CORNEAL IMPLANT

Abstract

The present invention relates to corneal implant, particularly the implant is useful for a corneal transplant, the implant avoids the direct contact between the patient tissue and a donated cornea.

Claims

1. An implant comprising: a planar element in the centre of the implant, a ring in a superior plane parallel to the planar element, and a radial connecting element between the planar element and the ring.

2. The implant according to claim 1 wherein the planar element is a disc.

3. The implant according to claim 2 wherein the diameter of the ring is greater than the diameter of the disc.

4. The implant according to claim 1 wherein diameter of the ring is comprised between 7.5 mm and 9.0 mm.

5. The implant according to claim 2 wherein the diameter of the ring is comprised between 8.0 mm and 8.5 mm.

6. The implant according to claim 1 wherein the radial connecting element is at least a rib interconnecting the planar element and the ring in the superior plane.

7. The implant according to claim 6 wherein the at least a rib are four ribs separated to one another in azimuthal direction by an angle of 90°.

8. The implant according to claim 2 wherein the radial connecting element is at least a rib interconnecting the planar element and the ring in the superior plane.

9. The implant according to claim 3 wherein the radial connecting element is at least a rib interconnecting the planar element and the ring in the superior plane.

10. The implant according to claim 4 wherein the radial connecting element is at least a rib interconnecting the planar element and the ring in the superior plane.

11. The implant according to claim 5 wherein the radial connecting element is at least a rib interconnecting the planar element and the ring in the superior plane.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the implant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] As mentioned above, an aspect of the present invention relates to an implant comprising:

[0030] a planar element in the centre of the implant, a ring in a superior plane parallel to the planar element, and a radial connecting element between the planar element and the ring.

[0031] The connecting element between the central planar element and the ring is situated in the radial direction, from the centre of the implant to the ring.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment the planar element is a disc.

[0033] The term disc means a flat, circular element.

[0034] In a particular embodiment the diameter of the ring is greater than the diameter of the disc.

[0035] In a particular embodiment the diameter of the ring is comprised between 7.5 mm and 9.0 mm. More particularly the diameter of the ring is comprised between 8.0 mm and 8.5 mm.

[0036] In a particular embodiment the connecting element is at least a rib interconnecting the planar element and the ring in the superior plane. More particularly the at least a rib are four ribs separated to one another in azimuthal direction by an angle of 90°.

[0037] Particularly the implant is made of poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA).

[0038] The poly (methyl methacrylate) is a hard rigid, glassy but brittle material. Also it is an inert material usually used in intraocular lenses and hard contact lenses. PMMA has also been used in intraocular implants and as intrastromal corneal rings due to its mechanical and optical properties.

[0039] The FIG. 1 shows a perspective of the implant. In this particularly embodiment the implant shows a central disc (1) in the centre of the implant, a ring (2) in a superior parallel plane and four ribs (3) connecting the two elements, disc (1) and ring (2).