IP Library Granted Patent US 11,324,590
Granted Patent B2
US 11,324,590 · App. 16/711,981 · Granted May 10, 2022

Collapsing push injector with hydraulic damping

Inventors: Yinghui Wu (Cedar Hill, TX); Len Takudzwa Magara (Ithica, NY); Sudarshan B. Singh (Euless, TX); Douglas Brent Wensrich (Bedford, TX); Todd Taber (Keller, TX)
Assignee: Alcon Inc.
A61F2/1672A61F2/167A61F2/1667A61F2/484A61F2002/1683A61F2002/16905A61F2230/0069
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,324,590
App. No.
16/711,981
Granted
May 10, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices for inserting an intraocular lens (IOL) assembly into an eye may be provided. A device for delivery of the IOL into the eye may include a housing; a nozzle operatively coupled to the housing; a first cylinder movably disposed within the housing; a second cylinder movably disposed within the housing, wherein the second cylinder is in fluid communication with the first cylinder; a plunger at least partially and movably disposed within the first cylinder; and a shaft movably disposed within the second cylinder, wherein the shaft is configured to move toward the lens component.

Claims (66)

1. An apparatus for delivery of a lens component into an eye, comprising:

a housing;

a nozzle operatively coupled to the housing;

a first cylinder movably disposed within the housing;

a second cylinder movably disposed within the housing, wherein the second cylinder is in fluid communication with the first cylinder;

a plunger at least partially and movably disposed within the first cylinder;

a shaft movably disposed within the second cylinder, wherein the shaft is configured to move toward the lens component;

a locking mechanism for the plunger, the locking mechanism including a tab, the locking mechanism configured such that:

the tab protrudes into a groove of the plunger to prevent axial movement of the plunger relative to the housing when the plunger is in a locked position;

the tab is disengaged from the groove when the plunger is rotated, to unlock the plunger, to allow axial movement of the plunger relative to the housing, and

further wherein the locking mechanism is configured to produce an audible sound output when the tab is disengaged from the groove to alert a user when plunger is unlocked.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first cylinder comprises a hydraulic fluid.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the tab extends from the housing.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the second cylinder is positioned downstream to the first cylinder.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a plunger assembly movably disposed within the housing, the plunger assembly comprising:

the first cylinder;

the second cylinder;

the plunger; and

the shaft,

wherein the plunger assembly is configured to move axially, in a downstream direction.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a second tab abutting a member extending from the plunger assembly, wherein the second tab is configured to disengage from the member to allow axial movement of the plunger assembly.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein a bay is positioned between the nozzle and the second cylinder, wherein the bay is configured to receive a portion of the shaft.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the bay includes a folding chamber including contours configured to fold or roll the lens component.

9. An apparatus for delivery of a lens component into an eye, comprising:

a housing comprising a threaded passage;

a nozzle operatively coupled to the housing;

a threaded sleeve disposed concentrically within the threaded passage; and

a plunger assembly coupled to the threaded sleeve, the plunger assembly comprising:

a first cylinder;

a second cylinder, wherein the second cylinder is in fluid communication with the first cylinder;

a plunger at least partially disposed within the first cylinder; and

a shaft movably disposed within the second cylinder, wherein the shaft is configured to move toward the lens component

and further comprising:

a locking mechanism for the plunger, the locking mechanism including a tab,

the locking mechanism configured such that:

the tab protrudes into a groove of the plunger to prevent axial movement of the plunger relative to the housing when the plunger is in a locked position;

the tab is disengaged from the groove when the plunger is rotated, to unlock the plunger, to allow axial movement of the plunger relative to the housing, and

further wherein the locking mechanism is configured to produce an audible sound output when the tab is disengaged from the groove to alert a user when the plunger is unlocked.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the plunger comprises a groove configured to disengage from a tab upon rotation of the plunger to allow axial movement of the plunger, wherein the tab extends from the housing.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising a second tab abutting a member extending from the plunger assembly, wherein the second tab is configured to disengage from the member to allow axial movement of the plunger assembly.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the plunger comprises a cap configured to rotate the plunger assembly.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the lens component comprises a base portion of a modular intraocular lens or a lens portion of the modular intraocular lens.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a bay positioned between the nozzle and the second cylinder.

15. A method for delivery of a lens component into an eye, comprising:

providing an insertion tool, wherein the insertion tool comprises:

a housing;

a first cylinder movably disposed within the housing, wherein the first cylinder comprises a hydraulic fluid;

a second cylinder movably disposed within the housing, wherein the second cylinder is in fluid communication with the first cylinder;

a plunger at least partially disposed within the first cylinder; and

a shaft movably disposed within the second cylinder, wherein the shaft is configured to move towards the lens component; and

actuating the plunger to move the hydraulic fluid from the first cylinder into the second cylinder to axially move the shaft to drive the lens component in the nozzle,

wherein the plunger further comprises:

a locking mechanism for the plunger, the locking mechanism including a tab,

the locking mechanism configured such that:

the tab protrudes into a groove of the plunger to prevent axial movement of the plunger relative to the housing when the plunger is in a locked position;

the tab is disengaged from the groove when the plunger is rotated, to unlock the plunger, to allow axial movement of the plunger relative to the housing, and

further wherein the locking mechanism is configured to produce an audible sound output when the tab is disengaged from the groove to alert a user when the plunger is unlocked.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the housing further comprises a threaded passage and a threaded sleeve disposed concentrically within the threaded passage.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the threaded sleeve is coupled to a plunger assembly, the plunger assembly comprising:

the first cylinder;

the second cylinder;

the plunger; and

the shaft.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the plunger comprises a cap configured to rotate the plunger assembly.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising rotating the threaded sleeve to move the plunger assembly along the threaded passage.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the lens component comprises a base portion of a modular intraocular lens or a lens portion of the modular intraocular lens.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 5, 2020
From: WU, YINGHUI; SINGH, SUDARSHAN B.; WENSRICH, DOUGLAS BRENT; TABER, TODD; MAGARA, LEN TAKUDZWA
To: ALCON RESEARCH, LLC
Reel/Frame 052031/0726 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 5, 2020
From: ALCON RESEARCH, LLC
To: ALCON INC.
Reel/Frame 052031/0791 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62782041 · Dec 19, 2018
Related Publication 20200197166A1 · Jun 25, 2020