Other

Eagle Vision, Inc.

Memphis Eye & Cataract Associates Ambulatory Surgery Center

Jerre M Freeman

Roy E Williams

James F Freeman

William R Clayton

Richard W Mendius

Carl E Halford

Ronald G Driggers

Scleral implants are provided having structure that locks the implant into incisions in the sclera and provide a stress thereto. In several embodiments, such structure includes a foot that extends laterally from a bottom of the implant, as well as an opening through which suture may be passed. Furthermore, the foot of the implant may be contoured to conform to the natural curvature of the sclera. In other embodiments, the implant is generally disc-shaped and includes a tab and a suture opening. With this implant, one or two pockets are defined in the sclera, preferably at eleven o'clock and/or one o'clock, the implant is placed therein, and the pocket incision may be closed with suture. The implant may also include a system for measuring and transmitting the intraocular pressure. With all the implants, the eye pressure is increased and/or the sclera is lifted to treat a disorder of the eye.

Bulbous scleral implants for the treatment of eye disorders such as presbyopia and glaucoma

A laser eye surgery system includes a laser for producing a laser beam capable of making refractive corrections, an optical system for shaping and conditioning the laser beam, a digital micromirror device (DMD) for reflecting the shaped and conditioned beam toward the eye, a computer system for controlling the mirrors of the DMD, and an eye tracking system which tracks the position of the eye and provides feedback to the computer system. The computer system includes software which permits the DMD to emulate the patterns and laser beam control provided in all prior art broadbeam systems and scanning spot systems. All that is required is a selection in the software to operate thereunder. Moreover, the laser surgery system can be coupled to or adapted to receive data from corneal topographers or wavefront sensor systems and utilize such data to increase the quality of correction above and beyond prior approaches. Furthermore, the laser surgery system can provide much greater resolution than prior art systems.

Control system for high resolution high speed digital micromirror device for laser refractive eye surgery

A system and method for performing corneal ablation or reshaping with a laser in order to correct aberrations in the optical system of the eye utilizes a wavefront sensor which defines a wavefront correction for the eye and then, based upon that defined wavefront correction, drives a digital micromirror device (DMD) which modulates a laser beam to the eye to perform the correction. As the DMD is a 2-D array of individually controlled mirrors, and the wavefront sensor analysis can provide a sequence of two dimensional arrays of values which together define the wavefront correction for the eye, the combination of the two produces a method for correcting the corneal surface. The system may be operated in either of two manners to achieve optimum refractive corrections: (1) off-line measurement of the eye optical system via the wavefront sensor followed by DMD-based laser refractive surgery, or (2) real-time measurement of the eye optical system via the wavefront sensor which directs a DMD-based laser refractive surgery system.

Laser eye surgery system using wavefront sensor analysis to control digital micromirror device (DMD) mirror patterns

An eye tracking and positioning system for use with a refractive laser system includes a camera interface, a computer, and a system for moving the patient relative to the laser beam. The computer includes a video frame grabber which extracts images of the eye from the camera, and is programmed to perform an eye tracking algorithm. The eye tracking algorithm calculates the exact center of the eye pupil, and compares the center with the desired location of the laser beam, as determined by a surgeon, with an image processing algorithm. If the relative location of the eye center and the laser beam fall outside a predetermined value, the patient chair, and thereby the patient, is repositioned relative to the laser beam, as opposed to the laser beam being repositioned relative to the patient. The repositioning counters the movement of the eye.

Eye tracking and positioning system for a refractive laser system

A flexible and transparent corneal endothelium protective device includes a relatively thin protective barrier portion, and a relatively thicker form-providing rim around the barrier portion. An access opening is provided through at least one of the rim and the barrier portion. The protective device is foldable for insertion through a surgical incision, is resilient such that it springs into shape once positioned in the eye, and is sufficiently flexible such that it may easily be removed through the incision in the eye near the completion of the surgical procedure. Various shapes are provided for the device. The protective device is inserted through the small incision and maneuvered into the space between the iris and the cornea and permitted to unfold. During surgery, instruments and other devices may be passed through the surgical incision and extend through an access opening of the protective device to operate on the lens. The intraocular protective device creates a protective barrier between the corneal endothelium and acoustic shock, instruments, other devices, and cataract fragments. As such, the intraocular protective device prevents damage to the fragile corneal endothelium. When the surgery is close to completion, but prior to closing the incision, the protective device is removed through the operating incision by grasping any portion of the device and pulling it through the incision.

Corneal endothelium protective device

A high speed, high resolution, programmable laser beam modulating apparatus includes a computer connected to a high resolution micromirror array having individually addressable and movable mirrors. The computer is also connected to a pulsed laser for controlling the emission thereof. A beam homogenizing optic changes an ablating input beam from the laser into a homogeneous beam having a uniform cross-sectional energy density. The mirrors are movable between an 'on' position for reflecting a portion of the homogeneous beam onto a cornea, and an 'off' position for reflecting the beam away from the cornea. The computer is programmed to move the mirrors to the 'on' position in a series of predetermined patterns, and the remaining mirrors to the 'off' position, and to fire the laser during the presence of each pattern, so that corresponding patterns of tissue on the cornea are successively ablated therefrom. The ablated patterns are overlaid on each other, so that they combine to produce a contour change in the cornea and correct a refractive error thereof.

