Interior bag for a capsular bag and injector
View Patent ↗An interior bag for a capsular bag of an eye comprises a discriminatingly permeable interior bag that selectively reduces fluid flow volume through the interior bag. The interior bag is secured inside the capsular bag. A structure, adapted to hold a refractive device, is attached to the interior bag.
1. An apparatus to protect an eye, comprising:
an interior bag having a non-uniform thickness forming a contoured outer surface having protrusions configured to engage an inner surface of a capsular bag of an eye and having portions configured to avoid engagement with the inner surface of the capsular bag that allow a reduced fluid flow between the inner surface of the capsular bag and the contoured outer surface of the interior bag in a manner reducing a probability of posterior capsular opacification in the eye, said interior bag optionally further configured to contain a refractive device.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said interior bag is a thin, optically clear, biologically-compatible bag and said refractive device is an optical fluid or gel with an index of refraction optionally between about 1.43 and 1.46.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said interior bag is a thin, optically clear, biologically-compatible bag and said refractive device is an intraocular lens.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said interior bag is a thin, optically clear, biologically-compatible bag having at least one outer surface for engaging an interior surface of the capsular bag.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said non-uniform outer surface includes one or more projections configured to engage the inner surface of the capsular bag.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said non-uniform outer surface includes at least one of the following shapes: an edge, a crimp, a crest, a point, a rim, a corner.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the interior bag is semi-permeable to natural fluids and pharmaceutical agents.
8. An apparatus to support a capsular bag in an eye, comprising:
an interior bag, configured to occupy a substantial portion of a volume of a capsular bag in the eye, defining an undivided main chamber and at least one secondary chamber between which fluid flows during accommodation within the eye, said main chamber being adapted to receive an injectable refractive device,
wherein the undivided main chamber and the at least one secondary chamber are formed within the interior bag, and
wherein the interior bag provides a contoured outer surface configured to inhibit a free flow of aqueous humor through the capsular bag.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein said interior bag is a thin, optically clear, biologically-compatible bag and said refractive device is an optical fluid or gel with an index of refraction optionally between about 1.43 and 1.46.
10. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein said refractive device is an intraocular lens disposed within said interior bag.
11. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein said interior bag has at least one outer surface for engagement against an interior surface of the capsular bag.
12. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein said interior bag has a non-uniform outer surface having portions configured to engage an inner surface of the capsular bag and portions configured to allow a reduced fluid flow between the inner surface of the capsular bag and the non-uniform outer surface of the interior bag.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein said non-uniform outer surface may be include one of the following shapes: an edge, a crimp, a crest, a point, a rim, a corner.
14. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein said bag is a thin, optically clear, biologically-compatible bag that is impermeable to the passage of fluid.
15. The apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising a reservoir, wherein the reservoir is configured to store a pharmaceutical agent temporarily through a semi-permeable release or to store a refractive gel.
16. An apparatus for placement in a capsular bag of an eye, comprising:
an interior bag configured to occupy a substantial portion of a volume of a capsular bag in the eye, the interior bag having an exterior contour structurally biologically-compatible with the capsular bag of the eye, wherein the interior bag includes a contoured outer surface configured to inhibit a free flow of aqueous humor through the capsular bag;
the interior bag comprising an undivided main chamber and at least one annular chamber having a semi-permeable wall section configured to provide a time-released passage of a fluid to the undivided main chamber of the capsular bag,
wherein the undivided main chamber and the at least one annular chamber are formed within the interior bag.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the interior bag has a contour of one of the following shapes:
an edge, a crimp, a crest, a point, a rim, a corner.
18. The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein said interior bag is a thin, optically clear, biologically-compatible bag adapted to hold an optical fluid or gel with an index of refraction optionally between about 1.43 and 1.46.
19. The apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein said interior bag includes an undivided main chamber and a secondary chamber, said main chamber being in fluid flow communication with said secondary chamber.
20. The apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein said main and secondary chambers are in fluid flow communication through at least one orifice in a wall separating said chambers, said orifice(s) being sized to permit the interior bag to change shape to permit accommodation.
21. The apparatus according to claim 20 , wherein the rapidity with which the interior bag changes shape defines the focus of the refractive device.
22. The apparatus according to claim 20 , wherein the interior bag can rapidly flatten along the optical axis when the capsular bag exerts a pulling force due to contraction of zonules of zinn during unaccomodation that creates a positive pressure in the main chamber, thereby causing the optical fluid or gel to be expelled through the orifices into the secondary chambers.
23. The apparatus according to claim 20 , wherein the interior bag elongates along the optical axis when the capsular bag exerts a relaxing force on the interior bag that creates a negative pressure in the main chamber, thereby causing the optical fluid or gel to be drawn from the secondary chambers into the main chamber.
24. The apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein the secondary chambers are located off the optical axis of the interior bag to maintain a clear light path through the interior bag.
25. The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the fluid is a pharmaceutical agent.
26. An apparatus to protect a capsular bag in an eye, comprising:
an interior bag having a non-uniform thickness forming a contoured outer surface having protrusions configured to engage an inner surface of a capsular bag of an eye and having portions configured to avoid engagement with the inner surface of the capsular bag that allow a reduced fluid flow between the inner surface of the capsular bag and the contoured outer surface of the interior bag, and
defining an undivided main chamber and at least one secondary chamber between which fluid flows during accommodation within the eye, said main chamber being adapted to receive an injectable refractive device,
wherein the undivided main chamber and the at least one secondary chamber are formed within the interior bag.
27. The apparatus according to claim 26 , wherein said interior bag is a thin, optically clear, biologically-compatible bag and said refractive device is an optical fluid or gel with an index of refraction optionally between about 1.43 and 1.46.
28. The apparatus according to claim 26 , wherein said interior bag is a thin, optically clear, biologically-compatible bag and said refractive device is an intraocular lens.
29. The apparatus according to claim 26 , wherein said interior bag is a thin, optically clear, biologically-compatible bag having at least one outer surface for engaging an interior surface of the capsular bag.
30. The apparatus according to claim 26 , wherein said non-uniform outer surface includes one or more projections configured to engage the inner surface of the capsular bag.
31. The apparatus according to claim 30 , wherein said non-uniform outer surface may include one of the following shapes: an edge, a crimp, a crest, a point, a rim, a corner.