Methods for intraocular shunt placement

• US 10,307,293 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2016
• Issued: 06/04/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AqueSys, Inc. (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: AqueSys, Inc. (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Inventors: Horvath, Christopher, Romoda, Laszlo O., Lewis, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Aleman, Sarah W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Highland, Rachel S
• Application Number:
  US15/150,063
• Publication Number:
  US 20160250071A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/966 with relative longitudinal movement between outer sleeve and prosthesis, e.g. using a push rod
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00 Methods or devices for treatment of the eyes; Devices for putting-in contact lenses; Devices to correct squinting; Apparatus to guide the blind; Protective devices for the eyes, carried on the body or in the hand caps with means for protecting the eyes A42B1/018; visors for helmets A42B3/22; retractors A61B17/02; manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; appliances to aid invalids to move about A61H3/00; exercisers for the eyes A61H5/00; eye baths A61H35/02; sunglasses or goggles having the same features as spectacles G02C
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00709 Instruments for removing foreign bodies for removal of intra-ocular material A61F9/00736
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00736 Instruments for removal of intra-ocular material or intra-ocular injection, e.g. cataract instruments A61F9/008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00781 Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment drainage implants in general A61M27/002
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/008 using laser

Abstract

Intraocular pressure can be reduced by insertion of an intraocular shunt in the eye such that it forms a drainage pathway between the anterior chamber and a region of lower pressure. A hollow shaft that holds an intraocular shunt can be advanced through the anterior chamber. The sclera can be penetrated with the hollow shaft. A beveled tip of the shaft can be oriented such that a beveled surface thereof faces toward the Tenon'"'"'s capsule when the beveled tip passes out of the sclera. After the beveled tip passes out of the sclera, at least a portion of the shunt can be advanced from the hollow shaft.

Claims

1. A method of delivering an intraocular shunt into an eye having an anterior chamber, a sclera, and a Tenon'"'"'s capsule, the method comprising the steps of:

advancing a hollow shaft through the anterior chamber, the hollow shaft (a) having a beveled tip at a distal end of the hollow shaft and (b) holding the intraocular shunt with a proximal end of the shunt within the hollow shaft and a distal end of the shunt positioned closer to the distal end of the hollow shaft than is the proximal end of the shunt, the shunt comprising a pharmaceutical or biological agent deliverable to the eye;

penetrating the sclera with the hollow shaft;

orienting a beveled surface of the beveled tip such that the beveled surface faces toward the Tenon'"'"'s capsule when the beveled tip passes out of the sclera;

after the beveled tip passes out of the sclera, advancing at least a portion of the shunt from the hollow shaft; and

positioning the proximal end of the shunt in the anterior chamber;

wherein the shunt comprises a pharmaceutical or biological agent deliverable to the eye after release of the shunt into the eye.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of injecting an aqueous solution into the eye.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the aqueous solution is injected between the sclera and the Tenon'"'"'s capsule such that the Tenon'"'"'s capsule is ballooned away from the sclera.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the eye has a cornea, the method further comprising inserting the hollow shaft through the cornea.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed without inducing subconjunctival blebbing.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the shunt is deployed into the eye without use of an optical apparatus that directly contacts the eye.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the shunt is deployed into the eye with use of an optical apparatus that does not directly contact the eye.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the beveled surface is oriented to be parallel to the Tenon'"'"'s capsule when the beveled tip passes out of the sclera.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising pushing the Tenon'"'"'s capsule away from the sclera using the beveled surface.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising pushing the tip of the hollow shaft against the Tenon'"'"'s capsule without piercing the Tenon'"'"'s capsule.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the shunt is advanced from the hollow shaft into a subconjunctival space.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the shunt is advanced from the hollow shaft into a space between the sclera and the Tenon'"'"'s capsule.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the pharmaceutical or biological agent comprises a coating on a surface of the shunt.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the pharmaceutical or biological agent comprises a coating on an exterior surface of the shunt.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the pharmaceutical or biological agent comprises a coating on an interior surface of the shunt.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein a portion of the shunt is impregnated with the pharmaceutical or biological agent.

17. A method of delivering an intraocular shunt into an eye having an anterior chamber, a sclera, and a Tenon'"'"'s capsule, the method comprising the steps of:

inserting into the anterior chamber a hollow shaft, the hollow shaft (a) having a beveled tip at a distal end of the hollow shaft and (b) holding the intraocular shunt with a proximal end of the shunt within the hollow shaft and a distal end of the shunt positioned closer to the distal end of the hollow shaft than is the proximal end of the shunt, the shunt comprising a pharmaceutical or biological agent deliverable to the eye;

advancing the hollow shaft into the sclera;

orienting a beveled surface of the beveled tip such that the beveled surface faces away from the sclera when the beveled tip passes out of the sclera;

after the beveled tip passes out of the sclera, advancing at least a portion of the shunt from the hollow shaft;

with the proximal end of the shunt in the anterior chamber, retracting the hollow shaft from the shunt;

wherein the shunt comprises a pharmaceutical or biological agent deliverable to the eye after release of the shunt into the eye.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of injecting an aqueous solution into the eye.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the aqueous solution is injected between the sclera and the Tenon'"'"'s capsule such that the Tenon'"'"'s capsule is ballooned away from the sclera.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the eye has a cornea, the method further comprising inserting the hollow shaft into the eye through the cornea.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the method is performed without inducing subconjunctival blebbing.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the shunt is deployed into the eye without use of an optical apparatus that directly contacts the eye.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the shunt is deployed into the eye with use of an optical apparatus that does not directly contact the eye.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the beveled surface is oriented to be parallel to the Tenon'"'"'s capsule when the beveled tip passes out of the sclera.

25. The method of claim 17, further comprising pushing the Tenon'"'"'s capsule away from the sclera using the beveled surface.

26. The method of claim 17, further comprising pushing the tip of the hollow shaft against the Tenon'"'"'s capsule without piercing the Tenon'"'"'s capsule.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the shunt is advanced from the hollow shaft into a subconjunctival space.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein at least a portion of the shunt is advanced from the hollow shaft into a space between the sclera and the Tenon'"'"'s capsule.

29. The method of claim 17, wherein the pharmaceutical or biological agent comprises a coating on a surface of the shunt.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the pharmaceutical or biological agent comprises a coating on an exterior surface of the shunt.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the pharmaceutical or biological agent comprises a coating on an interior surface of the shunt.

32. The method of claim 17, wherein a portion of the shunt is impregnated with the pharmaceutical or biological agent.