Corner protector and manufacturing method thereof

Abstract

To provide a corner angle protector capable of preventing foreign matter from flowing into a corner angle during intraocular surgery, and a method for manufacturing the same.SOLUTION: The corner angle protector 1 includes a C-shaped member 2 that is placed at a corner angle through an incision site of an eyeball and is deformable in accordance with a shape of the corner angle in a state where the C-shaped member 2 is placed at the corner angle, and a thread 3 that is connected to one of opposing end portions of the C-shaped member 2 and can be pulled by a user to pull out the C-shaped member 2 placed at the corner angle from the incision site. The end of the C-shaped member 2 to which the thread 3 is connected is formed into a conical shape with a rounded apex.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an angle protector and a method for manufacturing the same. [Background technology]

[0002] Like humans, pets can develop cataracts, a disease that causes the transparent lens of the eye to become cloudy. Dogs are said to be particularly susceptible to cataracts among pets. Once cataract symptoms have progressed to a certain extent, dogs may frequently bump into pillars or walls or become sensitive to noises. As the symptoms progress further, owners may also begin to notice the clouding of the lens. As disclosed in Patent Document 1, when treatment with eye drops is not expected to be effective, surgery may be selected at the owner's request. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-73993 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Glaucoma is a common postoperative complication in canine intraocular surgery, particularly cataract surgery. While the exact pathogenesis of postoperative glaucoma is unknown, it is believed to be caused by foreign bodies, such as tissue fragments and cellular components generated during surgery, and viscoelastic agents used during surgery, clogging the aqueous humor drainage channel (angle), resulting in increased intraocular pressure. This problem is not limited to canine cataract surgery, but also exists in intraocular surgery on animals other than dogs and humans.

[0005] The present invention has been made based on the above background, and aims to provide an angle protector that can prevent foreign matter from entering the angle during intraocular surgery, and a method for manufacturing the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the angle protector according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises: a C-shaped member that is placed in the angle of the eye through an incision in the eyeball and that is deformable to fit the shape of the angle while placed in the angle; a traction member connected to one of the opposing ends of the C-shaped member, the traction member being capable of being pulled by a user to remove the C-shaped member placed at the angle from the incision site; Equipped with.

[0007] The end of the C-piece to which the traction member is connected may be formed in a conical shape with a rounded apex.

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, a method for manufacturing an angle protector according to a second aspect of the present invention includes: providing the C-shaped member and the pulling member; connecting the traction member to the end of the C-shaped member; Includes: [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an angle protector capable of preventing foreign matter from entering the angle during intraocular surgery, and a method for manufacturing the same. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing the configuration of an angle protector according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the angle protector of FIG. 1 temporarily placed in the angle of the eye. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the angle protector of FIG. 1 temporarily placed in the angle of the eye. [Figure 4] 10(a) and 10(b) are enlarged views of a portion of the configuration of an angle protector according to a modified example of the present invention. [Figure 5]FIG. 2 is a photograph of the appearance of the angle protector produced in the example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] An angle protector and a manufacturing method thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same or equivalent parts are designated by the same reference numerals. In the embodiment, a case where a dog is the subject of surgery will be described as an example.

[0012] The angle protector according to the embodiment is a surgical instrument that is temporarily placed to close the angle between the cornea and iris in a dog's eye and prevent foreign bodies from entering the angle. The angle protector according to the embodiment is placed in the angle through an incision made in the eyeball before or during surgery, and is removed from the incision after surgery. This prevents the angle from being blocked by foreign bodies generated during surgery, hindering the flow of aqueous humor and increasing intraocular pressure.

[0013] The angle protector according to the embodiment can be applied to any intraocular surgery, but is preferably applied to cataract surgery. Cataract is a disease in which the lens becomes cloudy due to various causes, such as aging, heredity, or diabetes, resulting in impaired vision. In cataract surgery, an ultrasonic probe is used to emulsify and aspirate the cloudy tissue from the lens, and the tissue is then replaced with an artificial intraocular lens.

[0014] During such intraocular surgeries, numerous tissue fragments and cellular components become suspended in the aqueous humor due to the manipulation of surgical instruments and the placement of intraocular lenses. Viscoelastic agents are also used to spread intraocular tissues to maintain a large anterior chamber space and to protect intraocular tissues from surgical instruments. The angle protector according to the embodiment protects the angle of the eye so that these foreign bodies do not move with the flow of aqueous humor during surgery and cause blockages in the angle of the eye. As a result, the incidence of glaucoma, a postoperative complication, can be reduced.

