Abstract
The invention relates to an implant for implanting in and/or an eye using fixing means enabling improved fixing, in particular with respect to the natural variability of the anatomical conditions of the eye. According to the invention, the fixing means comprise at least one support element which can be mounted on a tissue structure in the direction traverse to the optical axis of the eye.
Claims
1. A method comprising: implanting in and/or on an eye an implant with a fixing apparatus, characterised in that the fixing apparatus comprises at least one support element which is mounted on a tissue structure in a direction transverse to an optical axis of the eye.
2. The method of claim 1, characterised in that the fixing apparatus has at least one deflecting element for deflecting the support element in a deflection plane, wherein the deflection plane is positioned in an implanted state perpendicular to the optical axis of the eye.
3. The method of claim 2, characterised in that the at least one deflecting element is able to recover its shape after deformation of the deflecting element, wherein the deflection is based on the shape recoverability.
4. The method of claim 3, characterised in that the shape recoverability is elastic.
5. The method of claim 3, characterised in that the shape recoverability is stimulated via a stimulus.
6. The method of claim 5, characterised in that the stimulus is a variation of temperature.
7. The method of claim 2, characterised in that the at least one deflecting element and/or the support element comprises a polymer.
8. The method of claim 2, characterised in that the at least one deflecting element and/or the support element comprises, at least in portions, of a material having shape memory properties.
9. The method of claim 2, characterised in that the at least one deflecting element in a direction perpendicular to the deflection plane has a shape which is rigid with respect to dents
10. The method of claim 2, characterised in that the at least one deflecting element and/or the support element are configured arcuate at least in portions.
11. The method of claim 2, characterised in that the deflecting element lies in at least one portion in an inclination plane, the inclination plane and the deflection plane being angled relative to one another.
12. The method of claim 2, characterised in that that the implant comprises a holding apparatus, wherein the holding apparatus is configured for holding at least one sensor and/or a telemetry unit in a mounting plane and are in operative connection with the at least one deflecting element.
13. The method of claim 12, characterised in that the holding apparatus and the support element is arranged spaced from each other with respect to the normal of the deflection plane.
14. The method of claim 12, characterised in that, in the implanted state, the holding apparatus is arranged in the direction transverse to the optical axis of the eye at a distance from the optical axis of the eye.
15. The method of claim 12, characterised in that the fixing apparatus is fastened to the holding apparatus by a releasable fastening.
16. The method of claim 12, characterised in that the holding apparatus is integrally formed with the sensor and/or the telemetry unit as a polymer casting.
17. The method of claim 1, characterised in that the support element has a segmented surface structure on a surface provided for contacting with the tissue structure.
18. The method of claim 17, characterised in that the segmented surface structure is tooth-shaped and/or undulating.
19. An implant comprising: a sensor for measuring intraocular pressure; a telemetry unit for transmitting the measured signal detected by the sensor; at least one support element, which is mounted on a tissue structure in a direction transverse to an optical axis of an eye; and at least one deflecting element for deflecting the support element in a deflection plane, the deflection plane being positioned in an implanted state perpendicular to the optical axis of the eye.
20. A method comprising: implanting in and/or on an eye an implant with a fixing apparatus, characterised in that the fixing apparatus comprises at least one support element which is mounted on a tissue structure in a direction transverse to an optical axis of the eye; deflecting the support element in a deflection plane with at least one deflecting element, wherein the deflection plane is positioned in an implanted state perpendicular to the optical axis of the eye; and holding at least one sensor and/or a telemetry unit in a mounting plane with a holding apparatus, wherein the at least one sensor and/or the telemetry unit are in operative connection with the deflecting element.
Description
[0028] The invention is described by way of example in the following in a preferred embodiment with reference to the drawings, wherein further advantageous details may be obtained from the drawings.
[0029] Functionally identical parts are provided with the same reference numerals.
[0030] In detail, in the drawings:
[0031] FIG. 1 is a plan view in the direction along the optical axis of an eye on an implant implanted in an eye implant according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;
[0032] FIG. 2 is a section of the implant according to FIG. 1 along the line II of FIG. 1;
[0033] FIG. 3 sis a perspective view of an implant according to the invention in a further preferred embodiment;
[0034] FIG. 4 is a plan view from above of the implant of FIG. 3;
[0035] FIG. 5 is a plan view from below of the implant of FIGS. 3 and 4;
[0036] FIG. 6 is a lateral view of the implant of FIGS. 3 to 5 in the direction of arrow VI of FIG. 4;
[0037] FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of three implants according to the invention in a further preferred embodiment;
[0038] FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of an implant according to the invention in a further preferred embodiment;
[0039] FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the implant according to FIG. 8 along the line IX according to FIG. 8;
[0040] FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view of an implant of the invention in a further preferred embodiment;
[0041] FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the implant of FIG. 10 along line XI of FIG. 10;
[0042] FIG. 12 is a schematic view from above of an implant of the invention in a further preferred embodiment;
[0043] FIG. 13 is a sectional view of implant of FIG. 12 along line XIII in FIG. 12;
[0044] FIG. 14 is a sectional view of an implant of the invention in a further preferred embodiment;
[0045] FIG. 15 is a sectional view of an implant of the invention in a further preferred embodiment;
[0046] FIG. 16 is a schematic plan view of an implant of the invention in a further preferred embodiment; and
[0047] FIG. 17 is a schematic plan view of an implant according to the invention in a further preferred embodiment.
