NL2015446B1

NL2015446B1 - Vitrectomy lens ring.

Info

Publication number: NL2015446B1
Application number: NL2015446A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Dam Adien
Original assignee: Crea Ip B V
Priority date: 2015-09-16
Filing date: 2015-09-16
Publication date: 2017-04-03
Also published as: WO2017045986A1

Abstract

Vitrectomy lens ring with a ring shaped support (2) for a vitrectomy lens (4) and at least two legs (6) extending radially from the ring shaped support (2) having a predetermined length. The ring shaped support (2) and the at least two legs (6) comprise a dome shaped inner surface (8), which, at least in part, is provided with a friction enhancing surface structure (10).

Description

Vitrectomy lens ring Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a vitrectomy lens ring for ophthalmic surgical assistance.

Prior art

International application WO 2012/058138 discloses an ophthalmic surgical contact lens comprising an optic member provided with an anterior surface having an aspheric base profile and a posterior surface having a shape substantially corresponding to a shape of a cornea of an eye. The ophthalmic contact lens further comprises a flange integrally formed with the optic and surrounding the optic, wherein the flange has a curvature substantially corresponding to the curvature of a sclera of an eye and a rim surrounding the optic and extending from an anterior surface of the flange to and beyond the anterior surface of the optic. In an embodiment, a plurality of tabs extending from the flange are provided, each of the plurality of tabs having a curvature substantially corresponding to the curvature of a sclera of an eye. The plurality of tabs may be used for engagement with a trocar canulla, for example. US patent application US 2014/0307229 describes a contact lens assembly for vitreoretinal surgery. The contact lens assembly comprises a central lens and a circumscribing flange, the lens having an eye contact surface shaped generally to a radius of curvature of a cornea of an eye. The flange comprises a sterile sponge-like liquid absorbent flexible material having a central aperture for fitting snugly about an outer circumference of the lens and extending radially outward there from. The flange may further comprise an inner attachment ring for attachment to the outer circumference of the central contact lens.

Summary of the invention

The present invention seeks to provide a vitrectomy lens ring having improved positional stability on an outer surface of an eye, such as the sclera and cornea of a human eye. The vitrectomy lens ring further provides improved locking engagement with ophthalmic instruments such as a trocar canulla (“trocars”) and the like, thereby facilitating viewing clarity, accuracy as well as viewing image stability during ophthalmic procedures.

According to the present invention, a vitrectomy lens ring according to the type defined in the preamble is provided, comprising a ring shaped support for a vitrectomy lens, at least two legs extending radially from the ring shaped support with a predetermined length, wherein the ring shaped support and the at least two legs comprise a dome shaped inner surface, and wherein the dome shaped inner surface is provided, at least in part, with a friction enhancing surface structure.

The friction enhancing surface structure of the present invention provides improved adhesion to an outer surface part of an eye, such as the sclera. The improved adhesion increases positional accuracy and stability of the vitrectomy lens ring on the outer surface part of the eye, so that views of the inner anatomy of the eye are further optimized.

In an embodiment, the friction enhancing surface structure comprises one or more protrusions, or in an alternative embodiment, the friction enhancing surface structure comprises one or more perforations in the at least two legs and/or the ring shaped support. Also other surface textures may be implemented, e.g. by treating the relevant surface parts with a spark erosion technique.

Each of the at least two legs may comprises two side faces perpendicular to the dome shaped inner surface, the two side faces having a different slope along the domed shaped inner surface, allowing to make contact with and fixate on (i.e. rotate and lock) trocars present in the eye during an ophthalmic procedure. For this rotate and lock capability one slope of the two side faces is a shallow slope in a further embodiment, allowing to catch trocars on an eye surface by rotating the lens ring. In other words, the at least two legs have a side face of which the distance towards a center of the lens ring increases linearly over a rotation angle. The at least two legs may all have a similar shape, providing a stable and centered lens ring, which will easily retain its position during an ophthalmic procedure. Alternatively, four legs are provided, of which two legs have a width smaller than the other two legs. This has the effect that less surface of the eye is occupied by lens ring, leaving more operating room for a surgeon.

The vitrectomy lens ring is made of a soft plastic material in a further embodiment ensuring as little irritation as possible when used. The vitrectomy lens ring is e.g. made of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

In an even further embodiment the ring shaped support has a lens receiving flange, wherein the lens receiving flange of the ring shaped support has a curvature of the dome shaped inner surface with a transitory curvature. This ensures a good fitting between the lens ring and the vitrectomy lens, corresponding to the transition of the curvature of the cornea to the curvature of the sclera.

