"Canoe" apparatus for inserting intra-ocular lens into the eye

Claim 1

Apparatus for inserting a flexible lens into an eye through an incision in the eye comprising lens holder means for receiving and holding a flexible lens, said holder means including a holder having substantially a "canoe" shape when the holder is in an opened condition thereof in which the lens can be placed when the lens is in a normal flat state, the holder being formed by a molded tubular section of plastic material having an open top and outwardly extending sides formed as a result of at least one elongated slit type opening, and said holder sides being compressed to essentially the form of a closed hollow cylinder with a cylindrical inner surface when in a closed condition to curl the lens into a generally confined tubular shape, tip means integrally formed with said lens holder means and including a cylindrical bore mating with and forming a continuation of the inner cylindrical surface of said lens holder means, said bore extending from a proximal end of said tip means to a distal end thereof, and said tip means having a substantially cylindrical wall of decreased thickness toward the distal end thereof and includes at least one slot therein near the distal end whereby the distal end of said tip means is more flexible than the proximal end thereof for allowing the curled lens to pass through said tip means and to gently expand as the lens nears and exits the distal end of said tip means, sleeve means for slidably engaging said holder means and moving the sides of the holder means together for curling said lens, and advancing means for moving said lens from said holder means to and through said tip means for causing ejection of the lens from said insertion cartridge.