Injector having a pivotable injector tip

Abstract

The invention relates to an injector (20) for inserting an intraocular lens (1) into an eye (10), having an injector axis (26), an injector body (30) which defines a folding chamber (21), an injector tip (22) which has an opening (23), and a plunger (40) which is arranged longitudinally movably in the injector and is configured to convey the intraocular lens, through a movement of the plunger in an insertion direction (44) of the injector, out of the folding chamber into the injector tip and then out of the injector via the opening, wherein the injector tip is bevelled in the region of the opening by means of the injector tip having an end face (27) which directly adjoins the opening and of which the normal encloses, with the injector axis, an end-face angle different from 0°, wherein the injector tip is mounted pivotably about the injector axis and relative to the injector body and has an injector tip initial state and an injector tip end state, wherein the injector tip can be brought from the injector tip initial state to the injector tip end state by pivoting, in an injector circumferential direction (28) relative to the injector axis, about an injector tip angle that lies in a range from 90° to 270°.

Description

[0001] Injector with pivoting injector tip

[0002] The invention relates to an injector for inserting an intraocular lens into an eye, wherein the injector has a pivotable injector tip.

[0003] An intraocular lens can, for example, replace the natural lens of an eye during cataract treatment. In another example, the intraocular lens can be a phakic intraocular lens, which is inserted into the eye in addition to the natural lens, in particular to correct myopia. Figure 1 shows a cross-section of an exemplary intraocular lens 1. The intraocular lens 1 can be convex-concave and thus has a convex side 3 and a concave side 4. In addition, the intraocular lens 1 has an optical axis 2, a radial direction 6 related to the optical axis 2 and a circumferential direction 7 related to the optical axis 2. The intraocular lens 1 has a haptic 5, which in this

[0004] Embodiment is a plate haptic, wherein the haptic 5 has a first longitudinal end 8, which forms the end of the intraocular lens 1 opposite to the radial direction 6, and a second longitudinal end 9, which forms the end of the intraocular lens 1 in the radial direction 6. Figures 2 and 3 show an injector 20, by means of which the phakic intraocular lens 1 is inserted into an eye 10. The phakic intraocular lens 1 is to be inserted between the natural lens 12 of the eye 10 and the iris 13 of the eye 10. For this purpose, an incision is made in the cornea 11 of the eye 10 and an injector tip 22 is inserted into the eye 10 via the incision.The injector 20 has a folding mechanism by means of which the intraocular lens 1 arranged in a folding chamber 21 is folded such that the first side edge 80 arranged perpendicular to the first longitudinal end 8 and the second side edge 90 arranged perpendicular to the second longitudinal end 9 and facing away from the first side edge 80 are displaced towards one another. The intraocular lens 1 is then displaced from the injector 20 into the eye 10. The folding mechanism has a first wing 35 which is to be arranged facing away from the eye 10 in order to prevent the first wing 35 from touching the face while the intraocular lens 1 is being inserted into the eye 10.

[0005] In Figure 2, the intraocular lens 1 is arranged before it is folded such that the convex side 3 faces a support surface 210 in the folding chamber 21. An observer therefore sees the concave side 4 when looking at the intraocular lens 1 stored in the loading chamber 21. This results in the intraocular lens 1 subsequently being folded such that the convex side 3 faces the support surface 210 of the folding chamber 21. However, this orientation results in the intraocular lens 1 being inserted into the eye 10 with the incorrect orientation, in which the convex side 3 faces the natural lens 12, see the dashed line of the intraocular lens 1 in Figure 2.

[0006] In Figure 3, the intraocular lens 1 is arranged, before it is folded, such that the convex side 3 faces an observer looking in the direction of the folding chamber 21. This results in the intraocular lens 1 then also being folded such that the convex side 3 of the support surface 210 is arranged facing away in the folding chamber. This has the effect that the intraocular lens 1 enters the eye 10 with the correct orientation, in that the concave side 4 is arranged facing the natural lens 12 and can therefore adapt optimally to the natural lens 12, see the dashed line of the intraocular lens 1 in Figure 3. In this case, however, the intraocular lens 1 is subjected to strong mechanical stresses during the advance movement in the injector tip 22, which can lead to damage to the intraocular lens 1 and / or the injector tip 22.The object of the invention is therefore to provide an injector for inserting an intraocular lens into an eye, wherein the injector ensures correct orientation of the intraocular lens in the eye and avoids strong mechanical stresses in the intraocular lens when inserting the intraocular lens into the eye.

