Minimally invasive glaucoma surgical instrument and method
First Claim
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1. A device useable for removing trabecular meshwork tissue from the eye of a subject, said device comprising:
- an elongate probe comprising a probe shaft having a distal end, a hollow inner chamber and an opening near its distal end;
a movable cutter disposed within the hollow inner chamber; and
a member extending at an angle from the distal end of the probe shaft, said member having a tip, an upper side and a lower side, the opening being located adjacent to the upper side of the member;
the probe shaft being insertable into the anterior chamber of the eye and the distal tip of the member being thereafter advanceable through the trabecular meshwork thereby positioning the member in Schlemm'"'"'s canal with an opposing wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal juxtaposed to the lower side of the member and trabecular meshwork tissue juxtaposed to the upper side of the member; and
the moveable cutter being operable to sever trabecular meshwork tissue that passes through the opening.
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Abstract
Apparatuses and methods for the treatment of glaucoma are provided. The instrument uses either cauterization, a laser to ablate, sonic or ultrasonic energy to emulsify, or mechanical cutting of a portion of the trabecular meshwork. The instrument may also be provided with irrigation, aspiration, and a footplate. The footplate is used to enter Schlemm'"'"'s canal, serves as a guide, and also protects Schlemm'"'"'s canal.
108 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A device useable for removing trabecular meshwork tissue from the eye of a subject, said device comprising:
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an elongate probe comprising a probe shaft having a distal end, a hollow inner chamber and an opening near its distal end; a movable cutter disposed within the hollow inner chamber; and a member extending at an angle from the distal end of the probe shaft, said member having a tip, an upper side and a lower side, the opening being located adjacent to the upper side of the member; the probe shaft being insertable into the anterior chamber of the eye and the distal tip of the member being thereafter advanceable through the trabecular meshwork thereby positioning the member in Schlemm'"'"'s canal with an opposing wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal juxtaposed to the lower side of the member and trabecular meshwork tissue juxtaposed to the upper side of the member; and the moveable cutter being operable to sever trabecular meshwork tissue that passes through the opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for removing trabecular meshwork tissue from the eye of a subject, said method comprising the steps of:
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A) obtaining or providing a device that comprises i) an elongate probe comprising a probe shaft having a distal end, a hollow inner chamber and an opening near its distal end;
ii) a moveable cutter positioned within the hollow inner chamber; and
iii) a member which extends at an angle from the distal end of the probe shaft, said member having a tip, an upper side and a lower side, wherein the opening in the shaft is adjacent to the upper side of the member and the moveable cutter is operable to sever trabecular meshwork tissue that passes through the opening;B) inserting the probe shaft into the anterior chamber of the eye; C) advancing the tip of the member through the trabecular meshwork and inserting the member in Schlemm'"'"'s canal such that an outer wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal is in juxtaposition to the lower side of the member and trabecular meshwork tissue in juxtaposition to the upper side of the member; D) causing the moveable cutter to move; and E) advancing the member through Schlem'"'"'s Canal such that trabecular meshwork tissue rides over the upper surface of the member, passes through the opening and is severed by the moveable cutter. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification