Ocular implants for delivery into the eye
First Claim
1. A method of deploying at least a distal portion of an ocular implant into Schlemm'"'"'s canal of an eye, the ocular implant comprising a plurality of curved supports, each support comprising a first end extending from a first location on a first side of the ocular implant and a second end extending from a second location on a second side of the ocular implant, the second location being proximal to the first location, so that each support forms a portion of a helix and the plurality of curved supports collectively forms a helix, the eye having a cornea defining an anterior chamber and an iris defining a pupil, the method comprising:
- advancing a distal portion of a cannula through the cornea so that a curved portion of the cannula is at least partially disposed in the anterior chamber of the eye;
advancing a distal tip of the cannula through trabecular meshwork of the eye so that a distal opening of the cannula is placed in fluid communication with Schlemm'"'"'s canal;
advancing the ocular implant through the curved portion of the cannula;
rotating the ocular implant as at least a distal portion of the ocular implant is advanced through the distal opening and into Schlemm'"'"'s canal; and
using the curved supports to advance the ocular implant into Schlemm'"'"'s canal as the ocular implant is rotated.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An ocular implant adapted to reside at least partially in a portion of Schlemm'"'"'s canal of an eye. The implant includes a spine extending along a longitudinal axis of the implant, a plurality of curved supports extending from the spine, each support comprising a first end extending from a first location on a first side of the spine and a second end extending from a second location on a second side of the spine, the second location being proximal to the first location, so that each support forms a portion of a helix, the spine and supports defining a volume having a maximum width perpendicular to the longitudinal axis between 0.005 inches and 0.04 inches, the ocular implant being configured to bend preferentially in a preferential bending plane.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of deploying at least a distal portion of an ocular implant into Schlemm'"'"'s canal of an eye, the ocular implant comprising a plurality of curved supports, each support comprising a first end extending from a first location on a first side of the ocular implant and a second end extending from a second location on a second side of the ocular implant, the second location being proximal to the first location, so that each support forms a portion of a helix and the plurality of curved supports collectively forms a helix, the eye having a cornea defining an anterior chamber and an iris defining a pupil, the method comprising:
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advancing a distal portion of a cannula through the cornea so that a curved portion of the cannula is at least partially disposed in the anterior chamber of the eye; advancing a distal tip of the cannula through trabecular meshwork of the eye so that a distal opening of the cannula is placed in fluid communication with Schlemm'"'"'s canal; advancing the ocular implant through the curved portion of the cannula; rotating the ocular implant as at least a distal portion of the ocular implant is advanced through the distal opening and into Schlemm'"'"'s canal; and using the curved supports to advance the ocular implant into Schlemm'"'"'s canal as the ocular implant is rotated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of deploying at least a distal portion of an ocular implant into Schlemm'"'"'s canal of an eye, the ocular implant comprising a plurality of curved supports, each support comprising a first end extending from a first location on a first side of the ocular implant and a second end extending from a second location on a second side of the ocular implant, the second location being proximal to the first location, so that the plurality of curved supports collectively forms a helix, the method comprising:
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advancing a distal portion of a cannula through a cornea of the eye so that a curved portion of the cannula is at least partially disposed in an anterior chamber of the eye; advancing a distal tip of the cannula through trabecular meshwork of the eye so that a distal opening of the cannula is placed in fluid communication with Schlemm'"'"'s canal; advancing the ocular implant through the curved portion of the cannula; using the curved supports to assist advance of the ocular implant into Schlemm'"'"'s canal; and producing alternating stretching and relaxing of Schlemm'"'"'s canal during the advancing step. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of deploying at least a distal portion of an ocular implant into Schlemm'"'"'s canal of an eye, the eye having a cornea defining an anterior chamber and an iris defining a pupil, the ocular implant comprising a spine portion extending longitudinally along the ocular implant and a plurality of curved supports extending from the spine, each support comprising a first end extending from a first location on a first side of the spine and a second end extending from a second location on a second side of the spine, the second location being proximal to the first location, so that the plurality of curved supports collectively forms a helix, the method comprising:
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advancing a distal portion of a cannula through the cornea so that a curved portion of the cannula is at least partially disposed in the anterior chamber of the eye; advancing a distal tip of the cannula through trabecular meshwork of the eye so that a distal opening of the cannula is placed in fluid communication with Schlemm'"'"'s canal; advancing the ocular implant through the curved portion of the cannula, the ocular implant comprising a plurality of spaced apart supports; and using the supports to assist advance of the ocular implant into Schlemm'"'"'s canal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification