COSMETIC CORNEAL INLAY AND IMPLANTATION METHOD THEREOF

Abstract

Disclosed is an intrastromal insert, already preformed, of solid, transparent, impermeable, biocompatible, physiologically inert and chemically resistant material, with notches allowing the passage of metabolites, substances, cells or portions thereof, and drugs, configured to receive printing, which is adapted in the space of the corneal stroma to change the eye color and/or to solve the problem of insufficient pigmentation of the iris. The method and the related component to change, permanently and reversibly, the eye color for aesthetic purposes are described as well.

Claims

1. An intrastromal corneal insert (2) constituted by a film of solid, transparent, impermeable, biocompatible, physiologically inert and chemically resistant material, having thickness between 4.5 and 50 μm, designed to receive printing, wherein the intrastromal corneal insert has a shape of an annulus of variable dimensions as a function of the dimensions of the cornea and of the pupillometry detected in mesopic conditions in the subject who has to receive the insert, and being the profile of the central hole, or inner perimeter, of the annulus a multilobed line, wherein each lobe has the shape of an arc of circumference and the lobes are two by two symmetric and opposing, and the annulus having four holes (14) respectively positioned at 2, 4, 8, and 10 o'clock, having a plurality of chromatic patterns thereon reproducing the chromatic pattern of the iris or of any other pattern according to the receiver's aesthetic taste.

2. The intrastromal corneal insert (2) according to claim 1, wherein the inner radius of the annulus ranges between 1.75 mm and 2.50 mm, with discrete variations of 0.25 mm, and the total outer radius ranges between 5 mm and 5.75 mm with discrete variations of 0.25 mm.

3. The intrastromal corneal insert (2) according to claim 1, wherein the annulus has microholes (10), notches (12), incisions, or discontinuities.

4. The intrastromal corneal insert according to claim 1, wherein the annulus has at any point of its outer perimeter (8) a cut (4) extending in a radial direction across the width of the annulus itself to the inner perimeter (6).

5. The intrastromal corneal insert according to claim 1, having in the annulus a minus (36) of material corresponding to a circular segment such as to leave, perpendicularly to the circular segment, a residual radial width of the annulus of 2.25 mm, configurated to be applied in the course of LASIK refractive surgery.

6. The intrastromal corneal insert (2) according to claim 1, wherein the material is polyvinylidene fluoride.

7. The intrastromal corneal insert according to claim 1, wherein the chromatic pattern is obtained by the deposition of UV-resistant, hydrophobic, and non-toxic pigments via inkjet technology using non-toxic, water repellent, UV resistant inks in the order of picolitres.

8. An insert-holder device (21) designed to hold the intrastromal corneal insert of claim 1 and to position said insert in the pocket created by femtosecond laser technology in the corneal stroma, wherein the insert-holder device has the shape of a slotted plate (24) having slots (28, 30 and 32) of variable dimensions according to the dimensions of said insert increased by 0.5 mm, provided with a handle (26) with antislip finish.

9. The insert-holder device according to claim 8, wherein the handle (26) has a length between 8 and 16 cm, and between the top surface (24a) of the plate and the axis of the handle (26) an angle is formed between 120° and 160°, said plate being provided in its bottom face (24b) with four pins (27) designed to engage the corneal insert via the four holes (14) positioned respectively at 2, 4, 8 and 10 o'clock.

10. The insert-holder device according to claim 8, wherein the plate (24) has three slots with the same orientation, being the central one (28) 5 mm wide and the two lateral ones (30 and 28) 1.5 mm wide.

11. A kit for the application of an intrastromal corneal insert, the kit comprising: a) an intrastromal corneal insert constituted by a film of solid, transparent, impermeable, biocompatible, physiologically inert and chemically resistant material, having thickness between 4.5 and 50 μm, designed to receive printing, having shape of an annulus of variable dimensions as a function of the dimensions of the cornea and of the pupillometry detected in mesopic conditions in the subject who has to receive the insert, and being the profile of the central hole, or inner perimeter, of the annulus a multilobed line, wherein each lobe has the shape of an arc of circumference and the lobes are two by two symmetric and opposing, and the annulus having four holes (14) respectively positioned at 2, 4, 8, and 10 o'clock, having a plurality of chromatic patterns thereon reproducing the chromatic pattern of the iris or of any other pattern according to the receiver's aesthetic taste, wherein the annulus has at any point of its outer perimeter (8) a cut (4) extending in a radial direction across the width of the annulus itself to the inner perimeter (6); b) an insert-holder device of claim 8; and c) a pair of tweezers.

