Intraocular lens inserter

Abstract

The subject of the present invention is an inserter (1) for implanting an intraocular lens, comprising a main body (10) into which an elongated operating member (11) partially projects at its rear end and is movably guided along an operating axis (12), the operating member (11) being movable into the main body (10) by either a push operation (P) along the operating axis (12) or a screw operation (S) around the operating axis (12), the operating member (11) having a screw thread (13) on at least a portion thereof. According to the present invention, at least one spring arm (14) is disposed on the main body (10), and the spring arm has a threaded structure (15) on an inner surface facing the screw thread (13). A switching member (16) interacting with the spring arm (14) is disposed on the main body (10) so as to be rotatable around an operating axis (12) or slidable along the operating axis (12). The switching member (16) cooperates with the spring arm (14) through a working contact, and at least one of the switching members involved in the working contact is The inner surface (17) of the switching member (16) and / or the outer surface (18) of the spring arm (14) are formed obliquely at a predetermined angle (α) relative to the operating axis (12), so that rotation or sliding of the switching member (16) can cause the spring arm (14) to elastically deform toward and away from the operating axis (12), thereby selectively engaging or disengaging the screw structure (15) with the screw thread (13).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an inserter for implanting an intraocular lens in a human eye, the inserter comprising a main body, into which an elongated operating member partially projects at its rear end and is guided movably along an operating axis, the operating member being movable into the main body by either a push operation along the operating axis or a screw operation about the operating axis, the operating member being provided with a screw thread on at least a portion thereof. A switching member is disposed on the main body. This relates to the inserter. [Background technology]

[0002] Inserters for implanting intraocular lenses in the human eye are well known. In this case, the intraocular lens can be loaded into the inserter by means of a lens cartridge, in which the intraocular lens is loaded, shortly before being placed in the eye, after which the intraocular lens is delivered through a front delivery nozzle into the posterior chamber of the eye after addition of a viscoelastic substance. At the front of the body, a lens guide part of the inserter is arranged, the delivery nozzle forming the open end of said lens guide part.

[0003] A piston is guided within the main body so as to be movably arranged along an operating axis, and the piston is connected to the operating member at forward and backward positions along the operating axis. When the operating member is advanced, the movement is transmitted to the piston and can contact the intraocular lens in a direction toward the delivery nozzle, thereby enabling the intraocular lens to be delivered through the delivery nozzle.

[0004] An operating member is provided to project into the body for moving the piston inside the inserter body and for moving the piston further forward in a controlled manner through the lens guide towards the delivery nozzle, so that, when the operating member is advanced, the piston can be moved along the operating axis towards the delivery nozzle together with the intraocular lens until it first contacts the intraocular lens and continues to advance so that the intraocular lens is delivered into the posterior chamber. The inserter of the new design is utilized as a disposable inserter, which is used once and discarded after the preloaded intraocular lens has been delivered. This design of the inserter is generally called a preload system.

[0005] The operating member is usually manually pushed into the rear opening of the body by an operator, i.e. an ophthalmologist. Here, inserters are known in which in a first operating mode, a pure thrust movement can be manually applied to the operating member, and in a second operating mode, a rotational movement can be applied to the same operating member, in order to move the operating member along the operating axis. In that respect, the inserter of the new structure can enable both a push operation and a screw operation, for which the inserter is provided with a suitable mechanism for switching between the operating modes.

[0006] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an inserter for implanting an intraocular lens, in which an operating member can be inserted into a main body by pushing from behind or by a screw movement, and the screw movement can be manually applied to a switching member that is directly screw-connected with the thread of the operating member. On the other hand, when the operating member is manually pushed into the main body, the switching member rotates freely with it. When the operating member is pushed into the main body by either pushing the operating member from behind or turning the switching member, the intraocular lens can be delivered from the delivery nozzle at the front side while the operating member is in contact with the piston.

[0007] Patent Document 2 discloses yet another embodiment of an inserter for implanting an intraocular lens in a human eye, which includes a main body, into which an elongated operating member partially projects at its rear end and is movably guided along an operating axis, and the operating member can be moved into the main body by either a push operation of the operating member along the operating axis or a screw operation of the operating member around the operating axis, and for this purpose, the operating member has a screw thread on at least a part of it. In order to switch between the push operation and the screw operation of the operating member, two opposing wing-shaped gripping parts that can be folded and unfolded are provided, and the operating mode can be switched to the push operation by putting them in the unfolded position, and to the screw operation by putting them in the folded position. In the push operation operating mode, the foldable and unfoldable wing-shaped gripping parts can function as finger grips, so that the surgeon can hold the inserter between the index finger and middle finger at the wing-shaped gripping parts and use his thumb to push the operating member into the main body at the rear end side. When the winged gripping portion is folded, the operating member can be screwed into the main body by holding the main body in one hand of the surgeon while screwing the operating member with the other hand. From DE 10 200 03 133 A1 yet another inserter is known, which comprises a switching member arranged in a body and rotatable about an actuation axis with a through passage through which an actuation member extends. The actuation member here cooperates with a free ball which contacts an internal contour of the switching member, the internal contour having a variable radius. When the actuation member is rotated about the actuation axis, the ball is either pushed outwards onto the body according to the release position or pushed radially inwards into an opening provided in the body according to the engagement position. In the release position, the actuation member passes freely through the body, and in the engagement position, the ball engages in a screw thread on the actuation member so that it can be screwed into the body. From DE 10 200 03 133 A1 a dispensing device for bone cement or artificial bone replacement material is known, which has a pressure piston configured with a screw thread. When the pressure piston is pushed into the body, it interacts with a latch arranged on the body. The pressure piston can then be pushed into the body, which is filled with, for example, bone cement or artificial bone replacement material, while the latch prevents the pressure piston from being removed again. In this case, the latch expands elastically when it overcomes the screw thread, so that the pressure piston can be pushed into the body but cannot be pulled out again. If a greater force is required, a locking sleeve can be pressed axially against the latch in order to push the pressure piston in and to force the pressure piston in by a screwing action in order to deliver the mixture, which consists of, for example, bone cement or bone replacement material, so that the latch no longer expands elastically in the radial direction and only then forms an internal thread into which the pressure piston can be screwed by means of the screw thread. Finally, Patent Document 5 discloses a medical syringe with a plunger, the plunger having a screw thread, and the plunger of the syringe can be selectively pushed into the body of the syringe by a pushing movement known per se, or a pawl present on the body is activated, after which the plunger engages with the screw thread, so that the plunger cannot be pushed further into the body but can only be screwed in.

[0008] The setting of the inserter as either push operation or screw operation is usually done by an assistant, and then the ophthalmologist, using the inserter with the operation mode preset, inserts the delivery nozzle in the front lens guide portion into the eyeball, and then operates the operating member until the intraocular lens enters the posterior chamber. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] European Patent Application Publication No. 3476375 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2019 / 195951 [Patent Document 3] U.S. Pat. No. 8,105,332 [Patent Document 4] US Patent Application Publication No. 2016 / 0128752 [Patent Document 5] U.S. Pat. No. 4,810,249 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] The object of the present invention is to further develop an inserter for implanting an intraocular lens in a human eye, which has the simplest possible switching capability between a push operation and a screw operation of an operating element for advancing an intraocular lens. In particular, the switching between the operating modes of a push operation and a screw operation should be possible in such a way that the switch between the push operation and the screw operation can be set immediately before using the inserter, while the inserter can otherwise be handled in the same way. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] This problem is solved by the combination of its characteristic features on the basis of an inserter according to claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.

[0012] In the present invention, at least one spring arm is disposed on the main body, and the spring arm has a screw structure on an inner surface facing the screw thread, and the switching member is It interacts with the spring arm andThe technical teaching includes that the switching member is arranged to be rotatable around an operating axis or slidable along the operating axis, and cooperates with the spring arm through an operating contact, and at least one inner surface of the switching member and / or an outer surface of the spring arm involved in the operating contact is formed inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the operating axis, so that the rotation or sliding of the switching member can cause elastic deformation of the spring arm toward the operating axis and elastic deformation away from the operating axis, thereby selectively engaging or disengaging the screw structure with the screw thread.

[0013] The central idea of ​​the present invention is a switching member that can be turned or shifted by hand between two switching positions, in which in the first switching position the switching member engages the threaded structure on the spring arm with the thread of the operating member for screw operation, and in the second switching position the switching member releases the spring arm with the threaded structure from the thread of the operating member, so that the spring arm is disengaged from the thread of the operating member, and finally the operating member can slide freely for pushing operation.

[0014] Thus, when the switching member is rotated to the second switching position, the spring arm or arms (in particular two spring arms positioned opposite each other) spring outwards of their own accord with respect to the actuation axis, so that the screw arrangement releases the thread of the actuation member. The operative connection between the switching member and the spring arm is produced according to the invention by an operative contact, which is such that, when the switching member is displaced axially relative to the spring arm, a movement of the spring arm takes place radially relative to the actuation axis, i.e. the spring arm can be moved towards the actuation axis, i.e. towards the thread of the actuation member, and away from it again. The axial direction here denotes the direction extending along the actuation axis, the radial direction denotes the direction perpendicular to said actuation axis. In that respect, the axial direction and the radial direction are perpendicular to each other within the meaning of the invention.

[0015] In order for the movement of the switching member to bring about a movement of the spring arm, at least one surface involved in the active contact (the active surface) is provided with an inclination, which inclines at an angle to the direction in which the actuation axis extends, which can then be between the actuation axis and a vector on the active surface, i.e. on the inner and / or outer surface, which vector runs through a contact point or line between the inner and outer surfaces. Of course, the inner and / or outer surfaces of the switching member or the spring arm can also be curved or otherwise configured differently from a plane, without departing from the idea of ​​the invention of an active contact at an angle.