High resolution, high speed, programmable laser beam modulating

There is provided a lacrimal fluid control device for blocking the flow of lacrimal fluid away from the surface of a wearer's eye through a punctal opening and into an associated caniculus. The lacrimal fluid control device includes a tip portion comprising a generally inverted truncated cone and a head portion comprising a generally enlarged dome. The tip is operable to facilitate placement of the lacrimal fluid control device at least partially through a wearer's punctal opening and the enlarged dome or head portion prevents drift of the lacrimal fluid control device completely through the punctal opening and into a generally vertical portion of an associated canaliculus.

Lacrimal fluid control device

A punctum plug for blocking lacrimal fluid flow through a punctum and an associated canaliculus composed of a hydrogel material and a hydrophobic coating which covers the exterior surface of the hydrogel material. The hydrophobic coating averts adsorption of proteinaceous materials onto the hydrogel. The punctum plug has a configuration which includes a generally cylindrical body member, an arcuate head at a first end of the body member, and a placement and retaining member at a second, peripheral end of the body member. An insertion port is located at the first end of the cylindrical body member for receiving a dilator/inserter tool. A hydrating port is fashioned at the peripheral end of the plug and partially extends through the placement and retaining member. The hydrating port is not coated with the hydrophobic material so that fluid in the canaliculus, or canalicular fluid, or preocular tear film may enter the interior portion of the plug and permit the hydrogel to expand to a desired configuration.

Punctum plug method and apparatus

This invention relates to a universal medical forcep tool having a main body portion for receiving a replaceable grasping portion having grasping tips and respective support handles on which the tips are mounted. The main body portion forms a receptacle for receiving the replaceable grasping portions.

Universal medical forcep tool

A tip or probe extends through a hollow cylindrical base and coaxially projects through a cylindrical sleeve member connected to the base. The cylindrical sleeve member is provided with at least one internal, longitudinally extending, rib member to guide a flushing fluid through the cylindrical member and to isolate interior wall portions of the cylindrical sleeve from the tip member.

Phacoemulsification/irrigation and aspiration sleeve apparatus

Combined punctum plug dilator and inserter for treating dry eye or other

An implantable intraocular lens for use within a human eye is provided with enhanced carrier or haptic loops for locating, supporting and maintaining the lens device in a desired position within the ocular chamber of an eye. Enhanced haptic longevity and biocompatibility is provided by a surface ion coating the polypropylene haptic on at least the surfaces making tissue contact. The biocompatible protective ion coating is applied by ion beam implantation. The biocompatible protective ion coating is preferably nitrogen, carbon, silicon or aluminum.

Haptic element using ion beam implantation for an intraocular lens

A neutral buoyancy intraocular lens device, adapted for implantation in a human eye and having an optical lens portion and support members attached thereto for holding the lens in place, is provided with a portion having a mean density lower than the density of the aqueous humor of the eye and a size large enough to decrease the mean density of the entire device to substantially the same as the aqueous humor of the eye to produce neutral buoyancy relative thereto, thereby increasing the compatibility of the device with the human user's eye and reducing trauma to the eye. The low-density portion may be an integral part of the lens and support structure, or may be a separate member attached thereto, and the lower mean density may be achieved by the use of a void or a relatively low density material.

Neutral buoyancy intraocular lens device

A plug of suitable dimension and material is removably inserted into the upper and/or lower punctal apertures of the eye to block the opening and the attendant canaliculus so as to thereby prevent the drainage of lacrimal fluid therethrough. The plug is comprised of tissue-tolerable, readily sterilizable material, such as polytetrafluorethylene (Teflon), or hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) hydrophilic polymer, methyl methacrylate, silicon, stainless steel or other inert metal material. The rod-like plug is formed with an oversized tip or barb portion that dilates and blockingly projects into the canaliculus, a smaller neck or waist portion upon which the punctum sphincter ring tightens, and a relatively larger, smooth head portion which rests upon the top of the punctal opening and prevents the plug from passing down into the canaliculus. In some embodiments the plug is impregnated with or otherwise acts as a carrier vehicle for an ophthalmic medication which is stored and delivered on a sustained release basis to the eye. A method for inserting the plug into the punctal opening is described, utilizing a dilator tool for enlarging the punctum and associated canaliculus and an inserter tool for facilitating the grasping, manipulation and insertion of the plug. The punctal plug has been found useful in treating keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eye) and is believed to be suitable for treating other ophthalmic ailments where retention of lacrimal fluid on the surface of the eye and in the lacrimal lake is desired or where sustained release of an ophthalmic medication to the eye by using the plug as a medication carrier is desired.

Growing community of inventors

Memphis, TN, United States of America

Jerre M Freeman