ACCOMMODATIVE INTRAOCULAR LENS
An accommodating intraocular lens implant includes an anterior floating lens unit, a posterior lens unit, an anterior lens link, a posterior lens link, and an anterior rim link, which comprises an anterior rim jointed element. An anterior rim complex is disposed such that the anterior floating lens unit is movable toward and away from the anterior rim complex, in an anterior-posterior direction. A lever is connected (a) at a first longitudinal site along the lever, to the anterior floating lens unit by the anterior lens link, (b) at a second longitudinal site along the lever, to the anterior rim complex by the anterior rim link, and (c) at a third longitudinal site along the lever, to the posterior lens unit by the posterior lens link. The second site is longitudinally between the first and the third sites along the lever, such that the second site serves as a fulcrum for the lever.
1 . Apparatus comprising an accommodating intraocular lens implant, which comprises:
an anterior floating lens unit, which comprises an anterior lens;
a posterior lens unit, which comprises a posterior lens;
an anterior rim complex disposed such that the anterior floating lens unit is movable toward and away from the anterior rim complex, in an anterior-posterior direction;
an anterior lens link, which comprises an anterior lens jointed element;
a posterior lens link, which comprises a posterior lens jointed element;
an anterior rim link, which comprises an anterior rim jointed element; and
a lever, which is connected:
at a first longitudinal site along the lever, to the anterior floating lens unit by the anterior lens link,
at a second longitudinal site along the lever, to the anterior rim complex by the anterior rim link, and
at a third longitudinal site along the lever, to the posterior lens unit by the posterior lens link,
wherein the second longitudinal site is longitudinally between the first and the third longitudinal sites along the lever, such that the second longitudinal site serves as a fulcrum for the lever.
2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second longitudinal site is closer to the third longitudinal site than to the first longitudinal site.
3 - 5 . (canceled)
6 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a straight line segment between the second longitudinal site and the third longitudinal site defines an angle of less than 15 degrees with a plane perpendicular to a central optical axis of the anterior lens at some point during a transition between fully-accommodated and fully-unaccommodated states of the lens implant.
7 . (canceled)
8 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a straight line segment between the second longitudinal site and the third longitudinal site rotates between 10 and 35 degrees as the lens implant transitions between fully-accommodated and fully-unaccommodated states.
9 - 17 . (canceled)
18 . The apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the posterior lens link is connected to the posterior lens unit at a posterior-lens-complex-connection site of the posterior lens unit,
wherein the anterior rim link is connected to the anterior rim complex at an anterior-rim-complex-connection site of the anterior rim complex, and
wherein the posterior-lens-complex-connection and the anterior-rim-complex-connection sites are circumferentially offset from each other with respect to a central optical axis of the anterior lens.
19 - 26 . (canceled)
22 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the lens implant is configured such that a greatest change in distance between any portion of the lever and a central optical axis of the anterior lens is less than 10% of a diameter of the anterior lens as the lens implant transitions between fully-accommodated and fully-unaccommodated states.
27 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the posterior lens link comprises exactly one posterior lens jointed element.
28 . The apparatus according to claim 27 , wherein the anterior rim link comprises exactly one anterior rim jointed element.
29 . The apparatus according to claim 28 , wherein the anterior lens link comprises exactly one anterior lens jointed element.
30 - 48 . (canceled)
49 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the anterior floating lens unit further comprises an attachment element, and wherein the lever is connected to the attachment element by the anterior lens link.
50 - 51 . (canceled)
52 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the anterior rim complex further comprises an attachment element, and wherein the lever is connected to the attachment element by the anterior rim link.
53 . (canceled)
54 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the posterior lens unit further comprises an attachment element, and wherein the lever is connected to the attachment element by the posterior lens link.
55 - 57 . (canceled)
58 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the anterior rim complex is not jointed.
59 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the posterior lens unit is not jointed.
60 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the lens implant is configured such that the lever moves the anterior floating lens unit by a first anterior-posterior distance with respect to the posterior lens unit when the anterior rim complex moves a second anterior-posterior distance with respect to the posterior lens unit, which first distance is greater than the second distance.
61 . (canceled)
62 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the lens implant is configured such that the anterior rim complex rotates with respect to the posterior lens unit as the anterior floating lens unit moves toward and away from the anterior rim complex in the anterior-posterior direction.
63 - 66 . (canceled)
67 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the anterior lens, posterior lens, and anterior rim jointed elements comprise respective non-sliding joints.
68 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the anterior lens, posterior lens, and anterior rim jointed elements comprise respective rotating joints.
69 . (canceled)
70 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the lens implant is configured such that a straight line segment between two points on a central longitudinal axis of the lever longitudinally at the first and the third sites, respectively, defines an angle with a plane perpendicular to a central optical axis of the anterior lens, which angle increases as the lens implant transitions from a fully-unaccommodated state to a fully-accommodated state.
71 - 73 . (canceled)
74 . Apparatus comprising an accommodating intraocular lens implant, which comprises:
an anterior floating lens unit, which comprises an anterior lens;
a posterior lens unit, which comprises a posterior lens; and
an anterior rim complex disposed such that the anterior floating lens unit is movable toward and away from the anterior rim complex, in an anterior-posterior direction,
wherein the lens implant is configured such that the anterior rim complex rotates with respect to the posterior lens unit as the anterior floating lens unit moves toward and away from the anterior rim complex in the anterior-posterior direction.
75 - 79 . (canceled)
80 . Apparatus comprising an accommodating intraocular lens implant, which comprises:
an anterior floating lens unit, which comprises an anterior lens;
a posterior lens unit, which comprises a posterior lens;
an anterior rim complex disposed such that the anterior floating lens unit is movable toward and away from the anterior rim complex, in an anterior-posterior direction; and
a lever, which is connected to the anterior floating lens unit, the anterior rim complex, and the posterior lens unit,
wherein the lens implant is configured such that a greatest change in distance between any portion of the lever and a central optical axis of the anterior lens is less than 10% of a diameter of the anterior lens as the lens implant transitions between fully-accommodated and fully-unaccommodated states.
81 - 96 . (canceled)