[0007] The injector according to the invention for inserting an intraocular lens into an eye has an injector axis, an injector body, an injector tip, and a piston. The injector body delimits a folding chamber. The injector tip has an opening. The piston is arranged so as to be longitudinally displaceable in the injector and is designed to transport the intraocular lens from the folding chamber into the injector tip and then out of the injector via the opening by displacing the piston in an insertion direction of the injector. The injector tip is beveled in the region of the opening in that the injector tip has an end face that is directly adjacent to the opening and whose normal encloses an end face angle with the injector axis that is different from 0°.The injector tip is pivotable about the injector axis and mounted relative to the injector body and has an injector tip initial state and an injector tip end state, wherein the injector tip can be brought from the injector tip initial state to the injector tip end state by pivoting in an injector circumferential direction relative to the injector axis by an injector tip angle which lies in a range of 90° to 270°.

[0008] In the event that the intraocular lens is not symmetrical to a mirror plane whose normal is parallel to the optical axis of the intraocular lens, the intraocular lens can be arranged in the folding chamber such that the intraocular lens is folded in such a way that mechanical stresses in the intraocular lens are minimized. After the intraocular lens has been folded, it can be moved into the injector tip using the piston. Subsequently, the injector tip can be brought from the injector tip starting state to the injector tip end state. In this way, the end surface can be oriented such that the intraocular lens can be inserted into the eye in the correct orientation.

[0009] It is conceivable that the intraocular lens has a convex side and a concave side that manipulate, in particular focus, light by means of refraction or diffraction to create an optical image of the intraocular lens. It is conceivable that the intraocular lens is a phakic intraocular lens. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the intraocular lens is intended to replace a natural lens of an eye.

[0010] According to the invention, the injector has a folding mechanism which is designed to fold the intraocular lens in the folding chamber by bringing the folding mechanism from a folding mechanism initial state into a folding mechanism final state, wherein the folding mechanism has a projection whose distal end projects from the injector in an injector radial direction relative to the injector axis, in particular projects outwards from the remaining injector, in the folding mechanism final state. The injector is designed such that the bringing of the folding mechanism from the folding mechanism initial state into the folding mechanism final state and the pivoting of the injector tip take place independently of one another. In particular, when bringing the folding mechanism from the folding mechanism initial state into the folding mechanism final state, a component of the injector which is different from the injector tip is pivoted relative to the injector body.By pivotally mounting the injector tip relative to the injector body, the front surface can be oriented relative to the projection such that the projection can be oriented away from the eye when the intraocular lens is inserted into the eye, thereby preventing the projection from touching the patient.

[0011] It is preferred that the injector tip has a maximum-long edge fiber and a minimum-short edge fiber, which, in the injector tip end state, is arranged facing away from the projection in the injector circumferential direction. This results in the minimally short edge fiber being arranged further inside the eye than the maximum-long edge fiber when the intraocular lens is inserted into the eye.

[0012] It is preferred that the folding mechanism has a folding wedge which folds the intraocular lens when the folding wedge is inserted into the folding chamber. The injector can have a holder which holds the folding wedge and forms the projection. When the folding wedge is inserted into the folding chamber, the folding wedge can contact the center of the intraocular lens and press it in, so that two ends of the intraocular lens which face away from one another and are perpendicular to the optical axis of the intraocular lens are displaced towards one another. In the folding mechanism initial state, the folding wedge can be arranged at a distance from the intraocular lens. In the folding mechanism final state, the folding wedge can contact the intraocular lens and have folded it.

[0013] Alternatively, it is preferred that the folding mechanism comprises a butterfly mechanism having a first wing and a second wing, which are coupled to one another in the folding mechanism end state and whose respective distal ends, in the folding mechanism end state, jointly protrude from the injector in an injector radial direction relative to the injector axis and form the projection. It is particularly preferred that the second wing is pivotable about the injector axis and movable toward the first wing.