[0015] Next, the configuration of an angle protector 1 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 1. The angle protector 1 is placed in the angle of the eye through an incision site on the eyeball and includes a C-shaped member 2 that is deformable to fit the shape of the angle while placed in the angle, and a thread 3 that is connected to the end of the C-shaped member 2 and can be pulled by the user to pull the C-shaped member 2 placed in the angle out of the incision site.

[0016] The C-shaped member 2 is an elastic member curved in a C-shape that can be deformed to fit the shape of the corner, such as a solid rubber ring with a circular cross section and a slit. A gap 2a exists between both ends of the C-shaped member 2 when no external force is applied. The C-shaped member 2 is made of a biocompatible material, such as silicone rubber or nitrile rubber, that can be sterilized by high-pressure steam and elastically deformed.

[0017] The C-shaped member 2 is preferably formed so as to expand outward when placed in the angle of the eye of the target dog. This allows the C-shaped member 2 to penetrate into the outer periphery of the area formed by the cornea and iris, preventing the C-shaped member 2 from slipping out of the angle. When a dog is used as the target, for example, the ring diameter (outer diameter) of the C-shaped member 2 is preferably within a range of 15 mm to 18 mm, and the diameter of its cross section is preferably within a range of 1.0 mm to 1.5 mm.

[0018] The thread 3 is an example of a traction member that can be pulled by the user, and is connected, for example, to one of the pair of opposing end surfaces of the C-shaped member 2. The thread 3 is preferably a suture, particularly a non-absorbable suture, and is made of, for example, nylon, polyester, or polypropylene. The thread 3 is preferably a monofilament to prevent foreign matter from remaining in the eye, but may be a multifilament in consideration of the application of traction force. The thread 3 may be colored to improve visibility. The above is the configuration of the angle protector 1.

[0019] Next, a manufacturing method of the angle protector 1 according to the embodiment will be described. The angle protector 1 does not necessarily have to be manufactured before surgery, but may be manufactured during surgery at a clinic or hospital after determining the size and shape of the eyeball.

[0020] First, the C-shaped member 2 and the thread 3 are prepared. To obtain the C-shaped member 2, for example, a rubber ring may be selected to fit the size of the target dog's eyeball, sterilized with high-temperature steam, and cut in only one location. Alternatively, multiple types of C-shaped members 2 with different ring diameters and cross-sectional diameters may be prepared in advance. The thread 3 may be cut to an appropriate length after sterilization, taking into consideration the size of the target dog's eyeball and the ease of use by the surgeon.

[0021] Next, thread 3 is attached to one of the opposing ends of C-shaped member 2. The method of attaching thread 3 is arbitrary, but for example, thread 3 may be passed through C-shaped member 2 using a needle of a needle-attached thread and tied thereto. As another method, thread 3 may be adhered to the end of C-shaped member 2 with an adhesive, or thread 3 may be inserted into a through-hole provided in the end of C-shaped member 2 and tied thereto. The above is the flow of the manufacturing method for the angle protector 1.

[0022] Next, the positional relationship between the iris angle protector 1 according to the embodiment and the iris angle will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. As shown in Figure 2, the cornea is located at the front of the eyeball, and the crystalline lens is located behind the pupil inside the eye. The area surrounded by the cornea and the crystalline lens is divided by the iris into the anterior chamber and the posterior chamber, both of which are filled with aqueous humor.

[0023] Aqueous humor is produced in the ciliary body and flows through the pupil into the anterior chamber to nourish the cornea and lens. It is then filtered by the trabecular meshwork in the angle between the cornea and iris, and in dogs, is drained into the veins through the scleral venous plexus. The C-shaped element 2 of the angle protector 1 is placed between the cornea and iris at the angle, preventing foreign bodies from entering the angle along with the aqueous humor. As shown in Figure 3, a portion of the thread 3 connected to the C-shaped element 2 is left exposed outside the corneal incision. The exposed thread 3 can be used to remove the C-shaped element 2 from the eye.

[0024] Next, we will explain the sequence of cataract surgery that an operator performs on a target dog using the angle protector 1 according to the embodiment. The target dog is examined preoperatively to determine whether it is in a suitable condition for surgery, and is given general anesthesia immediately before surgery.

[0025] First, the angle protector 1 is placed inside the eye. Specifically, an incision of approximately 2 to 3 mm is made along the limbus, and the C-shaped member 2 is inserted through this incision and placed near the trabecular meshwork of the angle. At this time, the thread 3 is set in a state where it is pulled out from the incision. Note that the incision on the eyeball is not limited to the limbus, and may be made in other parts of the cornea or the sclera.

