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  Intraocular telescopeUSPTO Application #: 20060206206Title: Intraocular telescope Abstract: The present invention relates to an intraocular lens, including a first lens having a first portion configured to alter light rays passing therethrough in a first manner and form a first image in an eye and a second portion adjacent said first portion. A second lens is coupled to the first lens and a third lens coupled to at least one of the first lens and the second lens. The second lens, third lens and second portion are configured in series such that the lenses from a telescope that alters light rays in a second manner and forms a second image in the eye. (end of abstract) Agent: Bell, Boyd, & Lloyd LLC - Chicago, IL, US Inventors: Gholam A. Peyman, Edwin J. Sarver, John Clough, Hayden Beatty USPTO Applicaton #: 20060206206 - Class: 623006340 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Prosthesis (i.e., Artificial Body Members), Parts Thereof, Or Aids And Accessories Therefor, Eye Prosthesis (e.g., Lens Or Corneal Implant, Or Artificial Eye, Etc.), Intraocular Lens, Multiple Lens, In Series Along Visual Axis The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060206206. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/151,978, filed Jun. 14, 2005, entitled "INTRAOCULAR TELESCOPE," a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/455,788, filed Jun. 6, 2003, entitled "TELEDIOPTIC LENS SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING THE SAME," U.S. application Ser. No. 10/600,371, filed Jun. 23, 2003, entitled "TELEDIOPTIC LENS SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING THE SAME," which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/873,495, filed Jun. 23, 2004, and entitled "BIFOCAL INTRAOCULAR TELESCOPE FOR LOW VISION CORRECTION," and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/038,320, filed Jan. 17, 2005, entitled "BIFOCAL INTRAOCULAR TELESCOPE FOR LOW VISION CORRECTION." The entire contents of each of these applications are incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND [0002] Macular degeneration has become one of the leading causes of blindness in adults. This disease affects the central retinal area known as the macula. The macula is responsible for acute vision--i.e., vision for such things as driving or reading a newspaper. Macular degeneration can lead to a gradual or sudden loss of vision to the level of 20/200 or less. Commonly, loss of vision only affects the central macular area of about 0.25 to 4 square millimeters, and does not usually progress beyond this area, thereby leaving 95-99% of the retina unaffected. Thus, reading and driving vision can be lost, while peripheral vision remains intact. This condition is often referred to as low vision. [0003] Most cases of macular degeneration are untreatable, although laser photocoagulation has been successful in certain instances. Telescopic systems that attach to eye glasses also have been used for many years to improve vision in patients with macular degeneration. These systems, which work by increasing the retinal image of a given object, have not been very successful because they restrict the visual field to about 11.degree., so that normal activity is not possible. They are also large and bulky. Attempts have been made to increase the visual field by putting part of the telescope within the eye. A Galilean telescope is useful for this purpose and consists of a converging objective lens and a diverging ocular lens, which together produce a telescopic effect. [0004] U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,666,446 and 4,581,031, both to Koziol and Peyman, and both of which are incorporated by reference herein, each disclose intraocular lenses which are implanted in the eye in place of the natural lens to redirect the rays of light to minimize the adverse affect on vision caused by the macular degeneration of the eye. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,666,446 discloses an intraocular lens comprising a first portion including a diverging lens and a second portion including a converging lens. The converging lens provides the eye with substantially the same focusing ability of the natural lens prior to implantation of the intraocular lens. Thus, the eye will have decreased visual acuity due to the macular degeneration, but will also have unrestricted peripheral vision. The diverging lens, on the other hand, when combined with a converging lens positioned outside of the eye (e.g., a spectacle lens), provides a magnified image with increased visual acuity but a restricted visual field. Therefore, this type of intraocular lens creates a teledioptic lens system, which provides the patient with the choice of unmagnified but peripherally unrestricted vision or magnified but peripherally restricted vision. [0005] U.S. Pat. No. 6,197,057 to Peyman and Koziol, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference, relates to a lens system that combines a high plus lens with a plus and minus intraocular lens (IOL), so that the lens system works in a manner similar to a Galilean telescope. Generally the high plus lens is outside the eye (i.e., in glasses or spectacles or in a contact lens) and the plus and minus lens is an IOL that replaces or works in conjunction with the natural lens of the patient (See FIGS. 1 and 2). [0006] U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,074,368 and 6,596,026 B1, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference, both disclose telescopic implants for implantation within an eye. These implants are designed to replace the natural lens in the eye with a telescope. They are rigid devices requiring a large incision in the eye to implant. [0007] Although all of these systems are beneficial to patients with macular degeneration, a continuing need exists for an intraocular implant that can correct for low vision in the eye. SUMMARY [0008] In one embodiment an intraocular lens is provided. The lens includes a first lens having a first portion configured to alter light rays passing therethrough in a first manner and a second portion. A second lens is coupled to the first lens and a third lens is coupled to at least one of the first lens and the second lens. The second lens, the third lens and the second portion are configured in series such that the lenses form a telescope. [0009] In another embodiment, a method of altering vision in the eye is provided. The method includes the steps of determining a first distance between a first lens and a second lens, determining a second distance between the second lens and a third lens, such that a configuration of the first lens, the second lens and third lens form a telescope in the eye, bonding the second lens to the third lens to fix the second distance, and coupling the second and third lens to the first lens. [0010] Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the following Detailed Description of the Invention and the figures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES [0011] Referring to the drawings which form a part of this disclosure: [0012] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view in side elevation of a human eye with an intraocular implant according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [0013] FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view in side elevation of the telescope portion of the implant shown in FIG. 1 having a plus and a minus lens therein; [0014] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the intraocular implant shown in FIG. 1 prior to implantation; [0015] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the intraocular implant shown in FIG. 3; [0016] FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view in side elevation of a modified telescope portion of the present invention using diffractive lenses; [0017] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of an intraocular implant similar to that shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, but using U-shaped haptics; [0018] FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the intraocular implant shown in FIG. 6; [0019] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view in side elevation of a human eye with an intraocular implant according to a second embodiment of the present invention with an artificial IOL substituted for the natural lens; [0020] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view in side elevation of a human eye with an intraocular implant according to a third embodiment of the present invention used with the natural lens; Continue reading... Full patent description for Intraocular telescope Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Intraocular telescope patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Intraocular telescope or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Vision prosthesis Next Patent Application: Expandable spinal fusion cage and associated instrumentation Industry Class: Prosthesis (i.e., artificial body members), parts thereof, or aids and accessories therefor ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Intraocular telescope patent info. 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