in some embodiments, biasing of the lens in the staging area is not required. For example, an elliptical lumen wall, combined with a gradually decreasing lumen cross-section, can cause the center of the optic body (i.e., near the optical axis) to be lower than the sides of the lens (i.e., the portions of the lens located at the ends of the ellipse).

[0050] Figure 8A is a cutaway top schematic view of the injector body 100 shown in Figure 1. In Figure 8A, the IOL 150 is in a staging area and the plunger 140 is actuated to a point where the soft tip 142 approaches the lens 150. For example, the IOL may be an enVista® hydrophobic acrylic IOL manufactured by Bausch & Lomb Inc. In Figure 8A, the IOL 150 has not yet been impacted by the soft tip 142.

[0051] 8B is a cross-sectional top schematic view of the injector body 100, in which the plunger 140 is actuated to the point where the soft tip 142 first contacts the proximal haptic 154b. In FIG. 8B, it is clear that the soft tip 142 begins to fold the proximal haptic 154b with pressure at a relatively localized location along the proximal haptic 154b (e.g., contacting less than 10% of the haptic length). As determined by the inventors, folding the proximal haptic 154b with localized pressure along the haptic length (particularly at the beginning of the haptic folding process) reduces the likelihood of the haptic folding in an inappropriate location (i.e., compression of the proximal haptic against the side of the optic body 152).

[0052] 8C is a cross-sectional top schematic view of injector body 100, in which plunger 140 contacts further along haptic 154b (i.e., closer to the optic-haptic connection) and plunger 140 contacts a larger portion of haptic 154b. Because haptic folding typically occurs progressively, starting with a relatively low percentage of the haptic length that is contacted and progressing to a larger percentage of the haptic length that is contacted, folding continues with an increasing likelihood that haptic 154b will be positioned at the top of optic body 152 and not compressed against the sides of the optic body. While angle Φ, combined with concave distal surface C and biasing of optic body 152 (e.g., using biasing tab 445 (shown in FIG. 4A)), increases the likelihood that haptics 154b will be properly positioned on top of optic body 152, in some embodiments, sloped surfaces 414 are added to the sides of lumen L so that distal ends DE2 of haptics 154b ride up the slope as IOL 150 advances through the lumen, further supporting proper positioning of folded haptics 154b on top of optic body 152.

[0053] FIG. 8D is a cross-sectional top schematic view of the injector body 100, with the plunger 140 actuated to the point where the soft tip 142 has moved the haptics 154b to the top of the optic body 152 in preparation for further compression by the lumen wall.

[0054] The reduced cross-section of lumen L causes distal haptics 154a to fold toward optic body 152. In some embodiments, it is advantageous for the distal haptics, like proximal haptics 154b, to fold so that the distal ends DE1 of the proximal haptics are on top of the optic body when the optic body is compressed. As shown, it is typically acceptable for distal haptics 154a to fold less than proximal haptics 154b. In some embodiments, it is advantageous to include one or more haptic limiting elements that prevent the advancement of the distal portions of the distal haptics relative to the optic body. In the illustrated embodiment, haptic limiting element 420a extends into lumen L to engage the distal ends DE1 of distal haptics 154a as the IOL is advanced through the lumen. Haptic restricting element 420a is a protrusion extending radially inward from the lumen wall and may have a greater slope than the portion of the lumen wall adjacent to the restricting element; and haptic restricting element 420b is an exposed edge of the haptic wall that has a greater slope than the portion of the lumen wall adjacent to the restricting element.

[0055] 9 is a schematic projection of IOL 150, showing distal haptics 154a and proximal haptics 154b folded onto the top of optic body 152 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, as described above; and the sides of the optic body are rolled toward each other by the lumen wall in a conventional manner, forming what is commonly referred to as a "taco fold." In an octopus fold, opposing edges of the optic body can contact each other (as shown), overlap each other, or be separated from each other. While the illustrated embodiment has an octopus fold where the lens exits the distal end of the lumen, a plunger as described herein may be used with any suitable technique for folding the optic body.