[0016] The outer surface of the spring arm is formed straight, i.e. the outer surface is not correspondingly inclined or curved, but extends without any angle in the direction of extension relative to the operating axis, while the inclined portion of the involved surface may be the inner surface of the switching member.

[0017] Similarly, the outer surface of the spring arm may be straight and the inner surface of the switching member may be angled or curved.

[0018] Of course, the principle of action according to the invention between the switching member and the spring arm works particularly well if both the inner and outer surfaces are provided with an inclination or curvature, in particular if they are at the same angle to the actuation axis. However, both the inner and outer forms of the surface result in an inclined working contact at an angle relative to the actuation axis. The switching member does not have to be constructed in one piece, but may be made of several parts, so that the inner surface is formed on one part of the switching member which cannot be operated by hand from the outside.

[0019] Furthermore, advantageously, the surfaces involved in the working contact may be provided, on the inner and / or outer surface, with a coating, in particular a coating which allows efficient sliding of the surfaces against one another.

[0020] For example, the switching member is configured as a slide member and is arranged movably in or on the body. The principle of active contact at an angle to the actuation axis can also be used with the slide member, since the inner surface only needs to be configured on the slide member in such a way that it is displaced relative to the spring arm when the slide member is displaced on the body. In a preferred case, the switching member is configured in the form of a ring or sleeve, and the actuation member is partially or completely surrounded by the switching member.

[0021] If the switching element is of an annular or sleeve-shaped design, it is preferably arranged on the body in such a way that the rotation axis of the annular or sleeve-shaped switching element coincides with the actuation axis.

[0022] Here, although handling of an inserter with a rotatable switching member is generally easier and more comfortable than sliding a sliding member between two snap-in positions, it is also conceivable that the switching member in an annular or sleeve-like form is also slidable on the main body along an operating axis, so that the switching member can be displaced between the two snap-in positions.

[0023] In conclusion, the most favorable variant is considered to be achieved when the switching member is provided with a slidable and rotatable mobility while arranged on the main body, i.e. when the switching member can be displaced on the main body by means of a screw-like guide between the switching member and the main body, and when the switching member is turned by hand and the connection is made via a corresponding screw-like guide between the switching member and the main body, the displacement of the switching member along the actuation axis can be realized in this way very comfortably.

[0024] In particular, the switching member forms a rotary body, manually rotatable about an actuation axis, with an internal passage into which at least one spring arm projects and through which the actuation member extends, the spring arm thus being at least partially within a radial gap, in particular an annular gap, formed between the inwardly extending actuation member and the outer switching member.

[0025] Another advantage is that the inner surface is formed in the internal through-passage of the switching member and / or forms an inner cone around the actuation axis, i.e. when the switching member is displaced along the actuation axis, the outer surface facing the spring arm comes into contact with different parts of the inner surface of the switching member, i.e. with different radii of the inner surface facing the switching member, and depending on whether the switching member is moved axially in a first or second direction, the inner surface either pushes the spring arm towards the actuation member or increases the distance therefrom again due to the inclination caused by the conical design. This movement of the switching member along the actuation axis may here be superimposed by a rotational movement of the switching member around the actuation axis.

[0026] A further advantage is that the body includes a receiving portion having a through passage through which the operating member extends; Switching member is received or disposed at least partially rotatably or slidably on or against the receiving portion. At least one spring arm extends into a region between the inner surface of the switching member and the operating member. This is achieved when

[0027] The switching member is received in contact with or guided on the receiving portion so as to be axially movable along the operating axis and / or rotatable around the operating axis, and a rear part of the switching member protrudes beyond the receiving portion and has an inner surface on the switching member side inclined at the above-mentioned angle, which interacts with at least one spring arm.

[0028] In short, at least one spring arm, two spring arms opposite each other, three or four or more spring arms may be arranged on the receiving part or on the body at the terminal side on or in the receiving part, which spring arms protrude inwardly from the open end of the sleeve-like receiving part and interact with the inner surface of the switching member.

[0029] For example, if multiple spring arms are arranged between an inner operating member and an outer switching member, particularly so that they are evenly distributed around the circumference, a configuration like a collet chuck can be realized, and when multiple spring arms are arranged to surround the operating member and its threads, a female thread is formed around almost the entire circumference, resulting from the multiple screw engagement structures of the spring arms positioned so as to be evenly distributed around the circumference.

[0030] However, the embodiment according to the invention is also technically possible with a single spring arm at one circumferential position, for example with a threaded operating member held in a bearing shell opposite the spring arm, etc. Such a variant is considered to be advantageous when the switching member is designed as a simple slide switch which is also located at only one circumferential position.