[0014] The intraocular lens is preferably arranged and oriented in the folding chamber such that the folding mechanism folds the intraocular lens so that the convex side is positioned on a support surface for the intraocular lens in the folding chamber. This minimizes mechanical stresses in the intraocular lens.

[0015] The end face angle is preferably in a range from 20° to 70°, or from 30° to 60°, or from 40° to 50°. The in ector tip angle is preferably in a range from 150° to 210°, or from 170° to 190°.

[0016] It is preferred that the injector has a passage that directly adjoins the opening, opposite the insertion direction, and is delimited externally by the injector body and the injector tip. It also has a step that causes an enlargement of a cross-section of the passage, whose normal is parallel to the injector axis, at a transition from the injector body to the injector tip in the direction of the opening. The provision of the step prevents the intraocular lens from becoming trapped between the injector body and the injector tip while the intraocular lens is being displaced by the piston.

[0017] It is preferred that the piston is mounted in such a way that rotation of the piston in a circumferential direction related to the insertion direction and in particular counter to the circumferential direction related to the insertion direction is not possible. This makes it possible to maintain the orientation of the piston when the injector tip is moved from the injector tip initial state to the injector tip final state. This can be relevant, for example, if an asymmetrical cushion that contacts the intraocular lens is applied to the piston. Alternatively, it is preferred that the piston is mounted in such a way that rotation of the piston in a circumferential direction related to the insertion direction and in particular counter to the circumferential direction related to the insertion direction is possible. This makes it possible for the piston to follow the pivoting of the injector tip. This is particularly relevant if the piston has a fork that contacts the intraocular lens.

[0018] The injector tip preferably has a stop which is configured such that, in the injector tip initial state, the piston abuts the stop upon displacement of the piston toward the opening, and in the injector tip final state, the stop enables displacement of the piston toward the opening. This can prevent incorrect operation of the injector, in which the intraocular lens is conveyed out of the injector before the injector tip is brought into the injector tip final state. It is particularly preferred for the piston to have a piston projection which abuts the stop in the injector tip initial state. It is conceivable for the piston projection to be able to displace past the stop in the injector tip final state. Alternatively, it is conceivable for the injector tip to be configured to remove the piston projection from the piston when the injector tip is brought from the injector tip initial state to the injector tip final state.For this purpose, the injector tip can have an injector tip driver which drives the piston projection when the injector tip is brought from the injector tip initial state to the injector tip final state.

[0019] It is preferred that the piston be configured to drive the injector tip in the injector circumferential direction by displacement in the insertion direction. For example, the piston may have a piston driver for this purpose, and the injector tip may have a helical recess in which the piston driver slides while the piston driver is displaced toward the opening.

[0020] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the attached schematic drawings.

[0021] Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a cross-section through an intraocular lens,

[0022] Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a cross section of an eye and a conventional injector inserted into the eye , with a convex side of the intraocular lens facing a support surface of a folding chamber ,

[0023] Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the cross-section of Figure 2 and a cross-section of an intraocular lens, with a concave side of the intraocular lens facing the support surface of the folding chamber,

[0024] Figure 4 is a schematic representation of a cross section through a first injector according to the invention,

[0025] Figure 5 is a schematic representation of a perspective view of a second injector according to the invention at a first time,

[0026] Figure 6 shows the view from Figure 5 at a second time and

[0027] Figure 7 shows the view from Figure 5 at a third time point.

