Thinoptx, Inc.

Other

J Scott Callahan

Wayne B Callahan

A crossed haptics attached to an intraocular lens suitable for implantation in either a phakic or an aphakic eye and a method for implanting and releasing the haptics after implantation in the eye, wherein. The lens comprises a very thin, deformable optic having two pairs of haptics attached to the optic by means of two stems 180&deg; apart on the circumference of the optic, the stems being wider and thinner at the base attached to the periphery of the optic, and tapering to a narrower and thicker tip to which each haptic is connected at opposite edges of the stem. Each haptic optionally sweeps about the periphery of the optic so that the angle subtended by a radial line extending from the center of the optic through the center of a footplate and a second radial line extending from the center of the optic through the center of the stem to which it attaches is about 135&deg;. Also disclosed is a haptic design comprising four footplates which are all independently attached to an optic transition area. The optic transition area is the area where the haptics engage the optic. This embodiment is preferably inserted into the eye by a rolling method. As such, this embodiment provides a lens with excellent flexibility and allows the haptics to be placed inside a rolled optic and return to their natural shape when unrolled.

Crossed haptics for intraocular lenses

Haptics for an intraocular lens are attached to a flexible, deformable optic which is capable of being rolled for insertion through a small incision in the cornea. The outer periphery of the optic is circular. The haptics include a pair of stems extending radially on diametrically opposite sides of the optic. The stems are rectangular in cross section, having greater width than thickness to permit greater flexibility anterior to posterior than superior to inferior. A flexible support bar is mounted at the end of each stem, each bar being bisected by its stem respectively, and being shaped like an arc concentric with the optic. The support bar has greater depth than width, in order to permit greater flexibility proximally and distally than anteriorly and posteriorly. The haptics have a haptic arm mounted in cantilever fashion at the ends of each support bar, each of the arms terminating in a circular or lobular footplate. The arms have greater width than thickness, and the footplates have a thickness of about fifty microns.

Haptics for an intraocular lens

An intraocular lens with crossed haptics, suitable for implantation in either a phakic or an aphakic eye and a method for implanting and releasing the haptics after implantation in the eye. The lens comprises a very thin, deformable optic having two pairs of haptics attached to the optic by means of two stems 180.degree. apart on the circumference of the optic, each tapering to a tip having one haptic each connected to opposite edges of the stem. Each haptic has a footplate defined at the free end of the haptic. Each haptic sweeps about the periphery of the optic so that the angle subtended by a radial line extending from the center of the optic through the center of a footplate and a second radial line extending from the center of the optic through the center of the stem to which it attaches is about 135.degree.. The lens is symmetrical about an axis extending through the opposing stems, with each haptic crossing either over or under the haptic connected to the opposing stem on the same side of the axis. The lens is inserted into the eye by using a previously prepared seriated suture joined by a viscoelastic material to fold the lens in a tubular shape and compress the haptics, inserting the lens in the eye, centering the lens, dissolving the viscoelastic material with saline solution, and removing the seriated suture by pulling a free end of the suture left outside the eye during insertion. When released, the footplates of the four haptics lie on a circle concentric with the optic, subtending four substantially equal arcs.

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Blountville, TN, United States of America

J Scott Callahan