Bi-radial patient interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021015359-A1
Application number	US-202017064141-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 6, 2020
Priority date	Feb 1, 2013
Publication date	Jan 21, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A patient interface for an ophthalmic system can include an attachment portion, configured to attach the patient interface to a distal end of the ophthalmic system; a contact portion, configured to dock the patient interface to an eye; and a contact element, coupled to the contact portion, configured to contact a surface of a cornea of the eye as part of the docking of the patient interface to the eye, and having a central portion with a central radius of curvature Rc and a peripheral portion with a peripheral radius of curvature Rp, wherein Rc is smaller than Rp.

First claim

1 . A patient interface for an ophthalmic system, comprising:
an attachment portion, configured to attach the patient interface to a distal end of the ophthalmic system; a contact portion, configured for docking the patient interface to an eye; and a contact element, coupled to the contact portion, comprising a pre-formed shape that includes, prior to contact with a surface of a cornea of the eye as part of the docking of the patient interface to the eye: a transparent central portion with a central radius of curvature Rc; a transparent peripheral portion with a peripheral radius of curvature Rp, wherein Rc is smaller than Rp; and an edge structure where the transparent central portion and the transparent peripheral portion are joined.

2 . The patient interface of claim 8 , wherein:
Rc is in a range of 6.6 mm-9.1 mm and Rp is in a range of 8.8 mm-10.8 mm.

3 . The patient interface of claim 8 , wherein:
Rc is in a range of 7.1 mm-8.1 mm and Rp is in a range of 9.3 mm-10.3 mm.

4 . The patient interface of claim 8 , wherein:
the central diameter Dc of the edge is in the range of 8-10 mm; and the edge structure is configured to stretch a peripheral-cornea area of the eye during docking.

5 . The patient interface of claim 8 , wherein:
the edge structure is configured to laterally stretch a central-cornea of the eye during the docking.

6 . The patient interface of claim 8 , the contact portion comprising:
an escape structure, configured to assist an expulsion of air from a contact space between the transparent central portion and the central-cornea.

7 . The patient interface of claim 8 , comprising:
a rigid distal lens, configured to: accommodate a proximal surface of the contact element; and prevent a more than 5% radial deformation of the contact element upon docking to the eye; and an affixation structure, configured to: affix the contact element to the contact portion along a perimeter; and prevent a more than 5% lateral expansion of the contact element upon docking to the eye.

8 . The patient interface of claim 8 , wherein:
the contact element is configured for insertion into the contact portion; and the contact portion is configured to accept the insertion of the contact element.

9 . The patient interface of claim 15 , the contact portion comprising:
a rigid distal lens, having a distal surface with a distal radius of curvature within 5% of a proximal radius of curvature of a proximal surface of the contact element, wherein the distal lens is configured to: form an extended contact with the contact element upon its insertion; and prevent a more than 5% radial deformation of the contact element upon the docking to the eye.

10 . The patient interface of claim 15 , the contact portion comprising:
an affixation structure, having at least one of an affixation groove, a support rim, an insertion structure, an interlocking structure, a slide-in structure, a pop-in structure, and a lock-in structure, wherein the affixation structure is configured to: firmly affix the contact element to the contact portion after the insertion; and prevent a more than 5% lateral expansion of the contact element upon the docking to the eye.

11 . The patient interface of claim 15 , wherein:
a distal lens, an affixation structure, a material of the contact element and the central radius of curvature Rc are selected such that upon docking the patient interface to the eye, a change of a radius of curvature of the cornea of the eye is greater than a change of the central radius of curvature Rc: R(central-cornea)>Rc.

12 . The patient interface of claim 8 , wherein:
the contact element comprises a contact material that forms a lubricating film at the surface of the central-cornea.

13 . The patient interface of the claim 8 , wherein:
a surface of the contact element comprises a hydrophilic material.

14 . The patient interface of claim 8 , wherein:
the contact element comprises hydrogel with a water content above 70%.

15 . The patient interface of claim 8 , wherein:
the contact element comprises hydrogel with a water content in a range of 50-70%.

16 . The patient interface of claim 8 , wherein:
the contact element comprises hydrogel with a water content in a range of 30-50%.

17 . The patient interface of claim 8 , wherein:
the contact element has a hydrated index of refraction in the range of 1.32-1.44.

18 . The patient interface of claim 8 , the contact portion comprising a suction ring configured to:
be coupled to a suction system; receive a suction from the suction system; and apply the suction of the suction system to a contact space between the patient interface and the eye to dock the patient interface to the eye.

19 . The patient interface of claim 8 , wherein:
the attachment portion and the contact portion are integrated portions of the patient interface.

20 . The patient interface of claim 8 , wherein:
the attachment portion is separate from the contact portion; and the attachment portion is configured to be coupled to the contact portion after the contact portion has been docked to the eye.

21 . The patient interface of claim 8 , wherein:
the edge structure is further configured to press on the surface of the cornea as the docking starts and laterally stretch a central-cornea of the eye as the docking proceeds to reduce corneal wrinkles caused by the docking; and the contact element comprises the transparent central portion with the central radius of curvature Rc, the transparent peripheral portion with the peripheral radius of curvature Rp, and the edge structure independent of contact with the eye.

Assignees

• Alcon Inc

Inventors

• Goldshleger Ilya
• Dong Jeremy
• Juhasz Tibor
• Lummis Wesley
• Raksi Ferenc

Classifications

• A61F2009/00851

  Optical coherence topography [OCT] · CPC title

• A61F9/009 Primary

  Auxiliary devices making contact with the eyeball and coupling in laser light, {e.g. goniolenses (apparatus for eye examination A61B3/0008)} · CPC title

• A61B3/117

  for examining the anterior chamber or the anterior chamber angle, e.g. gonioscopes · CPC title

• A61B3/1173

  for examining the eye lens · CPC title

• A61B3/107 Primary

  for determining the shape or measuring the curvature of the cornea · CPC title