[0028] As can be seen from Figures 4 to 7, an injector 20 for introducing an intraocular lens 1 into an eye 10 has an injector axis 26, an injector body 30, an injector tip 22, and a piston 40. The injector body 30 delimits a folding chamber 21 or is designed to receive a folding chamber 21 in which the intraocular lens 1 can be arranged. The injector tip 22 has an opening 23. The piston 40 is arranged in the injector 20 so as to be longitudinally displaceable and is configured to convey the intraocular lens 1 from the folding chamber 21 into the injector tip 22 and then out of the injector 20 via the opening 23 by displacing the piston 40 in an insertion direction 44 of the injector 20.The injector tip 22 is beveled in the region of the opening 23 in that the injector tip 22 has an end face 27 that directly borders the opening 23 and whose normal encloses an end face angle with the injector axis 26 that is different from 0°. The injector tip 22 is pivotable about the injector axis 26 and mounted relative to the injector body 30. In addition, the injector tip 22 has an injector tip initial state and an injector tip end state, wherein the injector tip 22 can be brought from the injector tip initial state to the injector tip end state by pivoting in an injector circumferential direction 28 relative to the injector axis 26 by an injector tip angle that lies in a range of 90° to 270°.

[0029] The intraocular lens 1 can have a convex side 3 and a concave side 4, which is arranged facing away from the convex side 3 (see Figures 1 to 3). The convex side 3 and the concave side 4 are configured to manipulate light by refraction or diffraction, in particular to focus it, so that the intraocular lens 1 can produce an optical image.

[0030] The intraocular lens 1 may be a phakic intraocular lens 1. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the intraocular lens 1 is designed to replace a natural lens 12 of the eye 10.

[0031] The insertion direction 44 and the injector axis 26 can be arranged parallel to each other and in particular coincide.

[0032] The face angle can, for example, be in a range from 20° to 70°, or from 30° to 60°, or from 40° to 50°. The injector tip angle can, for example, be in a range from 150° to 210°, or from 170° to 190°.

[0033] The piston 40 can have a cushion 41 (see Figure 4) which is designed to contact the intraocular lens 1 when the piston 40 displaces the intraocular lens 1, and can be designed to deform when the cushion 41 reaches the in ector tip 22. It is conceivable that the piston 40 is mounted in such a way that a rotation of the piston 40 in a circumferential direction related to the insertion direction 44 and in particular against the circumferential direction related to the insertion direction 44 is not possible. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the piston 40 is mounted in such a way that a rotation of the piston 40 in a circumferential direction related to the insertion direction 44 and in particular against the circumferential direction related to the insertion direction 44 is possible.

[0034] Figure 4 shows that the injector 20 can have a folding mechanism 34 which is configured to fold the intraocular lens 1 in the folding chamber 21 by bringing the folding mechanism 34 from a folding mechanism initial state, which is shown in Figure 4, into a folding mechanism final state, which is not shown in the figures. The injector 20 is configured such that the bringing of the folding mechanism 34 from the folding mechanism initial state to the folding mechanism final state and the pivoting of the injector tip 22 take place independently of one another.

[0035] In particular, when bringing the folding mechanism from the folding mechanism initial state into the folding mechanism final state, a component of the injector 20 that is different from the injector tip 22 is pivoted relative to the injector body 30. The folding mechanism 34 has a first wing 35 and a second wing 36. The second wing 36 can be coupled to the second wing 36 by pivoting about the injector axis 26 and relative to the injector body 30, for example by latching, and reach a folding mechanism final state such that the first wing 35 and the second wing 36 protrude together from the injector 20 in an injector radial direction 29 relative to the injector axis 26. The second wing 36 is thus the component that is different from the injector tip 22. The first wing 35 can be arranged rigidly so that only the second wing 36 can be pivoted towards the first wing 35.However, the injector 20 can also be designed such that the first wing 35 and the second wing 36 can move towards each other.

[0036] For reasons of better clarity, only the first wing 35 is shown in Figures 5 to 7, whereas the second wing 36 which is engaged in the first wing 35 is not shown.

[0037] Because the injector tip 22 is bevelled in the region of the opening 23, the injector tip 22 has a maximum length edge fiber 24 and a minimum length edge fiber 25, see Figures 2 to 4. The minimum length edge fiber 25 can be arranged in the injector circumferential direction 28 at an angle of 180° starting from the maximum length edge fiber 24.

[0038] In Figure 5 and at the first point in time shown in Figure 5, the injector tip 22 is shown in its injector tip initial state. In the injector tip initial state, the minimally short edge fiber 25 can be arranged in the injector circumferential direction 28 in a plane in which the first wing 35 is also arranged. Starting from the injector tip initial state, the injector tip 22 can be pivoted towards the injector tip end state. This is shown at the second point in time in Figure 6. For this purpose, the injector tip 22 can have a handle 33 (cf. Figures 4 to 7) which can be grasped by a hand, so that the injector tip 22 can be pivoted by the hand. In Figure 7, the injector tip 22 is shown at the third point in time in the injector tip end state, in which the minimally short edge fiber 25 can be arranged facing away from the first wing 35.In particular, the minimally short edge fiber 25 can be arranged in the injector tip end state in the injector circumferential direction 28, starting from the plane of the first wing 35, at an angle that lies in a range from 150° to 210°, from 160° to 200°, or from 170° to 190°. It is conceivable that the injector tip 22 can be pivoted only in the direction of the injector tip end state in the injector tip exit state and can be pivoted only in the direction of the injector tip exit state in the injector tip end state.

[0039] As can be seen from Figure 4, the injector body

[0040] 30 an injector body bearing surface 31 and the injector tip 22 a tip bearing surface 32 . The

[0041] Injector body bearing surface 31 and tip bearing surface 32 can slide against each other when the injector tip 22 pivots about the injector axis 26 and relative to the injector body 30. Figure 4 shows that the injector body bearing surface

[0042] 31 can be arranged facing inwards and the

[0043] Tip bearing surface 32 can be arranged facing outwards. However, it is also conceivable that the injector body bearing surface 31 is arranged facing outwards and the tip bearing surface 32 is arranged facing inwards.

[0044] Figure 4 shows that the folding mechanism 34 can have a "butterfly mechanism" in which the second wing 36 can be pivoted about the injector axis 26 towards the first wing 35.

[0045] It is conceivable that the intraocular lens 1 is arranged and oriented in the folding chamber 21 in such a way that the folding mechanism 4 folds the intraocular lens 1 in such a way that the convex side 3 of the support surface 210 is arranged facing the folding chamber 21.

[0046] As can be seen from Figure 4, the injector 20 can have a passage 42 which, counter to the insertion direction 44, directly adjoins the opening 23 and is delimited externally by the injector body 30 and the injector tip 22, and a step 43 which causes an enlargement of a cross-section of the passage 42, the normal of which is parallel to the injector axis 26, at a transition from the injector body 30 to the injector tip 22 in the direction of the opening 23. The step 43 can be formed entirely in the injector circumferential direction 28.

[0047] It is conceivable that the injector tip 22 has a stop which is configured such that, in the injector tip initial state, the piston 40 abuts against the stop when the piston 40 is displaced toward the opening 23, and in the injector tip final state, the stop enables the piston 40 to be displaced toward the opening 23. The piston 40 can have a piston projection which abuts against the stop in the injector tip initial state. The piston projection can protrude from the piston 40 in a direction that is transverse to the insertion direction 44. It is conceivable that, in the injector tip final state, the piston projection can be displaced past the stop. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the injector tip 22 is configured to remove the piston projection from the piston 40 when the injector tip 22 is brought from the injector tip initial state to the injector tip final state.

[0048] The piston 40 can be configured to drive the injector tip 22 in the injector circumferential direction 28 by displacement in the insertion direction 44. List of reference symbols

