WO2012037550A1

WO2012037550A1 - Pupil ring

Info

Publication number: WO2012037550A1
Application number: PCT/US2011/052136
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fuxiang Zhang
Original assignee: Henry Ford Health System
Current assignee: Henry Ford Health System
Priority date: 2010-09-17
Filing date: 2011-09-19
Publication date: 2012-03-22
Anticipated expiration: 2013-03-17

Abstract

A pupil ring is provided for constraining and stabilizing pupil size of an enlarged pupil of an eye, the ring including a plurality of anchors spaced along the ring for engaging tissue at the pupil margin to constrain the pupil and maintain a desired size thereof. Each anchor may include a latch member and a latch receiver, wherein the latch member engages the tissue and the tissue is secured by engaging the latch member with the latch receiver.

Description

PUPIL RING

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional Application No. 61/383,816 filed September 17, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] Embodiments relate to a pupil ring for at least partially encircling the pupil and constraining and stabilizing its size.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Mydriasis is an excessive dilation of the pupil, typically due to trauma or disease, sometimes referred to as a "blown pupil". Normally, the pupil constricts in the light and dilates in the dark to allow an appropriate amount of light through the lens to the retina. In the case of a mydriatic pupil, the pupil size and shape are fixed, resulting in symptoms of glare, decreased vision, and cosmetic asymmetry of the pupil. Currently, some artificial pupil prostheses are available for the management of mydriasis, but there are restrictions for their use. One conventional surgical approach is suturing 360 degrees around the pupil rim to constrain its size, but the surgery is difficult and not many surgeons are capable of performing the procedure. Furthermore, due to the complexity of the surgery, iatrogenic damage to the eye can result.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a pupil ring according to one embodiment with its anchors in an open configuration;

[0005] FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of one anchor of the ring of FIG. 1 in an open configuration; [0006] FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of one anchor of the ring of FIG. 1 in a closed configuration;

[0007] FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the ring of FIG. 1 with its anchors in a closed configuration;

[0008] FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a pupil ring according to another embodiment with its anchors in an open configuration;

[0009] FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of one anchor of the ring of FIG. 5 in an open configuration;

[0010] FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of one anchor of the ring of FIG. 5 in a closed configuration;

[0011] FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the ring of FIG. 1 with its anchors in a closed configuration;

[0012] FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a pupil ring according to another embodiment with its anchors in an open configuration;

[0013] FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of one anchor of the ring of FIG. 9 in an open configuration;

[0014] FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of one anchor of the ring of FIG. 9 in a closed configuration;

[0015] FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of the ring of FIG. 9 with its anchors in a closed configuration;

[0016] FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of a pupil ring according to another embodiment; and

[0017] FIGURE 14 is a perspective view of a pupil ring according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

[0019] According to embodiments disclosed herein, a pupil ring is provided for at least partially encircling the pupil and constraining and stabilizing its size, such as for treating mydriasis. Pupil size may be constrained to generally match the size of the pupil in the other eye.

[0020] With reference to FIGS. 1-4, an embodiment of a pupil ring is depicted and indicated generally by reference numeral 10. The ring 10 includes a plurality of anchors 12 for attaching to and capturing tissue at the pupil margin to constrain the pupil and maintain a desired size thereof. In one embodiment, the anchors 12 may be spaced generally equidistantly around the circumference of the ring 10, so as to more equally distribute tension. As shown, the ring 10 generally lies in a plane, and the anchors 12 may extend outside of that plane. In the embodiments depicted herein, five anchors 12 are illustrated, but it is understood that any number of anchors 12 may be employed.

[0021] As best shown in FIGS. 2-3, the anchors 12 may include a latch member 14 and a latch receiver 16. FIG. 2 depicts an open configuration of the anchor 12, prior to tissue capture, wherein the latch member 14 is spaced from the latch receiver 16. FIG. 3 depicts a closed configuration of the anchor 12, wherein tissue is captured by engagement of the latch member 14 with the latch receiver 16. FIG. 1 illustrates all anchors 12 in the open configuration, while FIG. 4 illustrates all anchors 12 in the closed configuration.

