Intraocular lens insertion device

1. A device, comprising:

an intraocular lens having an optical part, an outer edge adjacent to the optical part, and a haptic adjacent to the outer edge;

a lens disposing part configured to hold the intraocular lens;

a plunger, including a distal portion defining a size and having a lens contact part and a protrusive part, which pushes the intraocular lens along a lens travelling axis, the lens contact part defining a lens contact surface that has a first end and a second end that is closer to the protrusive part than the first end, and the protrusive part defining a distal end that is located distally of the lens contact surface, a first surface on one side of the distal end and a second surface on the opposite side of the distal end, the second surface being closer to the lens contact surface than the first surface;

a nozzle through which the intraocular lens is ejected; and

a transition part between the lens disposing part and the nozzle, the transition part having an inner surface defining a lumen that decreases in size towards the nozzle;

wherein the respective sizes of the intraocular lens, the plunger distal portion and the transition part lumen are such that, when the lens contact part engages the optical part and pushes the intraocular lens through the transition part there will be a gap, between the second surface of the plunger protrusive part and the optical part, that extends from the distal end of the protrusive part to the lens contact part.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the respective sizes of the intraocular lens, the plunger distal portion and the transition part lumen are such that, when the lens contact part pushes the intraocular lens through the transition part, force will be applied to the first surface of the plunger protrusive part in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the lens travelling axis by the intraocular lens outer edge that causes the first end of the lens contact surface to compress and deform a proximal portion of the intraocular lens outer edge, which is located between the first end of the lens contact surface and an adjacent portion of the transition part inner surface, in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the lens travelling axis.

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the protrusive part first surface comprises a smoothly curved convex surface.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the lens contact surface is substantially planar.

5. The device according to claim 4 , wherein

the intraocular lens optical part outer edge defines a thickness, and

the lens contact surface has a curved corner at the first end defining a curvature radius less than or equal to 70% of the thickness of the outer edge of the intraocular lens.

6. The device according to claim 5 , wherein

the lens disposing part has a bottom face,

the plunger has a rod like axial member, and

the lens contact part is formed in a manner protruding from the axial member toward the bottom face of the lens disposing part.

7. The device according to claim 5 , wherein the plunger is formed of a synthetic resin.

8. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the intraocular lens is stored on the lens disposing part.

9. The device according to claim 1 , wherein

the lens disposing part defines a bottom surface; and

the lens contact surface is adjacent to the lens disposing part bottom surface.

10. The device according to claim 1 , wherein

the lens contact surface extends, from the first end to the second end, in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the lens travelling axis; and

the gap extends in the direction that is generally perpendicular to the lens travelling axis.

11. The device according to claim 1 , wherein

the optical part defines a thickness; and

the gap extends a distance that is greater than the thickness of the optical part.

12. An insertion device for use with an intraocular lens having an optical part, an outer edge adjacent to the optical part, and a haptic adjacent to the outer edge, the insertion device comprising:

a main body including a nozzle and an inner surface that defines a lumen with a tapered portion through which the intraocular lens travels, the lumen tapered portion defining a cross-sectional size that decreases toward the nozzle;

a plunger movable through the main body lumen, including lens contact surface and defining a longitudinal axis; and

means for causing a portion of the lens contact surface to move in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and only compress and deform a proximal portion of the outer edge adjacent to the optical part that is located in the tapered portion of the lumen between the lens contact surface and an adjacent portion of the main body such that the portion of the lens contact surface is prevented from moving distally beyond the outer edge and onto the optical part in response to the application of force to the plunger in the direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis by opposing regions of the intraocular lens outer edge that are located in spaced relation to the compressed and deformed portion.

13. The device according to claim 12 , wherein the lens contact surface is a planer surface.

14. The device according to claim 13 , wherein

the intraocular lens optical part outer edge defines a thickness; and

the lens contact surface includes a curved corner with a curvature radius less than or equal to 70% of the thickness of the outer edge of the intraocular lens.

15. The device according to claim 12 , wherein the plunger is formed of a synthetic resin.

16. The device according to claim 12 , wherein the intraocular lens is stored on the lens disposing part.