Intraocular lens injector assembly

1. An assembly comprising a packaging device ( 20 ) and an intraocular lens injector ( 10 ) comprising a body ( 11 ) that contains an intraocular lens, the assembly being characterized in that said packaging device ( 20 ) is for receiving and storing said injector ( 10 ) prior to use, said packaging device ( 20 ) being made of a material that is waterproof, and being filled with a storage solution for maintaining at least the body ( 11 ) of said injector ( 10 ) and the intraocular lens in total immersion throughout the duration of storage, said packaging device ( 20 ) comprising a substantially rigid container ( 21 , 22 ) and an opening ( 25 ) for enabling said injector ( 10 ) to be installed and removed, said container ( 21 , 22 ) including at least one internal shoulder ( 26 , 27 ) co-operating with a portion of the injector ( 10 ) to center and maintain a lens ejector end ( 14 ) of the injector away from the walls of said container ( 21 , 22 );

wherein the packaging device is filled with the storage solution in such a manner that the body ( 11 ) of the injector ( 10 ) is fully immersed in all positions of said packaging device; and

wherein the least one internal shoulder is defined by a reduced diameter portion of the container, the diameter of the container being larger axially above and below the reduced diameter portion.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 , in which said packaging device ( 20 ) comprises a flask ( 21 ) closed by a plug ( 30 ).

3. An assembly according to claim 2 , in which said plug ( 30 ) is secured on said flask ( 21 ) by means of a capsule ( 40 ).

4. An assembly according to claim 1 , in which said packaging device ( 20 ) comprises a blister-pack container ( 22 ) closed by a leakproof membrane ( 31 ).

5. An assembly according to claim 1 , in which said storage solution is water, a physiological saline solution, or a viscoelastic solution.

6. An assembly according to claim 1 , in which said material is glass.

7. An assembly according to claim 1 , in which said material is a synthetic material presenting a high degree of leakproofing against water vapor.

8. An assembly according to claim 1 , in which said injector ( 10 ) comprises a body ( 11 ) having an approximately cylindrical portion ( 12 ) receiving the lens in substantially non-deformed manner, an approximately frustoconical intermediate portion ( 13 ) for folding the lens, and a lens-ejector end portion ( 14 ), the injector ( 10 ) also comprising dispenser means ( 18 ) manually movable within said body ( 11 ) to move the lens from the approximately cylindrical portion ( 12 ) of the body ( 11 ) towards the ejector end portion ( 14 ) of the body ( 11 ), and subsequently eject the lens, said body ( 11 ) having at an end remote from the ejector end ( 14 ) a radially-projecting flange ( 16 ) suitable for co-operating with an internal shoulder ( 26 ) provided in the packaging device ( 20 ) for positioning said injector ( 10 ) in said packaging device in such a manner that the ejector end is held apart from the walls of the packaging device ( 20 ) and the body ( 11 ) is completely immersed in said storage solution, in any position of said packaging device ( 20 ).

9. An assembly according to claim 1 , in which said packaging device ( 20 ) is substantially transparent.

10. An assembly according to claim 1 , adapted to be subjected to sterilization by wet heat, in particular in a steam pressure autoclave.

11. The assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the plug is an elastomer plug.

12. The assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the plug is secured on said flask by a crimp-on metal capsule.

13. An intraocular lens injector assembly, comprising:

an intraocular lens injector comprising a body and a lens ejector end;

an intraocular lens contained in the body;

a packaging device in which the injector is stored prior to use, the packaging device is waterproof and filled with a storage solution for maintaining at least the body of the injector and the intraocular lens immersed in the solution during storage, the packaging device comprising a substantially rigid container and an opening through which the injector is installed for storage and removed for use, the container comprising at least one internal shoulder co-operating with a portion of the injector body to center and maintain the lens ejector end away from walls of the container;

wherein the packaging device is filled with the storage solution in such a manner that the body ( 11 ) of the injector ( 10 ) is fully immersed in all positions of said packaging device; and

wherein the least one internal shoulder is defined by a reduced diameter portion of the container, the diameter of the container being larger axially above and below the reduced diameter portion.

14. The assembly according to claim 13 , wherein the packaging device comprises a flask closed by a plug.

15. The assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the plug is secured on said flask by a crimp-on metal capsule.

16. The assembly according to claim 13 , wherein the storage solution is water, a physiological saline solution, or a viscoelastic solution.

17. The assembly according to claim 13 , wherein the material is glass.

18. The assembly according to claim 13 , wherein the material is a synthetic material presenting a high degree of leakproofing against water vapor.

19. The assembly according to claim 13 , wherein said injector body has a cylindrical portion receiving the lens in substantially non-deformed manner and a frustoconical intermediate portion for folding the lens, the injector also comprising a manually movable piston within the body to move the lens from the approximately cylindrical portion towards the ejector end, and to subsequently eject the lens.

20. An assembly including a packaging device storing an intraocular lens injector therein, wherein the intraocular lens injector includes a body and an intraocular lens disposed therein, said packaging device comprising:

a substantially rigid container made of a waterproof material so as to provide a completely leakproof container, having walls and an opening receiving the intraocular injector therein; and

an internal shoulder formed on the container, cooperating with a portion of the intraocular lens injector, to center and maintain a lens ejector end of the intraocular lens injector away from the walls of said container,

wherein said internal shoulder is defined by a reduced inner diameter portion of the container, the container having a larger inner diameter portion that is larger axially above and below said reduced inner diameter portion, and

wherein said container is filled with a storage solution in such a manner that the entire body of the intraocular lens injector is fully immersed in all positions of said packaging device, including when said container is in an upside-down position defined by when the lens ejector end is situated at the top of the assembly.