[0031] In order to create a connecting link, in which when a rotational movement is manually applied to the switching member, the switching member simultaneously moves along the actuation axis, i.e. a linear movement is superimposed on the rotational movement, it is particularly advantageous if at least one slot is provided on the outer periphery of the receiving part and at least one pin is formed on the inner periphery of the switching member, which pin is guided in said slot. This slot-pin connection creates a kind of connecting link, the slot being preferably formed in a helical shape over part or all of the circumference of the receiving part. For example, the switching member can be rotated by 90° or 180° about the actuation axis, whereby the switching member is displaced along the actuation axis while rotating, the displacement being such that the spring arm can be firmly pressed into the thread of the actuation member through the working contact at the above-mentioned angle of the outer or inner surface of the spring arm or the switching member, resulting in a screw connection between the threaded structure of the spring arm and the thread of the actuation member. Particularly advantageously, two or three mutually opposing slots, evenly distributed over the periphery, are provided in the form of a screw on the outer periphery of the receiving part, through which correspondingly positioned pins on the inner surface of the switching element can run, this region of the inner surface of the switching element extending over the receiving part being adjacent to the region of the inner surface in which the inclined surface is formed, in particular the region in which the inner cone is formed.

[0032] A particularly advantageous embodiment is obtained if the switching member is arranged on the receiving part by means of a screw connection, so that a rotation of the switching member about the actuation axis simultaneously leads to a movement of the switching member along the actuation axis.

[0033] In short, the main body can have a wing-like gripping portion, and the receiving portion is connected to the rear end side of the wing-like gripping portion as a protrusion. The receiving portion, the wing-like gripping portion and the remaining parts of the main body can be made integrally from one material, in particular by injection molding.

[0034] It is furthermore advantageous if the inserter comprises a receiving means for a lens cartridge, in which an intraocular lens is assembled, and which can be placed in the receiving means together with the intraocular lens. An inserter of this kind can in particular be used multiple times, provided that the inserter can be re-sterilized. However, an inserter into which a cartridge can be loaded can also be designed as a one-time disposable item.

[0035] The inserter can also be configured as a so-called preload system, whereby the inserter comprises a receiving chamber formed in the main body and / or in a lens guide arranged at the front of the main body, into which an intraocular lens is preloaded by the manufacturer, so that the inserter forms a handleable and distributable unit together with the loaded intraocular lens. In that respect, the inserter according to the invention can function as a preload system or a cartridge system.

[0036] Finally, a piston is accommodated in the main body, and the piston can be advantageously slid in the axial direction by the operating member via the rotation conversion part. In particular, when the screw operation of the inserter is started, the operating member necessarily performs a rotational movement, whereas the piston only performs a linear movement along the operating axis without rotating about the operating axis.

[0037] The main body is advantageously made from a single plastic body integral with the receiving portion and integral with the wing-like gripping portion, and the lens guide portion arranged at the front side of the main body is formed to deliver the intraocular lens by the delivery nozzle at the tip side, and is particularly arranged removably on the main body.

[0038] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0039] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an inserter for implanting an intraocular lens in a human eye. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the main components of the inserter according to FIG. 1; [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an inserter with a switching member shown cut away, showing the switching member disposed in a first position in which the inserter can be operated by a push operation. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the inserter with the switching member shown in a cutaway view, showing the switching member in a second position in which the inserter can be operated by screw operation. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the inserter with the switching member shown in a cutaway, showing the switching member in a first position with axial displacement, allowing operation of the inserter by a push operation. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the inserter with the switching member shown in section, showing the switching member in a second position with axial displacement, allowing operation of the inserter by screw operation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0040] 1 shows a perspective view of an inserter 1 used for implanting an intraocular lens in a human eye. The inserter 1 has a main body 10 as a main structural component, into which an elongated operating member 11 having a handle 32 at its terminal end is partially inserted at its rear end. The operating member 11 has a portion having a screw thread 13 over most of its length, and the operating member 11 is partially inserted at its rear end into the main body 10 so that the handle 32 is formed at the free end of the operating member 11.

[0041] A lens guide part 30 is arranged on the front side of the main body 10, in which an intraocular lens is accommodated in a manner not shown in detail. The main components of the main body 10 are substantially cylindrical or otherwise designed to fit comfortably in the human hand for handling and have an elongated extension, and the inserter 1 with the main body 10, the lens guide part 30 on the front side and the operating member 11 inserted on the rear end side extends elongatedly on an operating axis 12. The operating axis 12 here simultaneously forms the thrust axis and the rotation axis of the operating member 11, which can be selectively slid or rotated.

[0042] For easier handling, the rear part of the main body 10 has a wing-like grip 23, by means of which the inserter 1 can be held between the index finger and the middle finger, while at the rear the thumb can be placed on the handle 32 and pushed. Rearwardly of the wing-like grip 23 adjoins the switching member 16, which is received on the main body 10 so as to be rotatable about the operating axis 12, and which has a through passage through which the operating member 11 extends. The switching member 16 is here arranged on the main body 10 in such a way that it does not come into direct contact with the operating member 11 and does not interact directly with it, in particular by means of a screw connection.