12. A kit for the application of an intrastromal corneal insert, comprising: a) an intrastromal corneal insert constituted by a film of solid, transparent, impermeable, biocompatible, physiologically inert and chemically resistant material, having thickness between 4.5 and 50 μm, designed to receive printing, having shape of an annulus of variable dimensions as a function of the dimensions of the cornea and of the pupillometry detected in mesopic conditions in the subject who has to receive the insert, and being the profile of the central hole, or inner perimeter, of the annulus a multilobed line, wherein each lobe has the shape of an arc of circumference and the lobes are two by two symmetric and opposing, and the annulus having four holes (14) respectively positioned at 2, 4, 8, and 10 o'clock, having a plurality of chromatic patterns thereon reproducing the chromatic pattern of the iris or of any other pattern according to the receiver's aesthetic taste wherein the shape of an annulus has a minus (36) of material corresponding to a circular segment such as to leave, perpendicularly to the circular segment, a residual radial width of the annulus of 2.25 mm; b) an insert-holder device of claim 8; and c) a pair of tweezers.

13. The kit for the application of the intrastromal corneal insert according to claim 11, wherein the insert is pre-mounted on the insert-holder device (21).

14. A method for modifying the color of the eyes in a permanent and reversible manner comprising the steps of: 1) irradiation of the cornea with femtosecond laser; 2) loading the intrastromal corneal insert of claim 1 on an insert-holder device (21) designed to hold the intrastromal corneal insert and to position said insert in the pocket created by femtosecond laser technology in the corneal stroma, wherein the insert-holder device has the shape of a slotted plate (24) having slots (28, 30 and 32) of variable dimensions according to the dimensions of said insert increased by 0.5 mm, provided with a handle (26) with antislip finish; 3) lifting the edges of the cap corneal; 4) positioning of said intrastromal corneal insert in the pocket created in the corneal stroma; 5) detachment of said intrastromal corneal insert from the plate of the said insert-holder device; 6) handling of said insert to facilitate the proper positioning of the insert to match the surface of the corneal stroma; 7) juxtaposition of the free ends of said corneal insert; 8) juxtaposition of corneal flaps of the corneal cap to match the top surface of intrastromal corneal insert.

15. The intrastromal corneal insert (2) according to claim 2, wherein the annulus has microholes (10), notches (12), incisions, or discontinuities.

16. The intrastromal corneal insert according to claim 2, wherein the annulus has at any point of its outer perimeter (8) a cut (4) extending in a radial direction across the width of the annulus itself to the inner perimeter (6).

17. The intrastromal corneal insert according to claim 3, wherein the annulus has at any point of its outer perimeter (8) a cut (4) extending in a radial direction across the width of the annulus itself to the inner perimeter (6).

18. The intrastromal corneal insert according to claim 2, having in the annulus a minus (36) of material corresponding to a circular segment such as to leave, perpendicularly to the circular segment, a residual radial width of the annulus of 2.25 mm, configurated to be applied in the course of LASIK refractive surgery.

19. The intrastromal corneal insert according to claim 3, having in the annulus a minus (36) of material corresponding to a circular segment such as to leave, perpendicularly to the circular segment, a residual radial width of the annulus of 2.25 mm, configurated to be applied in the course of LASIK refractive surgery.

20. The intrastromal corneal insert (2) according to claim 2, wherein the material is polyvinylidene fluoride.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] FIG. 1 shows the corneal insert according to a first embodiment;

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a detailed portion of the corneal insert of FIG. 1, on a larger scale, which highlights its structure, with micro holes, notches and incisions;

[0028] FIG. 3 shows, overhead view, the laser irradiation area (dotted) of the cornea of the eye;

[0029] FIG. 4 shows, in cross section, the same pattern of laser irradiation of the cornea of the eye of FIG. 3;

[0030] FIG. 5 shows the cross section of the eye with the flap of the corneal cap raised as a result of the cutting performed by femtolaser irradiation;

[0031] FIGS. 6a, 6b and 6c in perspective views respectively from above, laterally and from below, the insert holder used to position the insert in the corneal stroma, below the annulus cutting in the corneal tissue created by the femtolaser technique of FIG. 5;

[0032] FIG. 7 shows in perspective view from below the insert-holder allowing to load the insert in the conformation with open cutting ends;

[0033] FIGS. 8 and 9 show the approaching step of the insert holder to the eye and the use of a thin claws tweezers to lift the corneal cutting flap;

