Corneal implant with peripheral skirt
Inventors
Assignees
Publication Number
US-11890183-B2
Publication Date
2024-02-06
Expiration Date
2038-12-02
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Abstract
A corneal implant (10) includes a central portion (12) and a peripheral skirt (14) extending outwards from the central portion (12), and at least a portion of the peripheral skirt (14) includes a mesh (16).
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a corneal implant designed specifically to improve adhesion to corneal tissue by incorporating a peripheral skirt that extends outward from the central portion of the implant. This peripheral skirt includes at least a portion made of a mesh which enables cell growth in and through it, thereby enhancing the adhesion between the implant and the cornea. The central portion is transparent and may have optical properties such as positive or negative magnification, astigmatism correction, or refraction adjustment, while the peripheral skirt may be either transparent or opaque.
The problem addressed by the invention is the challenge of adhering an implant to corneal tissue without the use of sutures or mechanical fasteners. Adhesive materials must be compatible with the ocular environment, provide strong and durable adhesion, and maintain the ocular quality without degradation. Previous solutions involved bonding hydrophobic pseudo-endothelial implants with binding agents, but this invention provides a design that inherently improves adhesion through the structure of the peripheral skirt alone.
The corneal implant has a central portion approximately 4 mm in diameter and a peripheral skirt that extends radially outwards. The peripheral skirt can be of the same or different material than the central portion and may differ in thickness. It can include structural variations such as radial slits or radially extending portions with pointed or non-pointed ends. The mesh in the peripheral skirt has openings of equal or varying sizes to facilitate cell infiltration and thus improve the bond between the implant and corneal tissue without requiring external adhesives.
Claims Coverage
The claims cover multiple inventive features centered on the design of a corneal implant with enhanced adhesion properties through a peripheral skirt with specific structure and properties.
Peripheral skirt with annular mesh and radially extending portions
The corneal implant includes a peripheral skirt comprising an annular mesh with a circular periphery and two or more radially extending portions extending outward from the circular periphery. The mesh enables cell growth through it to enhance implant adhesion and has openings of different sizes.
Central portion with optical properties
The central portion of the implant is transparent and possesses optical properties selected from positive magnification, negative magnification, astigmatism correction, and refraction adjustment, while the peripheral skirt has no optical properties.
Peripheral skirt structural features
The peripheral skirt includes one or more radial slits and two or more radially extending portions where at least one has a non-pointed end and at least one has a pointed end.
Material composition variations
The peripheral skirt and central portion may be made of identical materials or different materials, allowing for flexibility in construction.
Peripheral skirt opacity
The peripheral skirt can be opaque, contrasting with the transparent central portion.
The claims comprehensively cover a corneal implant with a central optical portion and a peripheral skirt designed for enhanced adhesion through a mesh structure, specific geometry including radial slits and extensions, and variations in material and opacity to optimize performance and compatibility.
Stated Advantages
The peripheral skirt with mesh enables cell growth to enhance adhesion of the implant to the cornea, potentially eliminating the need for external adhesives or mechanical fasteners.
Improved long-term adhesion compatible with the ocular environment, maintaining ocular quality without degradation.
Documented Applications
Use as a pseudo-endothelial implant to serve as a water barrier enabling dehydration of an over-hydrated, edematous cornea.
Replacement for donor implants in Descemet Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSEK) or Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK) surgeries.
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