Delivery system and method of use for the eye
First Claim
1. A method, of maintaining an opening in a trabecular meshwork of a patient'"'"'s eye to conduct fluid from an anterior chamber into Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye, comprising:
- positioning an intraocular implant through an opening in the trabecular meshwork of the eye, the implant having a proximal portion configured to reside in the anterior chamber of the eye, the proximal portion comprising a proximal opening, a distal portion configured to reside in Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye, the distal portion comprising a proximally-facing surface and a distal opening, and a passageway extending in a straight line from the proximal opening to the distal opening;
engaging an inner wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal with the proximally-facing surface of the distal portion to self-retain the intraocular implant in the inner wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal; and
conducting fluid, through the passageway, from the proximal opening of the implant to the distal opening of the implant, such that fluid flows from the anterior chamber into Schlemm'"'"'s canal through the implant.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and delivery system are disclosed for creating an aqueous flow pathway in the trabecular meshwork, juxtacanalicular trabecular meshwork and Schlemm'"'"'s canal of an eye for reducing elevated intraocular pressure. Pulsed laser radiation is delivered from the distal end of a fiber-optic probe sufficient to cause photoablation of selected portions of the trabecular meshwork, the juxtacanalicular trabecular meshwork and an inner wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal in the target site. The fiber-optic probe may be advanced so as to create an aperture in the inner wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal in which fluid from the anterior chamber of the eye flows. The method and delivery system may further be used on any tissue types in the body.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method, of maintaining an opening in a trabecular meshwork of a patient'"'"'s eye to conduct fluid from an anterior chamber into Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye, comprising:
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positioning an intraocular implant through an opening in the trabecular meshwork of the eye, the implant having a proximal portion configured to reside in the anterior chamber of the eye, the proximal portion comprising a proximal opening, a distal portion configured to reside in Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye, the distal portion comprising a proximally-facing surface and a distal opening, and a passageway extending in a straight line from the proximal opening to the distal opening; engaging an inner wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal with the proximally-facing surface of the distal portion to self-retain the intraocular implant in the inner wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal; and conducting fluid, through the passageway, from the proximal opening of the implant to the distal opening of the implant, such that fluid flows from the anterior chamber into Schlemm'"'"'s canal through the implant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An intraocular implant for reducing intraocular pressure in an eye, the implant comprising:
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a proximal portion sized and shaped to reside within an anterior chamber of the eye, the proximal portion comprising a proximal opening; a distal portion sized and shaped to reside within Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye, the distal portion comprising a proximally-facing surface and a distal opening, the proximally-facing surface configured to engage an inner wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal to self-retain the intraocular implant in the inner wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal; and a passageway extending in a straight line from the proximal opening to the distal opening to conduct fluid from the anterior chamber to Schlemm'"'"'s canal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification