ACCOMMODATIVE INTRAOCULAR LENS
An accommodating intraocular lens implant includes an anterior floating lens unit, a posterior lens unit, an anterior 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, and (b) at a second longitudinal site along the lever, to the anterior rim complex by the anterior rim link. The lever, at a third longitudinal site along the lever, is in jointed connection with the posterior lens unit. The second site is longitudinally between the first and the third sites along 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;
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, and
at a second longitudinal site along the lever, to the anterior rim complex by the anterior rim link,
wherein the lever, at a third longitudinal site along the lever, is in jointed connection with the posterior lens unit, and
wherein the second longitudinal site is longitudinally between the first and the third longitudinal sites along the lever.
2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the lever is arranged such that the second longitudinal site serves as a fulcrum for the lever.
3 . The apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the lens implant further comprises a posterior lens link, which comprises a posterior lens jointed element, and
wherein the lever, at the third longitudinal site, is in jointed connection with the posterior lens unit via the posterior lens link.
4 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the lever is arranged such that the third longitudinal site serves as a fulcrum for the lever.
5 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the lens implant comprises a plurality of levers, which (a) are in jointed connection with (i) the anterior floating lens unit at respective first longitudinal sites along the levers, (ii) the anterior rim complex at respective second longitudinal sites along the levers, and (iii) the posterior lens unit at respective third longitudinal site along the levers, and (b) are arranged to move the anterior floating lens unit toward and away from the anterior rim complex, in the anterior-posterior direction.
6 . The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein for each of the levers, (a) a line defined by the second longitudinal site of the lever and the third longitudinal site of the lever, if projected onto a plane defined by the radially-outer perimeter of the lens implant, and (b) a line tangential to the radially-outer perimeter of the lens implant at a circumferential site of the perimeter circumferentially corresponding to the third longitudinal site of the lever, form an angle of between 75 and 105 degrees.
7 . The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the second longitudinal sites are disposed radially inward from the third longitudinal sites, respectively.
8 - 10 . (canceled)
11 . The apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the lens implant comprises an anterior component, which comprises the anterior floating lens unit, the anterior rim complex, and the lever,
wherein the posterior lens unit and the anterior component are distinct from each other and not permanently fixed to each other, and which are shaped so as to be assemblable together in situ in a human eye, and
wherein when the posterior lens unit and the anterior component are assembled together, the posterior lens unit and the anterior component contact each other at one or more interfaces.
12 . The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein when the posterior lens unit and the anterior component are assembled together, the lever is pivotable about one of the one or more interfaces.
13 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the lens implant comprises six levers.
14 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the lens implant comprises more than six levers.
15 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the lens implant comprises:
a circumferential rim; and
a plurality of levers, which (a) at respective first longitudinal sites along the levers, are in jointed connection with the anterior floating lens unit, and (b) at respective third longitudinal sites along the levers, are (i) fixed to the circumferential rim at respective, different circumferential locations around the rim, and (ii) in jointed connection with the posterior lens unit.
16 . The apparatus according to claim 15 ,
wherein the posterior lens unit is concave and has an inner surface that defines an interface region, a portion of which defines a local maximum radius from a central optical axis of the posterior lens, and
wherein the circumferential rim is in jointed connection with the interface region of the inner surface.
17 - 20 . (canceled)
21 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the third longitudinal site is at an end-most site of the lever.
22 - 25 . (canceled)
26 . 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.
27 - 109 . (canceled)
110 . Apparatus comprising an accommodating intraocular lens implant, which has a radially-outer perimeter and comprises:
an anterior floating lens unit, which comprises an anterior lens;
a posterior lens unit, which comprises a posterior lens;
an anterior rim complex; and
a plurality of levers, which (a) are in jointed connection with (i) the anterior floating lens unit at respective first longitudinal sites along the levers, (ii) the anterior rim complex at respective second longitudinal sites along the levers, and (iii) the posterior lens unit at respective third longitudinal sites along the levers, and (b) are arranged to move the anterior floating lens unit toward and away from the anterior rim complex, in an anterior-posterior direction,
wherein for each of the levers:
(a) a line defined by the second longitudinal site of the lever and the third longitudinal site of the lever, if projected onto a plane defined by the radially-outer perimeter of the lens implant, and (b) a line tangential to the radially-outer perimeter of the lens implant at a circumferential site of the perimeter circumferentially corresponding to the third longitudinal site of the lever, form an angle of between 75 and 105 degrees, and
the second longitudinal site is longitudinally between the first and the third longitudinal sites along the lever, such that the third longitudinal site serves as a fulcrum for the lever.
111 . The apparatus according to claim 110 , wherein the angle is between 85 and 95 degrees.
112 . (canceled)
113 . The apparatus according to claim 110 , wherein the radially-outer perimeter of the lens implant is defined by the posterior lens unit.
114 - 115 . (canceled)
116 . The apparatus according to claim 110 , wherein the third longitudinal sites are at respective end-most sites of the respective levers.
117 . The apparatus according to claim 110 , wherein the plurality of levers comprises at least six levers.
118 . (canceled)
119 . The apparatus according to claim 110 , wherein the second longitudinal sites are disposed radially inward from the third longitudinal sites, respectively.
120 - 122 . (canceled)
123 . The apparatus according to claim 110 ,
wherein the lens implant comprises an anterior component, which comprises the anterior floating lens unit, the anterior rim complex, and the levers,
wherein the posterior lens unit and the anterior component are distinct from each other and not permanently fixed to each other, and which are shaped so as to be assemblable together in situ in a human eye, and
wherein when the posterior lens unit and the anterior component are assembled together, the posterior lens unit and the anterior component contact each other at one or more interfaces.
124 . The apparatus according to claim 123 , wherein when the posterior lens unit and the anterior component are assembled together, the levers are pivotable about the one or more interfaces.
125 . The apparatus according to claim 110 ,
wherein the lens implant further comprises a circumferential rim, to which the levers are fixed at respective, different circumferential locations around the rim, and
wherein the levers are in jointed connection with the posterior lens unit at the circumferential rim.
126 - 155 . (canceled)
156 . 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; and
six levers, each of which is in jointed connection with the anterior floating lens unit, the anterior rim complex, and the posterior lens unit, wherein the levers are arranged to move the anterior floating lens unit toward and away from the anterior rim complex, in an anterior-posterior direction.
157 . The apparatus according to claim 156 , wherein the lens implant comprises more than six of the levers.
158 - 240 . (canceled)