[0022] With reference again to FIGS. 2 and 3, in this embodiment the latch member 14 may resemble a hook or the like, and the latch receiver 16 may resemble a loop or similar structure for receiving the hook. The latch member 14 may be used to pierce tissue at the pupil margin, and then the latch member 14 may be inserted at least partially through the latch receiver 16. When implanted, according to an aspect of the present invention, it may be desirable for the tip of the latch member 14 to face toward the cornea to avoid touching the lens, such that the orientation of the ring 10 may be inverted from that illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4. Once the latch member 14 is engaged with the latch receiver 16, a grommet 18 or similar member may be secured onto the tip of the latch member 14 to prevent withdrawal of the latch member 14 back through the latch receiver 16 to ensure sustained tissue capture.

[0023] FIGS. 5-8 illustrate another embodiment of a pupil ring 20, wherein the description above with respect to ring 10 may also be applicable to ring 20. In this embodiment, the anchors 22 include a latch member 24 resembling a convex loop portion and a latch receiver 24 resembling a concave loop portion which is sized to receive the latch member 24. FIGS. 5 and 6 show the anchors 22 in an open configuration, while FIGS. 7 and 8 show the anchors 22 in a closed configuration. In operation, the latch member 24 contacts tissue at the pupil margin in the open configuration and captures the tissue via engagement of the latch member 24 with the latch receiver 26 in the closed configuration, clamping the tissue therebetween.

[0024] FIGS. 9-12 illustrate another embodiment of a pupil ring 30, wherein the description above with respect to either ring 10 or 20 may also be applicable to ring 30. In this embodiment, ring 30 comprises separate first 32 and second rings 34, wherein the first and second rings 32, 34 may be coupled together (not shown). Each anchor 36 comprises a latch member 38, such as in the form of a convex loop portion, provided on the first ring 32, and a latch receiver 40, such as in the form of a loop, provided on the second ring 34. FIGS. 9 and 10 show the anchors 36 in an open configuration, while FIGS. 1 1 and 12 show the anchors 36 in a closed configuration. In operation, the latch member 38 contacts tissue at the pupil margin in the open configuration and captures the tissue via engagement of the latch member 40 at least partially within the latch receiver 40 in the closed configuration, clamping the tissue therebetween.

[0025] FIG. 13 illustrates another embodiment of a pupil ring 40, wherein the description above with respect to rings 10, 20, or 30 may also be applicable to ring 40. In this embodiment, the anchors 42 do not comprise a latch member and latch receiver, but rather the anchor 40 only includes a latch member 44, resembling a hook or the like. The latch member 44 may be used to pierce tissue at the pupil margin, wherein a shape of the hook may facilitate retention of the tissue on the latch member 44. For example, the latch member 44 may be generally U-shaped and lie in a plane generally parallel to the plane of the pupil ring 40. A grommet (not shown) or similar member may be secured onto the latch member 44 to ensure sustained tissue capture.

[0026] While embodiments of the pupil ring are shown herein as being generally circular in shape, rings having other shapes are also contemplated. Furthermore, as depicted in FIG. 14, a pupil ring 50 having an open loop configuration for at least partially encircling the pupil margin may be provided, wherein this configuration is applicable to any of the embodiments described herein. In addition, latch members and receivers can be interchanged between the different ring embodiments described herein. For example, latch member 38 may be provided in place of latch member 14 on ring 10. Of course, latch members and receivers having configurations other than those depicted herein are also contemplated in accordance with the present invention.

[0027] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the pupil ring may be constructed from a biocompatible material such as, but not limited to, silicone or PMMA. It is understood that other materials can also be used for construction of the ring, wherein the material should be thin and light, may be at least partially flexible or foldable, but should have sufficient rigidity to maintain the ring shape.

[0028] The pupil ring may be provided in a library of different sizes or customized for the desired size of a particular patient's pupil. For example, according to one non-limiting embodiment, the pupil ring may have a diameter of approximately 3-5 mm, with the anchors having a size of approximately 0.2 mm in width.

