Intraocular lens fixation device

1 . An ocular clip implant used for securing an intraocular lens (IOL) in an eye of a patient, the ocular clip implant comprising:

an IOL-engaging portion disposed at a first end of the ocular clip implant, the IOL-engaging portion:

being configured to grasp a portion of the IOL, and

comprising first and second opposing jaws which are moveable with respect to each other to grasp the portion of the IOL, the first jaw being positionable against a first surface of the portion of the IOL at a first location to apply pressure to the first surface of the portion of the IOL, and the second jaw being positionable against a second surface of the portion of the IOL at the first location to apply pressure to the second surface of the portion of the IOL; and

an ocular-wall-engaging portion integrated with and disposed at a second end of the ocular clip implant, the ocular-wall-engaging portion comprising an anchor transitionable from a first, straightened configuration to a second, non-straightened configuration to anchor the ocular clip implant to a wall of the eye in order to secure the IOL to the eye.

2 . The ocular clip implant according to claim 1 , wherein the anchor has a pointed tip configured to pierce the wall of the eye in order to secure the IOL to the eye.

3 . The ocular clip implant according to claim 1 , wherein the anchor of the ocular-wall-engaging portion comprises at least one hook transitionable from the straightened configuration to a curved configuration to anchor the ocular clip implant to the wall of the eye.

4 . The ocular clip implant according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second opposing jaws comprise shape-memory material, and wherein the jaws are configured to assume a closed state in an absence of force applied thereto.

5 . A system comprising the ocular clip implant according to claim 1 , the system further comprising an introduction instrument comprising an introduction sheath configured to house and deliver the ocular clip implant, wherein the anchor of the ocular clip implant is disposed within the introduction sheath in the first, straightened configuration, and wherein the anchor of the ocular clip implant is deformable to the second, non-straightened configuration when exposed from within the introduction sheath.

6 . The system according to claim 5 , wherein the introduction instrument is configured to deliver the ocular clip implant through an entry point in the eye, facilitate grasping of the portion of the IOL by the IOL-engaging portion through the entry point, and facilitate anchoring of the ocular clip implant by the anchor of the ocular-wall-engaging portion through the entry point.

7 . A system comprising the ocular clip implant according to claim 1 , the system further comprising an introduction instrument comprising an introduction sheath configured to house and deliver the ocular clip implant,

wherein the ocular clip implant is disposed within the introduction sheath with the anchor of the ocular-wall-engaging portion in the first, straightened configuration, and

wherein the anchor of the ocular-wall-engaging portion comprises a shape-memory material that is configured to deflect the anchor away from an axis of a lumen of the introduction sheath when the anchor is exposed from within the introduction sheath.

8 . An ocular clip implant used for securing an intraocular lens (IOL) in an eye of a patient, the ocular clip implant comprising:

an IOL-engaging portion disposed at a first end of the ocular clip implant, the IOL-engaging portion being configured to grasp a portion of the IOL; and

an ocular-wall-engaging portion integrated with and disposed at a second end of the ocular clip implant, the ocular-wall-engaging portion comprising an anchor, the anchor:

being reversibly transitionable from a first, straightened configuration to a second, non-straightened configuration to anchor the ocular clip implant to a wall of the eye in order to secure the IOL to the eye,

comprising a shape-memory material which transitions the anchor of the ocular-wall-engaging portion from the first, straightened configuration to the second, non-straightened configuration, and

being deformable from the second, non-straightened configuration upon application of a force to the ocular-wall-engaging portion,

wherein the ocular-wall-engaging portion is shaped so as to define an opening for reversible coupling of a suture to the ocular-wall-engaging portion, and wherein application of a pulling force to the suture facilitates application of the force to the ocular-wall-engaging portion to deform the anchor of the ocular-wall-engaging portion from the second configuration.

9 . The ocular clip implant according to claim 8 ,

wherein the IOL-engaging portion is configured to grasp an optic of the IOL, and

wherein the first and second opposing jaws have textured, ridged, or serrated surfaces which increase friction between the IOL-engaging portion and the optic of the IOL.

10 . A method for securing an intraocular lens (IOL) in an eye of a patient, the method comprising:

introducing within the eye through an entry point in the eye an IOL-engaging portion of an ocular clip implant, the IOL-engaging portion disposed at a first end of the ocular clip implant;

grasping a portion of the IOL with the IOL-engaging portion by moving first and second opposing jaws of the IOL-engaging portion with respect to each other, and by the moving:

positioning the first jaw against a first surface of the portion of the IOL at a first location;

positioning the second jaw against a second surface of the portion of the IOL at the first location; and

applying pressure to the first and the second surfaces of the portion of the IOL by the first and the second jaws, respectively;

securing the IOL to the eye by anchoring the ocular clip implant to a wall of the eye by:

positioning an ocular-wall-engaging portion integrated with and disposed at a second end of the ocular clip implant, partially within the wall of the eye and through the entry point and partially proximally to the wall of the eye; and

facilitating transitioning of an anchor of the ocular-wall-engaging portion from a first, straightened configuration to a second, non-straightened configuration.

11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein anchoring the ocular clip implant to the wall of the eye comprises piercing the wall of the eye with the anchor of the ocular-wall-engaging portion.

12 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises, subsequently to the grasping, repositioning the IOL within the eye by moving the IOL with the IOL-engaging portion grasped thereto.

13 . The method according to claim 12 ,

wherein anchoring the ocular clip implant comprises reversibly anchoring the ocular clip implant by applying a force to the ocular-wall-engaging portion, and

wherein applying the force to the ocular-wall-engaging portion comprises deforming the anchor of the ocular-wall-engaging portion from the second, non-straightened configuration to the first, straightened configuration.

14 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises:

further repositioning the IOL coupled to IOL-engaging portion via the entry point subsequently to the deforming the anchor of the ocular-wall-engaging portion; and

subsequently, re-anchoring the ocular clip implant to the wall of the eye by:

repositioning the anchor of the ocular-wall-engaging portion partially within the wall of the eye and through the entry point and partially proximally to the wall of the eye; and

facilitating transitioning of the anchor of the ocular-wall-engaging portion from the first, straightened configuration to the second, non-straightened configuration.

15 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein anchoring the ocular clip implant to the wall of the eye comprises:

delivering the ocular clip implant to the eye while the anchor of the ocular-wall-engaging portion is disposed in the straightened configuration within a lumen of an introduction sheath; and

facilitating the transitioning of the anchor of the ocular-wall-engaging portion from the first, straightened configuration to the second, non-straightened configuration by exposing the anchor of the ocular-wall engaging portion such that a shape-memory material of the anchor deflects the anchor away from an axis of the lumen of the introduction sheath.