[0034] FIG. 10 shows the positioning step of the insert with open cutting ends open underneath the corneal cutting flap by the insert holder and the fixing thereof in the thin claws tweezers of FIG. 9, inserted into the two slots formed in the plate of the insert holder;

[0035] FIG. 11 shows the insert holder while is extracted from the corneal annulus cutting site after downloading and positioning the insert;

[0036] FIGS. 12a and 12b show the step wherein the free ends of the insert are arranged around the foramen pupillary are brought closer each other by means of the tweezers of FIG. 9;

[0037] FIG. 13 shows in perspective view a variant of the insert without radial cut and with a rectilinear portion of the outer perimeter configurated to be applied during LASIK refractive surgery;

[0038] FIG. 14 shows the cross section of the eye with the flap of the corneal cap raised, ready for the insertion of the insert of FIG. 13, with the lateral portion of the cornea left intact by the standard LASIK procedure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the insert is obtained from a preformed film of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), or of any physiologically inert film of material providing similar biocompatible, mechanical, thermal and electrical characteristics, combined with an excellent chemical resistance.

[0040] Polyvinylidene fluoride is already widely used in ophthalmic and in other medical fields exactly for its technical features. Furthermore, should be noted that the choice of the material used in ocular implants is quite limited. PVDF allows to produce a physiologically inert biocompatible film, up to the thickness compatible for ocular implants.

[0041] In particular, PVDF presents the following chemical-physical characteristics: [0042] High maximum use temperature in air (150° C. continuous); [0043] Good mechanical strength, creep resistance and stiffness; [0044] Excellent chemical and hydrolysis resistance; [0045] High impact resistance even at low temperatures; [0046] Good ability of electrical insulation; [0047] Good wear resistance and good sliding properties; [0048] Good dimensional stability; [0049] High resistance to UV rays; [0050] Low intrinsic flammability; [0051] Melting temperature at 175° C.;

[0052] The natural fluoropolyvinyldene color is white or transparent; it can be made of thin sheets having thickness in the order of microns, and can receive any type of printing.

[0053] In the ophthalmic industry fluoropolyvinyldene has already been used for the realization of corneal inserts for refractive purposes for the correction of presbyopia. It has already been implanted in hundreds of patients and in that specific use it has got the CE mark, while it is in the process of FDA approval.

[0054] According to the invention the film used to produce the insert has a thickness between 4.5 and 50 microns; this features guarantees the non-interference of the material with the corneal refractive ability. The realization of annulus shape insert, does not involve the exercise of any force on the central optical portion of cornea in front of pupil, left intact, therefore, with no effect changing the refractive properties of this latter portion of the cornea. In addition, the uniform thickness in all its portions of the manufactured constituting the insert, of, varies between 4.5 microns and 50 microns. Such thickness allows the rapprochement of the outer margin of the annulus with the outer portion of the cornea left intact by the procedure.

[0055] According to the invention the film can receive many colors given by non-toxic pigments deposition that reproduce the color pattern of the iris in the widest range of possible colors and fashions, from the most similar to the natural irises to more imaginative from the aesthetic point of view. Such color pattern is obtained by inkjet technology using non-toxic, water-repellent, UV-resistant inks in the order of picoliters.

[0056] As can be seen in FIG. 1, the PDVD film sheet, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, is cut in order to obtain an annulus 2, pigmented, which, at any point of its outer perimeter 8, presents a cut 4, extending in a radial direction, across the width of the annulus, to the inner perimeter 6. The dimensions of the annulus 2 are variable depending on the size of the cornea to be treated and the pupillometry detected in the subject in mesopic conditions. The inner radius can vary between 1.75 mm and 2.50 mm, with discrete variations of 0.25 mm. The overall outer radius which may vary between 5 mm and 5.75 mm, with discrete variations of 0.25 mm.

[0057] According to a peculiar feature of the invention, as shown in FIG. 2, the profile of the central bore, or inner perimeter 6 of the annulus 2 is a multilobed line, wherein each lobe 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d, has the form of an arc of a circumference and wherein the lobes are two by two, symmetric and opposing. Such conformation, together with the radial cut 4 of the annulus 2, facilitates the adaptation of the surface of the insert to the surface of the corneal cap realized by the laser technology. In fact, the arc of circumference, allows to distribute the forces that may originate during the operation of insertion constituting an anti-tear system.

[0058] The invention allows to provide corneal implants in several models with different color and printing pattern.

[0059] Approaching the two free ends resulting from the radial cut 4, the annulus 2 assumes a three-dimensional structure so as to have a curvature adapted to that of the cornea and thus marrying the corneal surface.

