Iris shield

摘要

Apparatus and methods for preventing prolapse of iris tissue through a surgical opening in the eye during an ophthalmic surgery. A flexible biocompatible polymeric shield is inserted into the anterior chamber of the eye, placed in position overlying the iris adjacent a surgical opening into the anterior chamber and is thus between the iris tissue and the surgical opening. As pressure inside the anterior chamber increases during the surgery, anterior movement of the iris toward any surgical opening in response to such pressure, also moves the shield anteriorly, such that the shield remains between the iris and the surgical opening. Thus, the shield blocks the surgical opening and prevents movement of eye material to and through the surgical opening. The surgical opening can still be accessed by surgical tools and materials from outside the eye by inserting such articles through the surgical opening and pushing such articles past the shield.

主权项

1. An iris shield for insertion through a surgical opening and into an anterior chamber of an eye during a surgery, such eye comprising an iris in such anterior chamber, such iris having an outer edge, an inner edge, and an iris width between the iris outer edge and the iris inner edge, said iris shield comprising:
a flexible biocompatible polymeric sheet, said sheet, and correspondingly said iris shield, having an anterior side and a posterior side, an inner edge extremity and an outer edge extremity, and a width (W) between the inner edge extremity and the outer edge extremity, said iris shield being suitable for being temporarily placed on such iris in such eye and to thereby overlie a substantial portion of the width of such iris, including being in direct contact with a central portion and an inner portion of the width of such iris, adjacent such surgical opening such that, when pressure inside such eye urges tissue of such iris toward such surgical opening during such surgery, said iris shield interferes with such iris tissue reaching such surgical opening, said iris shield being adapted and configured to be removed from such eye prior to completion of such surgery.