Corneal implant
Inventors
GROSSO, EDOARDO • Lepore, Emiliano
Assignees
Publication Number
US-12144722-B2
Publication Date
2024-11-19
Expiration Date
2039-05-31
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Abstract
A corneal implant designed for correcting irregularities of the corneal curvature of a subject, the implant having a dome-shaped structural body configured to impose a regular curvature to the corneal portions designed to be in contact with the implant. The structural body includes an outer peripheral ring and an inner reticular structure. The inner reticular structure includes at least one first and one second series of beams intersecting each other. The beams of the first series have a respective first end connected to the outer peripheral ring, wherein the total area of void portions within the meshes of the reticular structure is between 50 and 99.9% of the surface area of the reticular structure, wherein the beams of both the first and second series have both ends connected to the outer peripheral ring.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a corneal implant designed to correct irregularities in the curvature of a subject's cornea by imposing a substantially regular curvature on the corneal portions intended to be in contact with the implant. It comprises a dome-shaped structural body featuring an outer peripheral ring and an inner reticular structure with at least one first and one second series of intersecting beams. The beams of the first series have a first end connected to the outer peripheral ring, and the total area of void portions within the reticular meshes ranges between 50 and 99.9% of the surface area.
The problem being solved is the lack of effective corneal implants capable of imposing a pre-defined regular curvature to the cornea and overcoming the disadvantages of known treatments such as contact lenses, ICRS, ablative laser treatments, and incisional refractive surgery techniques. Existing implants have limited ability to impose regular corneal curvature, high risks of extrusion, tissue damage, or only treat surface irregularities without addressing posterior corneal surface irregularities.
The implant’s dome-shaped structure with a continuous outer peripheral ring allows atraumatic insertion and stabilizes the three-dimensional shape, while the inner reticular structure with intersecting beams creates a large surface area of voids to minimize interference with oxygen passage and light transmission. The design can include an innermost peripheral ring to increase structural stability, and the device has rigidity greater than the corneal tissue to impose its shape and maintain optical correction over time.
Claims Coverage
The patent includes one independent claim describing a corneal implant with specific structural features. Two main inventive features are identified based on this claim.
Dome-shaped structural body configured to impose regular curvature
The implant comprises a dome-shaped structural body sized and configured to impose a regular curvature on corneal portions in contact with the implant.
Structural body with outer peripheral ring and inner intersecting reticular beams
The structural body includes an outermost peripheral ring and an inner reticular structure inside the outer ring. The inner reticular structure comprises at least one first series of beams and at least one second series of beams intersecting each other, where beams of both series have respective first and second ends.
The claims cover a corneal implant characterized by a dome-shaped body designed to impose regular curvature with a structural body formed by an outer peripheral ring and an inner intersecting reticular beam structure connecting to the outer ring, enabling correction of corneal irregularities.
Stated Advantages
The implant’s mechanical rigidity allows imposing a defined curvature on the cornea, achieving predictable optical correction without tissue ablation.
The large void area in the reticular structure ensures minimal interference with oxygen and molecule passage through the cornea and only slight reduction (5-10%) of incoming light, with negligible diffraction effects compared to benefits gained.
Its positioning near the eye’s nodal point makes the implant effectively imperceptible to the patient.
The implant is easily grafted and removable with minimal damage to corneal tissue, reducing postoperative pain and speeding visual recovery, improving patient quality of life.
Documented Applications
Treatment of patients with irregular corneal curvature causing optical aberrations not correctable by lenses, including keratoconus, marginal pellucid degeneration, and ectasia after refractive surgery.
Correction of irregular or elevated astigmatism following perforating keratoplasty or deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty.
Use in healthy subjects to vary corneal curvature and correct refractive errors.
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