Device and method for reducing intraocular pressure
First Claim
1. An apparatus for draining aqueous humor from an eye for reducing intraocular pressure, the eye having an anterior chamber and including a cornea, a surrounding marginal limbus by which the cornea is continuous with a scleral layer and a conjunctival layer, and an exposed ocular surface of the eye and under eyelids, the draining apparatus comprising:
- a tube extending between an inlet end configured to be disposed at the anterior chamber of the eyeball and an outlet end, the tube defining a passage for fluid flow between the inlet end and the outlet end; and
an outlet assembly having an inner surface and an outer surface and configured to be disposed such that the inner surface contacts the conjunctival layer externally of the eyeball, the outlet assembly comprisinga housing defining a cavity in fluid communication with the outlet end of the tube and having an aperture opening into the cavity for allowing egress of aqueous humor onto the external ocular surface,a resistive component disposed in the cavity of the housing between the outlet end of the tube and the aperture, the resistive component configured for providing resistance to a flow of aqueous humor for controlling the flow through the tube from the anterior chamber of the eyeball to the external ocular surface, anda pair of tabs projecting outwardly in opposite directions from the housing, the tabs adapted to be disposed subconjunctivally for securing the draining apparatus relative to the eyeball.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus is provided for draining aqueous humor from an eye for reducing intraocular pressure. The draining apparatus comprises a tube defining a passage for fluid flow between an inlet end and an outlet end. An outlet assembly contacts the conjunctival layer externally of the eyeball. The outlet assembly comprises a housing in fluid communication with the outlet end of the tube and having an aperture for allowing egress of aqueous humor onto the external ocular surface. A resistive component is disposed in the housing for providing resistance to a flow of aqueous humor. A pair of tabs project outwardly and are adapted to be disposed subconjunctivally for securing the draining apparatus relative to the eyeball.
-
Citations
34 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for draining aqueous humor from an eye for reducing intraocular pressure, the eye having an anterior chamber and including a cornea, a surrounding marginal limbus by which the cornea is continuous with a scleral layer and a conjunctival layer, and an exposed ocular surface of the eye and under eyelids, the draining apparatus comprising:
-
a tube extending between an inlet end configured to be disposed at the anterior chamber of the eyeball and an outlet end, the tube defining a passage for fluid flow between the inlet end and the outlet end; and an outlet assembly having an inner surface and an outer surface and configured to be disposed such that the inner surface contacts the conjunctival layer externally of the eyeball, the outlet assembly comprising a housing defining a cavity in fluid communication with the outlet end of the tube and having an aperture opening into the cavity for allowing egress of aqueous humor onto the external ocular surface, a resistive component disposed in the cavity of the housing between the outlet end of the tube and the aperture, the resistive component configured for providing resistance to a flow of aqueous humor for controlling the flow through the tube from the anterior chamber of the eyeball to the external ocular surface, and a pair of tabs projecting outwardly in opposite directions from the housing, the tabs adapted to be disposed subconjunctivally for securing the draining apparatus relative to the eyeball. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
-
30. A method for controlling intraocular pressure within an eye, the eye having an anterior chamber with aqueous humor therein, a cornea and a surrounding marginal limbus by which the cornea is continuous with a layer of scleral tissue and a layer of conjunctival tissue disposed on an exposed ocular surface of the eye and under eyelids, the method comprising the steps of:
-
providing a device for draining aqueous humor from the eye, the draining device comprising a tube extending between an inlet end and an outlet end, the tube defining a passage for fluid flow between the inlet end and the outlet end, and an outlet assembly having an inner surface and an outer surface, the outlet assembly comprising a housing defining a cavity in fluid communication with the outlet end of the tube and having an aperture opening into the cavity for allowing egress of aqueous humor, a resistive component disposed in the cavity of the housing between the outlet end of the tube and the aperture, the resistive component configured for providing resistance to a flow of aqueous humor for controlling the flow through the tube from the anterior chamber of the eyeball to the external ocular surface, and a pair of tabs projecting outwardly in opposite directions from the housing; implanting the draining device in the eye such that aqueous humor flows through the tube from the anterior chamber of the eye to the external ocular surface; and securing the tabs under the conjunctival layer. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
-
Specification