Short description of drawings

The present invention will be discussed in more detail below, using a number of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, in which

Figure 1 shows a top view of an embodiment of a vitrectomy lens ring of the present invention;

Figure 2a shows a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a vitrectomy lens ring provided with friction enhancing protrusions as used in the present invention;

Figure 2b shows a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a leg with friction enhancing protrusions as used in the present invention;

Figure 3 shows a top view of an embodiment of a vitrectomy lens ring provided with friction enhancing perforations or apertures as used in the present invention; and

Figure 4 shows a cross sectional view of an embodiment of a vitrectomy lens ring provided with friction enhancing perforations or apertures as used in the present invention.

Detailed description of exemplary embodiments

Figure 1 and 2a show a top view and cross sectional view, respectively, of an embodiment of a vitrectomy lens ring of the present invention. In the embodiments shown, the vitrectomy lens ring 1 comprises a ring shaped support 2 for a vitrectomy lens 4 with which a clear viewing image can be obtained of the inner anatomy of an eye during an ophthalmic procedure. The vitrectomy lens ring 1 further comprises at least two legs 6 extending or protruding radially from the ring shaped support 2, wherein the at least two legs 6 have a predetermined size, e.g. length (/). The predetermined size, such as the length l of the at the at least two legs 6, may be measured from a leg base 6b to a leg apex 6a of each leg 6. The leg base 6b may be measured from a most outer circumference of the ring shaped support 2 and the leg apex 6a may be measured from a most outer circumference or periphery of a leg 6.

The at least two legs 6 are circumferentially arranged along the ring shaped support 2 and may or may not be evenly distributed there along. In a typical embodiment, the ring shaped support 2 and the at least two legs 6 are configured for conformal engagement with an outer surface part of an eye, such as the sclera, when in use during an ophthalmic procedure. The at least two legs 6 extending radially from the ring shaped support 2 allow for locking engagement with one or more ophthalmic instruments such as trocars 7, thereby providing improved positional viewing accuracy and viewing stability of the vitrectomy lens ring 1 whilst allowing free movement of the one or more ophthalmic instruments being used. If the at least two legs 6 are evenly distributed along the ring shaped support 2, the center of gravity will be centered resulting in good stability when in use.

In an embodiment, the vitrectomy lens ring 1, and in particular the ring shaped support 2 and/or the at least two legs 6, is made of a soft plastic material. The soft plastic material facilitates conformal engagement of the vitrectomy lens ring 1 with an outer surface part of the eye. Also, such a soft plastic material allows the outer surface part of the eye to deform during a procedure whilst maintaining conformal engagement with the deformed outer surface part. In an embodiment the vitrectomy lens ring 1 is made of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), which provides sufficient flexibility to e.g. the at least two legs 6 for optimal conformal engagement.

As clearly shown in the embodiment of Figure 2, the ring shaped support 2 and the at least two legs 6 comprise a dome shaped inner surface 8 for snug and conformal engagement with an outer surface part of an eye. The dome shaped inner surface 8 may be viewed as being posterior to the vitrectomy lens ring 1, i.e. facing the anterior side of the eye, and generally comprises a surface curvature matching the anterior surface curvature of the eye on which the vitrectomy lens ring 1 is positioned.

In an embodiment, the ring shaped support 2 has a lens receiving flange 2a, wherein the lens receiving flange 2a of the ring shaped support 2 has a curvature of the dome shaped inner surface 8 with a transitory curvature 2b. Here, the transitory curvature 2b may be considered to be a curvature between a posterior curvature 4a of the vitrectomy lens 4 and the dome shaped inner surface curvature. The transitory curvature 2b allows for a smooth and snug fit between the vitrectomy lens ring 1 and the outer surface part of the eye comprising the sclera and cornea without causing irritation thereof.

According to the invention. To facilitate a stable and accurate view of the internal anatomy of an eye through the vitrectomy lens 4, the dome shaped inner surface 8 is provided, at least in part, with a friction enhancing surface structure 10.

The friction enhancing surface structure 10 improves positional accuracy and stability of the vitrectomy lens ring 1 independent from engagement of the at least two legs 6 with ophthalmic instruments such as trocars. Viewing accuracy and viewing stability during a procedure is therefore not only dependent on the engagement of the at least two legs 6 with ophthalmic instruments. Furthermore, ophthalmic instruments are often moved and manipulated during a procedure, so the friction enhancing surface structure 10 facilitates positional accuracy and stability of the vitrectomy lens ringl when one or more ophthalmic instruments are in motion.