[0026] Next, an ocular viscoelastic agent is injected into the anterior chamber through the incision, and then phacoemulsification is performed. Specifically, an ultrasound probe is inserted into the incision and operated to remove cloudy tissue from within the lens capsule. Next, an injector is used to deploy an intraocular lens within the lens capsule from which the cloudy tissue has been removed. During this procedure, the C-shaped member 2 seals the angle, preventing foreign bodies such as tissue fragments, floating cells, and the ocular viscoelastic agent from entering the angle.

[0027] After the phacoemulsification procedure is completed, the angle protector 1 is removed from the angle. Specifically, by pulling the thread 3 protruding from the incision site, the C-shaped member 2 can be pulled out from the incision site. This is the entire process of cataract surgery.

[0028] As described above, the angle protector 1 according to this embodiment is placed in the angle of the eye through an incision in the eyeball and includes the C-shaped member 2 that is deformable to fit the shape of the angle while placed in the angle, and the string 3 that is connected to one of the opposing ends of the C-shaped member 2 and can be pulled by the user to pull the C-shaped member 2 placed in the angle out of the incision. This makes it possible to prevent foreign matter from entering the angle during intraocular surgery.

[0029] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the following modifications are possible.

[0030] (Variation) In the above embodiment, the C-shaped member 2 is a member cut from a solid rubber ring with a circular cross section, but the present invention is not limited to this. As long as it can close the corner, the C-shaped member 2 may have any shape, for example, an elliptical cross section. Furthermore, the cross section may be hollow.

[0031] In the above embodiment, a gap exists between both ends of the C-shaped member 2 when no external force is applied, but the present invention is not limited to this. The both ends of the C-shaped member 2 may be in contact when no external force is applied.

[0032] In the above embodiment, the C-shaped member 2 has a pair of opposing end surfaces, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, to facilitate insertion and removal of the C-shaped member 2 from the incision site on the eyeball, the end of the C-shaped member 2 on the side to which the thread 3 is connected may be formed into a cone shape with a rounded apex. As shown in FIG. 4(a), the thread 3 may be connected so as to extend from the apex of the cone, or as shown in FIG. 4(b), a through-hole 2b may be formed in the cone-shaped portion, and the thread 3 may be inserted into the through-hole 2b and tied. Furthermore, the end of the C-shaped member 2 on the side to which the thread 3 is not connected may also be formed into a cone shape with a rounded apex.

[0033] In the above embodiment, the string 3 is used as the pulling member, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a rubber band or string may be used as the pulling member. The string 3 and the C-shaped member 2 may be integrally molded using the same material or different materials.

[0034] In the above-described embodiments, the sterilized C-shaped member 2 and the thread 3 are connected, but the present invention is not limited to this. After the C-shaped member 2 and the thread 3 are connected, they may be sterilized with high-temperature steam.

[0035] In the above embodiment, the angle protector 1 is applied to the eyeball of a dog, but the present invention is not limited to this. It may also be applied to the eyeball of an animal other than a human, such as a cat, or to a human eyeball.

[0036] The above-described embodiments are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these. Various embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims. The components described in the embodiments and modifications can be freely combined. Furthermore, inventions equivalent to the inventions set forth in the claims are also included in the present invention.

[0037] The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to examples, although the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0038] (Example) In the examples, canine cataract surgery was performed while protecting the corneal angle using an angle protector. The angle protector is shown in Figure 5. The angle protector was created by radially cutting a silicone rubber O-ring, sterilizing it with high-temperature steam, and then inserting a needle-tipped suture into the cut end of the O-ring. The needle was then removed and the suture was tied. The outer diameter of the O-ring was within the range of 15 to 18 mm, and the cross-sectional diameter was within the range of 1.0 to 1.5 mm. USP 8-0 nylon suture was used. Surgery was performed on 17 eyes of 12 dogs using the same surgical equipment, and the postoperative glaucoma incidence rate was 0%. Previously published academic papers have reported postoperative glaucoma incidence rates of 16.8% or 18.8%, suggesting that angle protectors can significantly reduce the incidence of glaucoma. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1 Corner protector 2 C-shaped members 2a Gap 2b Through hole 3. Thread

Claims

1. a C-shaped member that is placed in the angle of the eye through an incision in the eyeball and that is deformable to fit the shape of the angle while placed in the angle; a traction member connected to one of the opposing ends of the C-shaped member, the traction member being capable of being pulled by a user to remove the C-shaped member placed at the angle from the incision site; Corner protector.

2. The end of the C-shaped member to which the traction member is connected is formed in a cone shape with a rounded apex. The angle protector of claim 1 .

3. A method for manufacturing the angle protector according to claim 1 or 2, providing the C-shaped member and the pulling member; connecting the traction member to the end of the C-shaped member; A manufacturing method comprising:

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