Shunt device and method for treating ocular disorders

• US 10,492,950 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2017
• Issued: 12/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Glaukos Corporation
• Original Assignee: Glaukos Corporation
• Inventors: Lynch, Mary G., Brown, Reay H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Deak, Leslie R
• Application Number:
  US15/821,130
• Publication Number:
  US 20180104102A1
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0008 elliptical or oval
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0052 T-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0067 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• 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: A61M 2210/0612 Eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0068 Static characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. shape, atraumatic tip, curved tip or tip structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/007 Side holes, e.g. their profiles or arrangements; Provisions to keep side holes unblocked
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0074 Dynamic characteristics of the catheter tip, e.g. openable, closable, expandable or deformable

Abstract

Shunt devices and a method for continuously decompressing elevated intraocular pressure in eyes affected by glaucoma by diverting excess aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the eye into Schlemm'"'"'s canal where post-operative patency can be maintained with an indwelling shunt device which surgically connects the canal with the anterior chamber. The shunt devices provide uni- or bi-directional flow of aqueous humor into Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

Claims

1. An implant designed to relieve elevated intraocular pressure, the implant comprising:

a biocompatible metal stent designed to partially reside within Schlemm'"'"'s canal of an eye,

the stent having a pre-formed curved shape,

wherein the stent further includes an inlet at its proximal end shaped to reside at least partially within an anterior chamber of the eye,

wherein the stent has a distal end that is non-tubular, and

wherein the stent includes multiple fenestrations located between the proximal end and the distal end of the stent.

2. The implant of claim 1, wherein a length of the stent comprises a trough-like aspect.

3. The implant of claim 2, wherein the trough-like aspect extends to a distal end of the stent.

4. The implant of claim 1, wherein a length of the stent is substantially open such that it is not fully enclosed.

5. The implant of claim 1, wherein the fenestrations are oval-shaped.

6. The implant of claim 1, wherein the stent is non-luminal.

7. An implant designed to relieve elevated intraocular pressure, the implant comprising:

a proximal inlet shaped to permit fluid ingress from the anterior chamber;

a curved distal portion shaped to reside within Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and

a distal end that is non-tubular,

wherein the curved distal portion shaped to reside within Schlemm'"'"'s canal includes multiple fenestrations along its length.

8. The implant of claim 7, wherein the implant comprises a biocompatible metal.

9. The implant of claim 7, wherein the distal portion comprises a trough-like shape.

10. The implant of claim 7, wherein the implant is non-luminal.

11. The implant of claim 7, wherein the fenestrations are oval-shaped.

12. The implant of claim 7, wherein an inner cross-sectional dimension of the implant is between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm.

13. The implant of claim 7, wherein the distal portion has a length of approximately 6 mm.