[0043] The lens guide 30 shows an injection port 33 through which a viscoelastic can be injected before starting to use the inserter 1. This can in particular wet the internal space in the lens guide 30 and the intraocular lens present therein, thereby facilitating the process of delivering the intraocular lens or preventing damage to the intraocular lens. The intraocular lens is then delivered via a delivery nozzle 31 at the free tip of the lens guide 30.

[0044] The inserter 1 comprises one means by which it is possible to switch between a push operation and a screw operation for the use of the inserter 1 by means of a switching member 16. In the embodiment of Fig. 1, the switching member 16 is formed on the body 10 rotatably about an operating axis 12 for switching between a push operation and a screw operation, the interaction of which with the operating member 11 is shown in more detail in further figures.

[0045] FIG. 2 shows the inserter 1 in an exploded view, in which the main components of the inserter 1 are shown, but there are also other components of the inserter 1 that are not shown because they are not necessary for explaining the present invention, and although they are not shown, they are certainly components of the inserter 1 according to the present invention, and the figure should not be understood in a limiting sense.

[0046] This figure shows the body 10 separated from the lens guide part 30, which is shown in alignment with the operating axis 12 and is configured with a receiving chamber 27 in which an intraocular lens 24 (one of the supports is visible) is loaded, and a further lens guide part 30 shown below forms an alternative configuration and comprises a receiving means 24 for receiving a lens cartridge 25 in which an intraocular lens 26, which is shown in separation, is loaded. When the intraocular lens 26 is loaded into the lens cartridge 25 and the lens cartridge 25 is then loaded into the receiving means 24, the intraocular lens 26 can be delivered by the piston 28 on the front side through the delivery nozzle 31 into the posterior chamber of the human eye. If the inserter is configured as a preload system, the lens guide part 30 shown on the top can be used which comprises a receiving chamber 27 in which the intraocular lens 26 has already been loaded by the manufacturer.

[0047] In order to deliver the intraocular lens 26, the piston 28 performs linear motion on the operating axis 12, and when the operating member 11 is screwed into the main body 10 by screw operation, the rotation conversion part 29 functions to prevent the rotational motion of the operating member 11 from being transmitted to the piston 25.

[0048] In other words, if a lens guide 30 in which the intraocular lens 26 is accommodated in its accommodation chamber 27 is not used, a lens guide 30 configured with accommodation means 24 in which the lens cartridge 25 in which the intraocular lens 26 is assembled can be used instead. The lens guide 30 with the accommodation chamber 27 thus forms a preloaded system in which the inserter 1 is sold with the intraocular lens 26 already loaded at the factory. Alternatively, the inserter 1 can also be provided without preloading the intraocular lens 26, in which case the lens guide 30 comprises accommodation means 24 in which the lens cartridge 25 with the intraocular lens 26 can be mounted only immediately before the inserter 1 is used, which is called a cartridge system. The accommodation means 24 for accommodating the lens cartridge and / or the accommodation chamber 27 for accommodating the intraocular lens 26 in its accommodation can alternatively be located in the body 10 or, if the lens guide 30 is arranged in the body 10, the accommodation means 24 or the accommodation chamber 27 are formed in the area between the lens guide 30 and the body 10.

[0049] The body 10 has, behind the wing-like grip 23, an injection-molded receiving part 20 on which the switching member 16 is mounted so as to be rotatable about the operating axis 12. The outer surface of the receiving part 20 then has a slot 21 which is arranged in the receiving part in the shape of a spiral over the receiving part 20, so that the rotation of the switching member 16 about the operating axis 12 simultaneously moves the switching member 16 along the operating axis 12. The end of the slot 21 may be provided with a snap-fitting means 34, so that the user has a tactile feedback each time the switching member 16 is turned to the end position, and the switching member 16 is automatically fixed in the final position. On the inside of the switching member 16, a pin is provided for the operative connection with the slot 21, which runs in the slot 21, but is not depicted in the shown figures, see FIG. 3.

[0050] The receiving part 20 is configured in the form of a sleeve and is in particular connected integrally to the main body 10 at the rear end side of the wing-like gripping part 23. For example, three spring arms 14 are arranged inside the receiving part 20, which are elastically fixed at their base either inside the receiving part 20 or to the main body 10 or to the rear end side of the wing-like gripping part 23. Thus, the spring arms 14 can elastically move inwardly towards the operating axis 12 or outwardly away from the operating axis 12 by elastic deformation. In the unloaded position of the spring arms 14, they have a certain distance from each other or from the operating axis 12, so that the screw thread 13 on the operating member 11 can move freely in the middle between the spring arms 14. Therefore, the insertion device 1 is shipped in a state in which the switching member 16 is set to a position such that the switching member is in a switching position for push operation, so that the spring arm 14 is not continuously under force and its elastic action tending to return is not maintained over a relatively long storage period.

[0051] The axial displacement of the switching member 16 along the operating axis 12 causes a resilient springing movement of the spring arms 14 towards the central operating axis 12 when the switching member 16 is displaced, preferably by rotation, towards the winged gripping portion 23, such that the slots 21 guide the displacement of the switching member 16 along the operating axis 12 towards the winged gripping portion 23. The spring arms 14 resiliently flex inwards towards the operating axis 12 by contacting an inner surface 16 of the switching member, whereby the threaded formations 15 on the inner surface of the spring arms 14 engage with the threads 13 of the operating member 11, allowing the inserter 1 to be set for screw operation.

[0052] 3 and 4 show the inserter 1 in position for a push operation P according to FIG. 3 and in position for a screw operation S according to FIG.

[0053] The switching member 16 received on the rear side of the wing-shaped gripping portion 23 on the main body 10 is in a rear position away from the wing-shaped gripping portion 23 as a result of the switching member being rotated counterclockwise along the operating axis 12 as viewed from the handle 32 in Fig. 3. At this time, the pin 22 on the inner surface of the switching member 16 runs in the slot 21, so that the switching member 16 is displaced in the axial direction by the manually applied rotational movement around the operating axis 12, and in Fig. 3, the switching member 16 is in a rear position to open the spring arm 14, so that the spring arm 14 does not engage the inner screw structure 15 with the screw thread 13 on the operating member 11.

[0054] In order to radially displace the spring arm 14 towards the actuation axis 12, the switching member 16 is provided with an inner cone 19 which forms part of an inner surface 17 of the switching member 16. An outer surface 18 of the spring arm 14 faces the inner surface 17 of the switching member 16 and, according to the present embodiment, is provided with an inclination which, like the inner surface 17, extends at an angle α to the actuation axis 12. This means that when the switching member 16 is displaced along the actuation axis 12, the position of the spring arm 14 is either pushed radially inwards or released radially outwards again due to the inclination or slope of the mutually contacting inner and outer surfaces 17, 18, depending on whether the switching member 16 is displaced towards or away from the wing-like gripping part 23.

[0055] Thus, FIG. 3 shows a position of the switching member 16 spaced from the wing-like gripping portion 23 such that the spring arms 14 can elastically expand by contacting the inner surface 17 on the larger diameter inner cone portion 19, thereby enabling the inserter 1 to be used with a push operation P.

[0056] 4 shows a position of the switching member 16 in which it is pressed against the winged gripping portion 23 such that the outer surface 18 of the spring arm 14 comes into contact with an area of ​​the inner surface 17 of the switching member 16 where the inner cone 19 already has a relatively small diameter, thereby causing the threading formation 15 to engage with the threads 13 of the operating member 11. The inserter 1 can then be used for the screw operation S.

[0057] 5 and 6 show yet another embodiment of the inserter 1 in which a switching member 16 is arranged on the receiving part 20 of the main body 10, and when this switching member 16 is displaced in the axial direction, it acts on the spring arm 14 as described above, so that the spring arm can operatively connect or release its inner screw-engagement structure 15 to the screw thread 13 of the operating member 11.

[0058] When the switching member 16 is positioned at a position where the distance of the switching member to the wing-shaped gripping portion 23 is relatively large, as shown in Figure 5, the spring arm 14 springs outward, and when the switching member 16 is displaced toward the wing-shaped gripping portion 23, the spring arm 14 is pushed inward and the screw structure 15 on the inner surface of the spring arm engages with the screw threads 13 of the operating member 11.

[0059] FIG. 5 now shows a position of the switching member 16 where the distance to the winged gripping portion 23 is relatively large, allowing the inserter 1 to be used by a push operation P, and FIG. 6 shows the switching member 16 in a position closer to the winged gripping portion 23, with the spring arms 14 pressed inwards so that the inserter 1 can be used for a screw operation S.

[0060] Since in this case the slot on the receiving part 20 runs parallel to the actuation axis 12, the switching member 16 cannot be rotated according to this embodiment, but can only be slid axially by the user between the two aforementioned end positions, which can in particular be configured as snap-in positions with tactile feedback. Thus, embodiments are revealed in which the switching member 16 can also be configured as a slider, according to which it does not necessarily have to surround the actuation member 11 all around, but rather the switching member 16 can also be configured as a slider arranged in one circumferential position, contrary to what is shown according to figures 5 and 6.

[0061] This inserter 1 thus offers the advantage that the surgeon can decide, even immediately before operating on the human eye, for example by himself or with the help of a surgical assistant, whether the inserter 1 is to be used for a push operation P or a screw operation S. The handle 32 is shown merely by way of example and can be configured differently, as can the wing-like gripping part 23, which does not have to be configured to extend laterally, but can also be configured as a gripping plate with a flange about the operating axis 12. The embodiments according to figures 5 and 6 can here likewise be used as a preload system or as a cartridge system.

[0062] The invention is not limited in its construction to the preferred embodiment described above, but rather many variants are conceivable that utilize the solutions shown, even in fundamentally different kinds of constructions. All features and / or advantages derived from the claims, the description or the drawings, including structural details or spatial arrangements, may be essential to the invention either by themselves or in various combinations. In addition to the invention described in the claims, the disclosure of this application also includes the following: 1. An inserter (1) for implanting an intraocular lens, comprising a main body (10), an elongated operating member (11) partially protruding at its rear end into the main body and movably guided along an operating axis (12), the operating member (11) can be moved into the main body (10) by selectively performing a push operation (P) along the operating axis (12) or a screw operation (S) around the operating axis (12), the operating member (11) has a screw thread (13) on at least a portion thereof, and a switching member (16) is disposed in the main body (10), At least one spring arm (14) is disposed on the main body (10), and the spring arm has a screw structure (15) on an inner surface facing the screw thread (13). The switching member (16) interacts with the spring arm (14) and is rotatable around the operating axis (12) or slidable along the operating axis (12). The switching member (16) cooperates with the spring arm (14) through a working contact, and at least one inner surface ( the rotation or sliding of the switching member (16) causes the spring arm (14) to elastically deform toward the operating axis (12) and away from the operating axis (12), thereby selectively engaging or disengaging the screw structure (15) with the screw thread (13). 2. In the inserter (1) described in the above item 1, The insertion device is characterized in that the switching member (16) is configured as a sliding member and is arranged movably within or on the main body (10), or the switching member (16) is configured in an annular or sleeve-like shape and partially or completely surrounds the operating member (11). 3. In the inserter (1) according to the above 1 or 2, The switching member (16) forms a rotating body having an internal through passage that can be manually rotated around the operating axis (12), at least one of the spring arms (14) projects into the internal passage, and the operating member (11) extends through the internal through passage. 4. In the insertion device (1) according to any one of 1 to 3 above, The inner surface (17) is formed in the internal through passage of the switching member (16) and forms an inner cone portion (19) that circles around the operating axis (12), so that when the switching member (16) is displaced along the operating axis (12), the outer surface on the spring arm (14) side comes into contact with different portions of the inner surface (17) of the switching member (16), thereby coming into contact with different radii of the inner surface. 5. In the insertion device (1) according to any one of 1 to 4 above, The inserter is characterized in that the main body (10) has a receiving portion (20) with a through passage, the operating member (11) extends through the through passage, the switching member (16) is received in contact with the receiving portion (20) or movably on the receiving portion (20), and at least one of the spring arms (14) extends into the area between the inner surface (17) of the switching member (16) and the operating member (11). 6. In the inserter (1) according to any one of 1 to 5 above, The inserter is characterized in that the switching member (16) is guided in contact with or on the receiving portion (20) so as to be axially movable along the operating axis (12) and / or rotatable around the operating axis (12). 7. In the inserter (1) according to any one of 1 to 6 above, An inserter characterized in that at least one spring arm (14), two spring arms (14) facing each other, three, four or more spring arms (14) are arranged on the receiving part (20) or on the main body (10) at their terminal sides on or within the receiving part (20). 8. In the inserter (1) according to any one of 1 to 7 above, An inserter characterized in that at least one slot (21) is provided on the outer periphery of the receiving portion (20), and at least one pin (22) is formed on the inner periphery of the switching member (16), and the pin is guided within the slot (21). 9. In the inserter (1) according to any one of 1 to 8 above, The insertion device is characterized in that the switching member (16) is arranged on the receiving portion (20) by a screw connection, and when the switching member (16) rotates around the operating axis (12), the switching member (16) moves along the operating axis (12). 10. In the inserter (1) according to any one of 1 to 9 above, An inserter characterized in that the main body (10) has a wing-shaped gripping portion (23), and the receiving portion (20) is connected to the rear end side of the wing-shaped gripping portion (23) as a protrusion. 11. In the inserter (1) according to any one of 1 to 10 above, The inserter (1) is provided with a storage means (24) for a lens cartridge (25), an intraocular lens (26) is incorporated in the lens cartridge (25), and the lens cartridge (25) can be mounted in the storage means (24) together with the intraocular lens (26). 12. In the inserter (1) according to any one of 1 to 10 above, The inserter (1) is characterized in that it has a storage chamber (27) formed at least in either the main body (10) or a lens guide portion (30) arranged at the front of the main body (10), and an intraocular lens (26) is loaded therein, so that the inserter (1) forms, together with the loaded intraocular lens (26), a unit that can be handled and sold individually. 13. In the inserter (1) according to any one of 1 to 12 above, An insertion device characterized in that a piston (28) is housed within the main body (10), and the piston is axially slidable by the operating member (11) via a rotation conversion part (29). 14. In the inserter (1) according to any one of 1 to 13 above, The main body (10), together with the receiving portion (20) and the wing-shaped gripping portion (23), is integrally made from a single plastic body, and the lens guide portion (30) located at the front of the main body (10) is formed with a delivery nozzle (31) at its tip for delivering the intraocular lens. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 1 Insertion tool 10. Main Unit 11 Operating member 12 Operating axis 13 Screw Thread 14 Spring arm 15 Screw-fitting structure 16 Switching member 17. Inside 18 Exterior 19 Inner cone 20 Receiving part 21 Slots 22 pin 23 Winged grip part 24 Containment means 25 Lens Cartridge 26 Intraocular Lenses 27 Containment Room 28 Piston 29 Rotation conversion section 30 Lens guide section 31 Delivery nozzle 32 Handle 33 Inlet 34 Snap-fit ​​means P Push operation S Screw operation α angle

Claims

1. An inserter (1) for implanting an intraocular lens, comprising a main body (10), an elongated operating member (11) partially protruding at its rear end into the main body and movably guided along an operating axis (12), the operating member (11) can be moved into the main body (10) by either a push operation (P) along the operating axis (12) or a screw operation (S) around the operating axis (12), the operating member (11) having a screw thread (13) on at least a portion thereof, and a switching member (16) disposed on the main body (10), At least one spring arm (14) is arranged on the main body (10), the spring arm having a threaded structure (15) on an inner surface facing the screw thread (13), the switching member (16) interacts with the spring arm (14) and is rotatable around the operating axis (12), the switching member (16) cooperates with the spring arm (14) through a working contact, and at least one inner surface (17) and / or an outer surface (18) of the spring arm (14) is formed at an angle (α) to the operating axis (12), so that the rotation of the switching member (16) about the operating axis (12) can cause the spring arm (14) to elastically deform toward the operating axis (12) and away from the operating axis (12), thereby selectively engaging or disengaging the screw structure (15) with the screw thread (13); The inner surface (17) is formed in an internal through passage of the switching member (16) and forms an inner cone portion (19) that circles around the operating axis (12), so that when the switching member (16) is displaced along the operating axis (12) by rotation, the outer surface on the spring arm (14) side comes into contact with different portions of the inner surface (17) of the switching member (16), thereby coming into contact with different radii of the inner surface.

2. The inserter (1) according to claim 1, The insertion device is characterized in that the switching member (16) is configured as a sliding member and is arranged movably within or on the main body (10), or the switching member (16) is configured in an annular or sleeve-like shape and partially or completely surrounds the operating member (11).

3. An inserter (1) according to claim 1 or 2, The switching member (16) forms a rotating body having an internal through passage that can be manually rotated around the operating axis (12), at least one of the spring arms (14) projects into the internal through passage, and the operating member (11) extends through the internal through passage.

4. An inserter (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The inserter is characterized in that the main body (10) has a receiving portion (20) with a through passage, the operating member (11) extends through the through passage, the switching member (16) is received in contact with the receiving portion (20) or movably on the receiving portion (20), and at least one of the spring arms (14) extends into the area between the inner surface (17) of the switching member (16) and the operating member (11).

5. The inserter (1) according to claim 4, The inserter is characterized in that the switching member (16) is guided in contact with or on the receiving portion (20) so as to be axially movable along the operating axis (12) and / or rotatable around the operating axis (12).

6. An inserter (1) according to claim 4 or 5, An inserter characterized in that at least one spring arm (14), two spring arms (14) opposite each other, three, four or more spring arms (14) are arranged on the receiving portion (20) or on the main body (10) at the terminal side on or within the receiving portion (20).

7. An inserter (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 6, An inserter characterized in that at least one slot (21) is provided on the outer periphery of the receiving portion (20), and at least one pin (22) is formed on the inner periphery of the switching member (16), and the pin is guided within the slot (21).

8. An inserter (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 7, The insertion device is characterized in that the switching member (16) is arranged on the receiving portion (20) by a screw connection, and when the switching member (16) rotates around the operating axis (12), the switching member (16) moves along the operating axis (12).

9. An inserter (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 8, The inserter is characterized in that the main body (10) has a wing-shaped gripping portion (23), and the receiving portion (20) is connected to the rear end side of the wing-shaped gripping portion (23) as a protrusion.

10. An inserter (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, The inserter (1) is characterized in that it has a storage means (24) for a lens cartridge (25), an intraocular lens (26) is incorporated in the lens cartridge (25), and the lens cartridge (25) can be mounted in the storage means (24) together with the intraocular lens (26).

11. An inserter (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, The inserter (1) is characterized in that it has a storage chamber (27) formed at least in either the main body (10) or in a lens guide portion (30) arranged at the front side of the main body (10), and an intraocular lens (26) is loaded therein, so that the inserter (1) forms an individually handleable and transportable unit together with the loaded intraocular lens (26).

12. An inserter (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, An insertion device characterized in that a piston (28) is housed within the main body (10), and the piston is capable of sliding in the axial direction by the operating member (11) via a rotation conversion part (29).

13. An inserter (1) according to claim 9 or any of claims 10 to 12 directly or indirectly depending on claim 9, An inserter characterized in that the main body (10), together with the receiving portion (20) and the wing-shaped gripping portion (23), are made integrally from a single plastic body, and a lens guide portion (30) located at the front of the main body (10) is formed with a delivery nozzle (31) at its tip for delivering the intraocular lens.

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