In an embodiment, the friction enhancing surface structures 10 may comprise one or more protrusions or protuberances. Each protrusion projects away from the dome shaped inner surface 8 and provides increased friction so that sliding motion of the vitrectomy lens ring 1 along the outer surface part of the eye is reduced. This also results in a more stable and accurate view of the inner anatomy of the eye.

Figure 2b shows an exemplary embodiment one or more protrusions 11 projecting away from the dome shaped inner surface 8. In the embodiment shown, each of the protrusions may comprises a substantially semicircular cross section, so that surface friction is increased without increasing abrasiveness of the dome shaped inner surface 8. In alternative embodiments the cross section of each protrusion 11 may comprise an arbitrary cross sectional shape.

Figure 3 and 4 show a top view and a cross sectional view, respectively, of an embodiment of a vitrectomy lens ring 1 provided with one or more friction enhancing perforations or apertures as used in the present invention.

In Figure 4 the friction enhancing surface structure 10 comprises one or more perforations or apertures 12. The one or more apertures 12 increase the surface friction without causing a discernible increase in abrasiveness of the friction enhancing surface structure 10. As a result, the one or more apertures 12 allow for a safe, stable and accurate positioning of the vitrectomy lens ring 1 on the eye. In an embodiment the one or more apertures 12 fully extend through the at least two legs 6.

Note that in an alternative embodiment the friction enhancing surface structure 10 may also comprise one or more recesses, which also provide increased friction of the domes shaped inner surface 8 without increasing abrasiveness. In even further embodiments, the friction enhancing structure 10 has a more complex surface structure, e.g. accomplished using a spark erosion or other suitable surface roughening treatment.

Returning to Figure 1, in an embodiment each of the at least two legs 6 comprises two side faces 9a, 9b (substantially) perpendicular to the dome shaped inner surface 8, wherein the two side faces 9a, 9b have a different slope. The two perpendicular side faces 9a, 9b allow locking engagement of the vitrectomy lens ring 1 over a full width of the two side faces with one or more trocars 7, thus providing a maximum contact surface for the engagement between the vitrectomy lens ring 1 and the one or more trocars 7.

In an embodiment, one of the two side faces 9a, 9b comprises a shallow or moderate slope with respect to the other side face, enabling a smooth engagement and “catch” of a trocar 7 with one of the legs 6 by rotating the vitrectomy lens ring 1. In particular, the two side faces 9a, 9b of a leg 6 allow locking engagement by rotating the vitrectomy lens ring 1 up to a point where one of the two side faces 9a, 9b having the moderate slope touches an ophthalmic instrument such as a trocar.

In a further embodiment the shallow of moderate slope of one the two side faces 9b with respect to the other one of the two side faces 9a comprises a linear or straight ramp. In this embodiment, the at least two legs have a side face 9b of which the distance towards a centre O of the vitrectomy lens 4 increases linearly over a rotation angle. A side face 9b comprising a moderate linear ramp allows accurate engagement with a trocar 7 and provides improved positional stability in linear sense as well as rotational sense, i.e. reduced sliding (“shifting”) of the vitrectomy lens ring 1 over an outer surface part of the eye as well as reduced rotation over the outer surface part during a procedure. Furthermore, a moderate slope allows locking engagement with trocars 7 having different sizes, e.g. different outer diameters, and/or for making incisions for phakic and pseudophakic eyes.

It may be desirable that when placing the vitrectomy lens ring 1 on an outer surface of the eye, locking engagement behaviour of the vitrectomy lens ring 1 is somewhat predictable and does not vary significantly with respect to the rotational position of the vitrectomy lens ring 1 and a trocar 7. For that purpose an embodiment may be provided wherein the at least two legs 6 have a similar shape, so that locking engagement through rotation of the vitrectomy lens ring 1 is being perceived as predictable and relatively independent from a starting position/orientation of the vitrectomy lens ringl on the outer surface part of the eye.

In an embodiment, the vitrectomy lens ring 1 comprises four legs 6, of which two legs have a width smaller than the width of the other two legs. Such an embodiment is advantageous as less outer surface area is occupied by the vitrectomy lens ring 1 without impairing locking engagement with e.g. one or more trocars 7.

Since less outer surface area of the eye is occupied, more space around the vitrectomy lens ring 1 is available for e.g. moving and manipulating ophthalmic instruments.

The present invention may be summarized as one or more of the following embodiments, or combinations thereof, as indicated:

Embodiment 1. Vitrectomy lens ring, comprising a ring shaped support (2) for a vitrectomy lens (4), at least two legs (6) extending radially from the ring shaped support (2) having a predetermined length, wherein the ring shaped support (2) and the at least two legs (6) comprise a dome shaped inner surface (8), and wherein the dome shaped inner surface (8) is provided, at least in part, with a friction enhancing surface structure (10).

Embodiment 2. Vitrectomy lens ring according to embodiment 1, wherein the friction enhancing surface structure (10) comprises one or more protrusions (11). Embodiment 3. Vitrectomy lens ring according to embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the friction enhancing surface structure (10) comprises one or more perforations (12) in the at least two legs (6) and/or the ring shaped support (2).

Embodiment 4. Vitrectomy lens ring according to any one of embodiments 1-3, wherein each of the at least two legs (6) comprises two side faces (9a,9b) perpendicular to the dome shaped inner surface (8), the two side faces (9a,9b) having a different slope along the domed shaped inner surface (8).

Embodiment 5. Vitrectomy lens ring according to embodiment 4, wherein one slope of the two side faces (9a,9b) is a shallow slope.

Embodiment 6. Vitrectomy lens ring according to any one of embodiments 1-3, wherein the at least two legs (6) have a side face (9b) of which the distance towards a center (O) of the lens ring (4) increases linearly over a rotation angle.

Embodiment 7. Vitrectomy lens ring according to any one of embodiments 1-6, wherein the at least two legs (6) have a similar shape.

Embodiment 8. Vitrectomy lens ring according to any one of embodiments 1-7, wherein four legs (6) are provided, of which two legs have a width smaller than the other two legs.

Embodiment 9. Vitrectomy lens ring according to any one of embodiments 1-8, wherein the vitrectomy lens ring (1) is made of a soft plastic material.

Embodiment 10. Vitrectomy lens ring according to embodiment 9, wherein the vitrectomy lens ring (1) is made of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

Embodiment 11. Vitrectomy lens ring according to any one of embodiments 1-10, wherein the ring shaped support (2) has a lens receiving flange (2a), wherein the lens receiving flange (2a) of the ring shaped support (2) has a curvature of the dome shaped inner surface (8) with a transitory curvature (2b).

The present invention embodiments have been described above with reference to a number of exemplary embodiments as shown in the drawings. Modifications and alternative implementations of some parts or elements are possible, and are included in the scope of protection as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

A vitrectomy lens ring, comprising an annular support (2) for a vitrectomy lens (4), at least two legs (6) protruding radially from the annular support (2) of a predetermined length, the annular support (2) and the at least two legs (6) comprise an inner surface (8) formed as a vault, and wherein the inner surface (8) formed as a vault is, at least in part, provided with a friction-increasing surface structure (10).

A vitrectomy lens ring according to claim 1, wherein the friction-enhancing surface structure (10) comprises one or more protrusions (11).

A vitrectomy lens ring according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the friction-enhancing surface structure (10) comprises one or more perforations (12) in the at least two legs (6) and / or the annular support (2).

The vitrectomy lens ring according to any of claims 1-3, wherein each of the at least two legs (6) comprises two side faces (9a, 9b) that are perpendicular to the inner surface (8) formed as an arch, the two side faces (9a, 9b) have a different slope along the inner surface (8) formed as an arch.

The vitrectomy lens ring according to claim 4, wherein one slope of the two side faces (9a, 9b) is a flat slope.

A vitrectomy lens ring according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the at least two legs (6) have a side face (9b) whose distance to a center (O) of the lens ring (4) increases linearly over an angle of rotation.

A vitrectomy lens ring according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein the at least two legs (6) have the same shape.

A vitrectomy lens ring according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein four legs (6) are present, two of which have a width narrower than that of the other two legs.

The vitrectomy lens ring according to any of claims 1-8, wherein the vitrectomy lens ring (1) is made of a soft plastic material.

The vitrectomy lens ring according to claim 9, wherein the vitrectomy lens ring (1) is made of a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

The vitrectomy lens ring according to any of claims 1-10, wherein the annular support (2) has a lens receiving flange (2a), the lens receiving flange (2a) of the annular support (2) having the same curvature as that of the an arched inner surface (8) with a transition curvature (2b).