[0048] FIG. 1 is, in the viewing direction along the optical axis 1 of an eye 2, a plan view of the eye 2 with an artificial lens 3 and an implanted implant 4 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The implant 4 consists of two bent compression springs 5 and a plate 6 which is integrally formed with the compression springs 5, which plate is connected via an adhesive connection with a sensor telemetry module (both not shown) for measuring the intraocular pressure and for transmitting data regarding the intraocular pressure to an external receiver.
[0049] It can be seen from FIG. 1 that the compression springs 5 press the implant 4 against a furrow bottom 7 of the ciliaris sulcus 68, so that the implant 4 is fixed transversely to the direction of the optical axis 1 via a bow portion 8 to the furrow bottom 7 via a biasing force of the compression springs 5. The plate 6 is arranged in the direction transverse to the optical axis 1 outside of the artificial lens 3 in order to avoid shading of the artificial lens 3 negatively influencing the eyesight. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the implant 4 from FIG. 1. With reference to FIG. 2, it is clear that the compression springs 5, in case of an elastic deformation in a plane 9, which is perpendicular to the optical axis 1, recover their shape such that the bow portion 8 of the compression springs 5 is pressed against the furrow bottom 7 of the ciliaris sulcus 68, whereby the implant 4 is fixed transversely to the direction of the optical axis 1.
[0050] FIGS. 3 to 6 are different representations of a further implant 10 according to the invention. Similarly to the implant 4 of FIGS. 1 and 2, the implant 10 according to FIGS. 3 to 6 is composed of two compression springs 11 and a plate 12 which is integrally formed with the compression springs 11. The plate 12 is connected via an adhesive connection (not shown) to a sensor telemetry module 13. Liquid adhesive has flowed into the holes of the plate 13 shown in FIG. 5, so that the sensor telemetry module 13 is additionally anchored to the plate 13 via the adhesive which subsequently hardens within the holes.
[0051] It is clear from the illustration of the implant 10 in FIGS. 3 and 6 that the compression springs 11 have an angled middle portion 14. As a result, bow portions 15 of the compression springs 11 resting on the furrow bottom of the ciliaris sulcus, not shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, are spatially separated from the plate 12 and thus from the sensor telemetry modules 13 along a direction 16 shown in FIG. 6. As a result of this spatial separation, due to the angled portion 14 of the compression springs 11 in the implanted state of the implant 10, it is ensured that the risk of a collision of the plate 12 and/or the sensor telemetry module 13 with the iris of an eye is minimised.
[0052] This is due to the fact that the implant 10 can be fixed, via the bow portions 15, due to the elastic shape recoverability of the compression springs 11, in such a way that the bow portions 15 are arranged nearer to the iris along the optical axis of the eye (cf. FIG. 2), than the plate 12 or the sensor telemetry module 13 of implant 10. Similarly, the implant 10 may also be fixed in the anterior chamber of the eye, due to the angled portion 14 in the iridocorneal chamber angle, so that also in this implantation, the risk of collision with the iris is minimised due to the fact that the plate 12 or the sensor telemetry module 13 is spaced further apart from the iris than the bow portions 15.
[0053] FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of three implants 17, 18 and 19 according to the invention, each in a further preferred embodiment. The implant 17 has, in addition to a plate 27, compression springs 20 and 26, the elastic shape recovery of which, according to the implant of FIGS. 1 and 2 and FIG. 3-6 causes a fixing of the implant 17 in the furrow bottom of the ciliaris sulcus. The mean radius of curvature of the compression spring 26 is greater than the mean radius of curvature of the compression spring 20; it is thereby possible that the plate 27 provided for a sensor telemetry module can be positioned as far as possible outside the optical axis in the implanted state. In an analogous manner, the implant 18 is composed, in addition to a plate 28, of a compression spring 21 and a compression spring 22, wherein the mean radius of curvature of the compression spring 21 is greater than the mean radius of curvature of the compression spring 22. Compared to the compression springs 20 and 26 of the implant 17, however, the difference between the radii of curvature of the compression springs 21 and 22 is lower. Thus, also in the implant 18 it is ensured that the plate 28 provided for a sensor telemetry module can be positioned as far as possible outside the optical axis in the implanted state. The implant 19, however, is composed, in addition to a plate 29, of three compression springs 23, 24 and 25. The compression springs 24 and 25 are arranged opposite to the compression spring 23. The radius of curvature of the compression spring 23 is greater than the radius of curvature of the compression springs 24 and 25. Thus, also in the implant 19 it is ensured that the plate 28 provided for a sensor telemetry module can be positioned as far as possible outside the optical axis in the implanted state.
[0054] FIG. 8 is a representation of an implant 30 in a further preferred embodiment according to the invention. The implant 30 consists of a perforated plate 31 and compression springs 32 having bow portions 33 provided for resting on the furrow bottom of the ciliaris sulcus and which may be deflected by an elastic shape recovery of the compression springs 32 in the direction of the ciliaris sulcus.
[0055] FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the implant 30 from FIG. 8. The sectional view of FIG. 9 shows that, in the case of the implant 30, a pressure sensor 34, together with an induction coil 35 which telemetrically transmits measurement data acquired by the pressure sensor to a receiver, is surrounded by a polymer matrix 36, so that the pressure sensor 34, the induction coil 35 and the plate 31 are provided as a one-piece component in the implant 30. The polymer matrix 36 could flow in the liquid state into the holes in the plate 31, whereby the pressure sensor 34 and the induction coil 35 are anchored to the plate 31 via the polymer matrix 36 in the holes in the plate 31. In this case, the polymer matrix 36 consists of silicone rubber.
[0056] FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view of a further implant 37 according to the invention. According to FIG. 10, the implant 37 consists of compression springs 39 shaped analogously to the implants from FIGS. 1 to 9 and a frame 38 which is open on one side and in which, according to the sectional view of FIG. 11, a pressure sensor 41 embedded in a polymer matrix 40 made of silicon rubber and including an induction coil 42 is supported. The polymer matrix 40 has therefore been introduced into the frame 38 on the open side of the frame 38. The implant 37 is thus modular, namely a module consisting of the compression springs 39 and the frame 38 and a module removable from the frame 38 consisting of the polymer matrix 40 made of silicone rubber comprising the pressure sensor 41 and the induction coil.
[0057] FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view of a further implant 43 according to the invention having a frame 44 which, in contrast to the frame 38 of the implant 37 according to FIGS. 10 and 11, is circumferentially closed. In the frame 44 of the implant 43, similar to the implant 37 from FIGS. 10 and 11, a polymer matrix 45 is mounted in which a pressure sensor 46 and an induction coil 47 are embedded. The sectional representation of the implant 43 from FIG. 13 shows that the polymer matrix 45 is mounted in a form-fitting manner in the frame 44 of the implant 43 by means of a groove (FIG. 13, above), or the frame 44 is completely embedded in the polymer matrix 42 (FIG. 13, centre), or the frame 44 is embedded in part in the polymer matrix 45 (FIG. 13, below) by placing a rail 47 of the frame outside the polymer matrix (FIG. 13, below).
[0058] FIG. 14 is a sectional view of an implant 48, in which a pressure sensor 49 and a planar coil 50 serving as a telemetry unit are embedded together with a holding frame 51 in a polymer matrix 52.
[0059] FIG. 15 is a sectional view of an implant 54 designed analogously to the implant 48 from FIG. 14, but in which a coil 53 is embedded in a polymer matrix 55.
[0060] FIG. 16 shows in plan view a schematic representation of an implant 56 according to the invention, in which a one-piece compression spring 57, which consists of a thread, is embedded on a portion 58 into a polymer matrix 59 together with a coil 60 and a pressure sensor 61. The implant 56 therefore has a particularly compact construction, which is thus advantageous for implanting.
[0061] The plan view in FIG. 17 of a schematically illustrated implant 62 shows that the implant 62 consists of plate 67 and two springs 63 and 64. The spring 63 has, in a bow portion 65, an undulating structure which as a result is suitable for resting on the ciliaris sulcus having membranous segmentations. By contrast, the spring 64 of the implant 62 has a tooth-shaped structure in a bow portion 66, which structure is particularly well suited for fixing the implant 62 for preventing it from rotating about an optical axis (not shown) of the eye.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0062] 1 optical axis [0063] 2 eye [0064] 3 lens [0065] 4 implant [0066] 5 compression spring [0067] 6 plate [0068] 7 furrows bottom [0069] 8 bow section [0070] 9 plane [0071] 10 implant [0072] 11 compression spring [0073] 12 plate [0074] 13 sensor telemetry module [0075] 14 middle portion [0076] 15 bow portion [0077] 16 direction [0078] 17-19 implant [0079] 20-26 compression spring [0080] 27-29 plate [0081] 30 implant [0082] 31 plate [0083] 32 compression springs [0084] 33 bow portion [0085] 34 pressure sensor [0086] 35 induction coil [0087] 36 polymer matrix [0088] 37 implant [0089] 38 frame [0090] 39 compression spring [0091] 40 polymer matrix [0092] 41 pressure sensor [0093] 42 induction coil [0094] 43 implant [0095] 44 frame [0096] 45 polymer matrix [0097] 46 pressure sensor [0098] 47 rail [0099] 48 implant [0100] 49 pressure sensor [0101] 50 planar coil [0102] 51 holding frame [0103] 52 polymer matrix [0104] 53 coil [0105] 54 implant [0106] 55 polymer matrix [0107] 56 implant [0108] 57 compression spring [0109] 58 portion [0110] 59 polymer matrix [0111] 60 coil [0112] 61 pressure sensor [0113] 62 implant [0114] 63-64 spring [0115] 65-66 bow portion [0116] 67 plate [0117] 68 ciliaris sulcus