[0056] While various embodiments have been shown and described in detail herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, additions, substitutions, and the like may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention, and therefore are deemed to be within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. 1. An injector for injecting an IOL into an eye, comprising: an injector body having a luminal wall defining a lumen, the IOL being delivered into the eye at a distal end of the lumen; and a plunger having a longitudinal axis and a soft tip at a distal end of the plunger, the soft tip positioned to advance the IOL through the lumen to a distal end of the lumen, the soft tip having a concave distal surface. Equipped with In a plane containing the longitudinal axis, the plane is perpendicular to the IOL optical axis when the IOL is positioned in a staging area of ​​the injector body, and the concave distal surface extends in a direction at a non-perpendicular angle to the longitudinal axis. An injector characterized by:

2. 2. The injector of claim 1, wherein the concave distal surface is elliptical in a plane perpendicular to the direction, and the concave distal surface has no curvature along the direction.

3. 2. The injector of claim 1, wherein the concave distal surface is cylindrical in a plane perpendicular to the direction, and the concave distal surface has no curvature along the direction.

4. 10. The injector of claim 1, wherein the soft tip comprises an elastomer.

5. The injector of claim 1 , wherein the concave distal surface defines a recess, and the soft-tip feature does not extend into the recess.

6. 2. The injector of claim 1, wherein the concave distal surface has a blind hole formed therethrough, the blind hole extending proximally from the concave distal surface through the soft tip.

7. 2. The injector of claim 1, wherein the angle is in the range of 40 to 70 degrees.

8. 2. The injector of claim 1, wherein the angle is in the range of 45 to 65 degrees.

9. 2. The injector of claim 1, wherein said angle is approximately 60 degrees.

10. an intraocular lens (IOL) disposed in a staging area of ​​the injector body, the IOL having haptics extending proximally from an optic, the soft tip configured to contact less than 10% of the haptic length measured from the optic body to the distal end of the haptic upon initial contact between the soft tip and the haptic; 2. The injector according to claim 1, characterized in that:

11. 11. The injector of claim 10, wherein the soft tip is configured to contact no more than 50% of the haptic length at any point during actuation of the plunger.

12. 2. The injector of claim 1, wherein the injector body is comprised of two or more components, each of which forms a portion of the lumen.

13. 13. The injector of claim 12, wherein at least one of the components comprises an IOL shuttle.

14. 14. The injector of claim 13, wherein the shuttle has an IOL disposed therein in a biased state, the center of the optic body being slightly displaced downward relative to opposing circumferential outer edge locations of the optic body.

15. 1. A plunger for use in an IOL injector, comprising: A plunger comprising a shaft having a longitudinal axis and a soft tip at a distal end of the shaft having a concave surface extending along a direction forming a non-perpendicular angle with the longitudinal axis.

16. 16. The plunger of claim 15, in combination with an injector body having a lumen, the plunger being arranged to slide within the lumen.

17. 1. A method for inserting an intraocular lens (IOL) including an optic body and haptics into an eye through a lumen of an injector, comprising: The injector comprises a plunger including: i.) a shaft characterized by a longitudinal axis; and ii.) a soft tip at a distal end of the shaft, the soft tip having a concave distal surface extending along a direction forming a non-perpendicular angle with the longitudinal axis; The method includes actuating the plunger to move a portion of the haptic onto the top of the optic body. A method characterized by:

18. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the actuating step includes contacting less than 10% of the haptic length measured from the optic body to the distal end of the haptic upon initial contact with the haptic.

19. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the actuating step includes moving the IOL from a staging area of ​​the injector body through the distal end of the lumen while contacting no more than 50% of the haptic length at any point during the IOL's movement from the staging area to the distal end of the lumen.

20. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the concave distal surface is elliptical in a plane perpendicular to the direction, and the concave distal surface has no curvature along the direction.

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