[0029] Delivery of the pupil ring to the eye can be accomplished in a manner similar to other intraocular lens delivery devices. A shooter or delivery injection system may be used to deliver the pupil ring through an incision into its desired location. According to one embodiment, the pupil ring may be delivered inside the anterior chamber, on top of the capsular bed and in the same plane as the iris. The anterior chamber may be filled with an ophthalmic viscoelastic device (OVD), such as PROVISC^® to protect the corneal endothelium cells. The surgeon can hold the pupil ring with forceps in one hand while inserting microforceps through a side port with the other hand to grab the enlarged pupil margin, then to pull the pupil margin tissue into engagement and capture by one of the anchors. The same process can be repeated multiple times to have all of the anchors engaged with the pupil margin.

[0030] According to one embodiment, implantation of the pupil ring may follow cataract removal. The surgeon may remove the cataract in a standard technique, followed by insertion of the pupil ring. In this case, the intra-ocular lens implant will already be in the capsular bag. A corneal or limbal incision created for the cataract surgery should be large enough for delivering the pupil ring without need for enlargement. At the end of the procedure, the OVD can be removed and the incision should not require any suturing for closure.

[0031] While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A pupil ring for constraining and stabilizing pupil size of an enlarged pupil of an eye, the ring including a plurality of anchors spaced along the ring for engaging tissue at the pupil margin to constrain the pupil and maintain a desired size thereof.

2. The pupil ring according to claim 1, wherein the anchors are spaced generally equidistantly around a circumference of the ring.

3. The pupil ring according to claim 1, wherein each anchor includes a latch member and a latch receiver, wherein the latch member engages the tissue and the tissue is secured by engaging the latch member with the latch receiver.

4. The pupil ring according to claim 3, wherein the latch member comprises a hook and the latch receiver comprises a loop.

5. The pupil ring according to claim 3, wherein the latch member comprises a convex loop portion and the latch receiver comprises a concave loop portion.

6. The pupil ring according to claim 3, wherein the ring comprises separate first and second rings.

7. The pupil ring according to claim 6, wherein the first and second rings are coupled together.

8. The pupil ring according to claim 6, wherein the latch member comprises a convex loop portion provided on the first ring, and the latch receiver comprises a loop provided on the second ring.

9. The pupil ring according to claim 3, wherein a grommet is secured to the latch member to prevent withdrawal of the latch member from the latch receiver.

10. The pupil ring according to claim 1, wherein the anchors are generally U-shaped and lie in a plane generally parallel to a plane of the pupil ring.

11. The pupil ring according to claim 1 , wherein the ring is generally circular in shape.

12. The pupil ring according to claim 1 , wherein the ring has an open loop configuration.

13. The pupil ring according to claim 1, wherein the ring is constructed from a biocompatible material.

14. A pupil ring for constraining and stabilizing pupil size in an enlarged pupil of an eye, the ring including a plurality of anchors spaced along the ring for engaging tissue at the pupil margin to constrain the pupil and maintain a desired size thereof, wherein each anchor includes a latch member and a latch receiver, wherein the latch member engages tissue and the tissue is secured by inserting the latch member at least partially within the latch receiver.

15. A method for constraining and stabilizing pupil size of an enlarged pupil of an eye, the method comprising:

providing a pupil ring including a plurality of anchors spaced along the ring;

delivering the pupil ring inside an anterior chamber of an eye; and

engaging tissue at the pupil margin with each anchor to constrain the pupil and maintain a desired size thereof.

16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein each anchor includes a latch member and a latch receiver, wherein the latch member engages the tissue at the pupil margin and the tissue is secured by engaging the latch member with the latch receiver.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the ring is delivered so that the latch members face toward a cornea of the eye.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein engaging tissue includes constraining the pupil size of the enlarged pupil to generally match a size of the pupil in the other eye.

The method according to claim 15, wherein the pupil ring is delivered following

20. The method according to claim 15, further comprising filling the anterior chamber with an ophthalmic viscoelastic device.