[0049] 1 intraocular lens

[0050] 2 optical axis

[0051] 3 convex side

[0052] 4 concave side

[0053] 5 Haptics

[0054] 6 Radial direction

[0055] 7 Circumferential direction

[0056] 8 first longitudinal end

[0057] 9 second longitudinal end

[0058] 10 Eye

[0059] 11 Cornea

[0060] 12 natural lentils

[0061] 13 Iris

[0062] 20 injectors

[0063] 21 folding chamber

[0064] 22 In ector tip

[0065] 23 Opening

[0066] 24 maximum length edge fibers

[0067] 25 minimally short edge fibers

[0068] 26 Injector axis

[0069] 27 Frontal surface

[0070] 28 Injector circumferential direction

[0071] 29 Injector radial direction

[0072] 30 injector bodies

[0073] 31 Injector body bearing surface

[0074] 32 tip bearing surface

[0075] 33 Grip

[0076] 34 Folding mechanism

[0077] 35 first wing

[0078] 36 second wing

[0079] 40 pistons

[0080] 41 pillows

[0081] 42 Passage

[0082] 43 level

[0083] 44 Insertion direction

[0084] 80 first page margin 90 second page margin

[0085] 210 contact surface

Claims

Patent claims 1. Injector for inserting an intraocular lens (1) into an eye (10), having an injector axis (26), an injector body (30) which delimits a folding chamber (21), an injector tip (22) which has an opening (23), and a piston (40) which is arranged to be longitudinally displaceable in the injector (20) and is designed to convey the intraocular lens (1) by displacing the piston (40) in an insertion direction (44) of the injector (20) from the folding chamber (21) into the injector tip (22) and then via the opening (23) out of the injector (20), wherein the injector tip (22) is bevelled in the region of the opening (23) in that the injector tip (22) has an end face (27) which is directly adjacent to the opening (23). and whose normal encloses an end face angle with the injector axis (26) which is different from 0°,wherein the injector tip (22) is mounted pivotably about the injector axis (26) and relative to the injector body (30) and has an injector tip initial state and an injector tip final state, wherein the injector tip (22) can be brought from the injector tip initial state into the injector tip final state by pivoting in an injector circumferential direction (28) relative to the injector axis (26) by an injector tip angle lying in a range from 90° to 270°, wherein the injector (20) has a folding mechanism (34) which is designed to fold the intraocular lens (1) by bringing the folding mechanism (34) from a folding mechanism initial state into a folding mechanism final state in the folding chamber (21), wherein the folding mechanism (34) has a projection whose distal end, in the folding mechanism final state, is in a direction relative to the injector axis (26) relative to the injector radial direction (29) protrudes from the injector (20),wherein the intraocular lens (1) can be displaced into the injector tip (22) by means of the piston (40) after the intraocular lens (1) has been folded, wherein the injector tip (22) is subsequently Injector tip initial state in the Can be brought into ector tip end state.

2. Injector according to claim 1, wherein the injector tip (22) has a maximum length edge fiber (24) and a minimum length edge fiber (25) which, in the injector tip end state, is arranged facing away from the projection in the injector circumferential direction (28).

3. Injector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the folding mechanism (34) comprises a folding wedge which folds the intraocular lens (1) by inserting the folding wedge into the folding chamber (21).

4. Injector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the folding mechanism (34) has a butterfly mechanism which has a first wing (35) and a second wing (36) which are coupled to one another in the folding mechanism end state and whose respective distal ends, in the folding mechanism end state, jointly protrude from the injector (20) in an injector radial direction (29) relative to the injector axis (26) and form the projection, in particular wherein the second wing (36) is pivotable about the injector axis (26) and movable towards the first wing (35).

5. Injector according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the intraocular lens (1) is arranged in the folding chamber (21) and has a convex side (3) and a concave side (4) which manipulate light by means of refraction or diffraction for an optical imaging of the intraocular lens (1), and is arranged and oriented in the folding chamber (21) such that the folding mechanism (34) folds the intraocular lens (1) such that the convex side (3) is arranged on a support surface (210) for the intraocular lens in the folding chamber (21).

6. Injector according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the intraocular lens (1) is arranged in the folding chamber (21) and is a phakic intraocular lens (1).

7. Injector according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the injector (20) has a passage (42) which directly adjoins the opening (23) opposite the insertion direction (44) and is delimited externally by the injector body (30) and the injector tip (22), and a step (43) which causes an enlargement of a cross-section of the passage (42), the normal of which is parallel to the injector axis (26), at a transition from the injector body (30) to the injector tip (22) in the direction of the opening (23).

8. Injector according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the injector tip (22) has a stop which is arranged such that in the injector tip initial state the piston (40) abuts against the stop when the piston (40) is displaced towards the opening (23) and in the injector tip end state the stop enables the piston (40) to be displaced towards the opening (23).

9. Injector according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the piston (40) is configured to drive the injector tip (22) in the injector circumferential direction (28) by displacement in the insertion direction (44).

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