[0060] This particular shape also allows the positioning of the insert below the corneal cap created by laser technique, such as to circumvent, bilaterally, the central portion of the cornea left intact, as will be described below.

[0061] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the annulus shaped insert (2), presents microholes (10), notches (12) and engravings or discontinuities allowing flat surface of the insert to adapt to the curved surface of the corneal cap realized with the laser in the corneal stroma without forming folds. Furthermore, the annulus (2) has four holes (14) that, having as reference the position of the cut 4 at 12 o'clock position, are respectively positioned at hours 2, 4, 8 and 10. The presence of micro-holes (10) and the notches (12), allows the passage of substances, gases, cells, or portions thereof, between the two portions of the corneal stroma separated from the insert itself.

[0062] According to the invention, the insert of biocompatible material, waterproof, suitably colored, carved and cut, is inserted underneath the flaps of corneal tissue created by the cutting suitably realized through the laser technique as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. The carving pattern contributes to confer aesthetic design reproducing the natural pattern of the iris characterized by numerous crypts, additionally variants of human irises can be reproduced on the insert according to the invention by the above described printing technique.

[0063] The corneal flap (38) according to the invention is formed by separation in the corneal tissue produced by the femtosecond laser technique. The femtosecond laser technique, also known as femtolaser, is able to separate the corneal stroma. The name of the technique derives from the time taken by the laser to create the spots on the cornea: one millionth of a billionth of a second to produce the incisions useful to create the corneal cutting and hence the flap through which the insert is positioned.

[0064] The cutting leaves intact a wide circular area of corneal tissue at the pupillary foramen with a variable radius between 1.75 and 2.25 mm from the center of the cornea (FIG. 3) extending to the corneal limbus where the cutting becomes more superficial. The cutting produced in the corneal stroma wherein the annulus insert will be positioned has an annulus shape as well. The cutting extends over the entire circumference of the cornea and presents a zone of continuity in the central corneal portion (33), left intact by the laser treatment (FIG. 4). Therefore, it is evident that the present invention differs from the prior art solutions, namely that of patent application US 2012/0245683 and US 2012/0143325, wherein the corneal inlays are configured to form a central opening, within the optical path of the eye, to compensate for inadequate optical performance of the eye. Such central aperture of the corneal inlay can have many different shapes (hexagon, octagon, oval star, etc . . . ) and many positions (centered, off-centered, etc . . . ) to provide different effect to improve the patient's vision. Adversely, in the present ocular device the optical path is not affected, in accordance with the aim of the invention addressed to change the aesthetic aspect of the iris.

[0065] According to the invention, in the corneal stroma a sort of pocket with free outer margin, carried out between 100 and 200 microns from the outer border, or from the inner border, or in the portions of the stroma less rich in keratocytes, so as to minimize the cellular irritating processes responsible for a possible blurring (FIG. 5). The cutting creates a kind of corneal cap with free margins at the external perimeter and continuous with the corneal stroma in the central part thereof.

[0066] The achievement of the annulus cutting by means of femtosecond laser is computer assisted with a specifically dedicated software, that is not within the scope of the invention.

[0067] In particular, the technical features of the insert thickness variable between 4.5 and 50 microns, and of the way to produce the annulus cutting are such as to give no effects on the ability of the refractive corneal portion left intact at the pupillary foramen.

[0068] Another typical feature characteristic of the method according to the invention consists in the specific positioning mode of the insert in the corneal stroma underneath the flaps of the cutting. This procedure is assisted by the use of a specific tool (21), or device, allowing the positioning of the insert in the pocket created by femtosecond laser technology in the corneal stroma.

[0069] Such a device, or insert holder (21), as shown in FIGS. 6a, 6b and 6c, has the form of a slotted plate (24) with a handle (26). The plate (24) of the device (21) for the application of the insert (2) has variable size in accordance with the various models and sizes of the insert to be applied, as described above, with radius increased by 0.5 mm radius. The handle (26) of the device, with non-slip finishing, has a length between 8 and 16 cm. The upper surface of the plate (24a) and the axis of the handle (26) form an angle variable between 120 and 160 degrees. The upper and lower faces of the plate are smooth, the upper surface (24a) is convex, while the lower surface (24b) is concave. In its lower face (24b) the plate is provided with four pins (27) wherein the coloured corneal insert can be engaged through the four holes (14) as described above.

[0070] In a preferred embodiment, (FIGS. 6a, 6b and 6c), the plate has three slots with the same orientation, a central one (28) 5 mm width of and two side slots (30 and 32), both 1.5 mm width.

[0071] In FIGS. 10 and 11 is illustrated the procedure for inserting the inlay (2). The central slot (28) of the insert holder (24) allows the insertion of the corneal insert, or inlay, under the corneal flap with the two free ends of the annulus (insert) (2) surrounding the area of continuity of the central cornea in correspondence of the pupil. The two side slots (30 and 32) serve to facilitate the detachment of the insert (2) from the plate (24a) when the insert (2), and the two ends thereof, are in their final position underneath the corneal cap (FIG. 10).

[0072] The detachment of the insert (2) from the plate (24a) is facilitated through the use of thin tip tweezers 34, bent, non-traumatic, whose tips can be inserted into the two side slots of the plate carrying the insert (FIG. 11). The tweezers allows to manipulate the insert (2) in the pocket for the correct positioning of the same in the stroma up the juxtaposing the two free ends of the annulus (FIG. 12b).

[0073] In another embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14 the insert of biocompatible material, waterproof, suitably colored, carved and cut has an annulus shape, as described, with no radial cut. According to this latter embodiment the inlay of the invention can be applied during LASIK refractive surgery. In this embodiment, the insert presents a minus of material (36) forming in the annulus a circular segment such as to leave, perpendicularly to the circular segment, a 2.25 mm residual radial width. The annulus so configured is mm is suitable to be applied with the circular segment in correspondence of the portion of the cornea left intact by the standards LASIK procedure.

[0074] The method for changing the color of the eye for aesthetic purposes, according to the invention, allows to obtain a permanent result, but also provides the ability to restore in the subject the original situation, or to further change color, performing a simple procedure described below.

[0075] The method can be performed in an outpatient surgical eye clinic procedure and/or in day hospital; it is not particularly invasive, it does not present undue risk of side effects and it is not harmful for the eye health and the vision.

[0076] However, as it is a surgical intervention, a careful preliminary analysis phase of the subject is required, and a thorough checkup of the eye in order to measure and determine the eye pressure and a careful study of the conditions of the retina is mandatory.

[0077] In the light of the description provided the method allowing to change the eye color in a permanent and reversible manner according to the invention comprises: [0078] 1) irradiation of the cornea with the femtosecond laser (FIGS. 2 and 3); [0079] 2) preparation of the insert pre-loaded on the plate of the insert holder; [0080] 3) lifting the edges of the corneal flap; [0081] 4) positioning of the insert in the corneal stroma; [0082] 5) detachment of the insert from the plate of the insert holder; [0083] 6) handling of the insert to facilitate the proper positioning of the insert to marry the surface of the corneal stroma; [0084] 7) juxtaposition of the free ends of the corneal insert; [0085] 8) juxtaposition of corneal flaps to marry the top surface of the insert.

[0086] Both the implant and explants intervention are made under local anesthesia with instillation of anesthetic eye drops.

[0087] Due to the characteristics of the insert, of the insertion procedure itself, and of the application kit thereof the insertion technique is relatively simple and the procedure is easily tolerable to the subject that has to receive the insert. The choice of a solid material, also waterproof, makes easier the reversibility of the procedure allowing the patient to return to its original iris color or to further change it by the insertion of another insert. In particular, with regard to the reversibility of the procedure it is evident the advantage deriving from the use of a solid insert such as in the case of the invention compared to methods of the state of the art. In fact, in the case of use of pigmented hydrogel, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,722,669, to restore the state of transparency of the cornea there is the need to aspirate the layer of pigmented gelatinous mass from the tunnel wherein it was placed. This involves the use of needle-cannulas, connected to vacuum or irrigation-aspiration systems, which through various incisions have to enter the route of the tunnel with the consequent invasiveness on the corneal tissues. By using a solid insert according to the present invention, instead, it is sufficient to find the cleavage plane of the outer edge of the corneal cap, by a surgical spatula and remove the insert with tweezers, with no stress for the tissues, and even with the possibility to replace the insert with another one with different chromatic features. Therefore, the advantage concerning the reversibility of the insert and of the method according to the invention is quite evident.

[0088] The invention also provides a kit for the application of the insert comprising the described corneal insert of the appropriate size based on the size of the pupil of the subject, determined by the physician performing the implantation, with the chromatic pattern selected in a wide range of options such as to meet the aesthetic taste of the subject.

[0089] Each insert is pre-assembled on the insert holder according to the invention, as described above, that makes possible the positioning of the insert in the corneal pocket. Optionally, the kit also includes a tweezer to the correct and final positioning of the insert in the final seat in the corneal stroma. All elements of the kit are sterilized according to normal procedures known to the experts of the field.