Delivery system and method of use for the eye

• US 10,687,978 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2019
• Issued: 06/23/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ivantis Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ivantis Inc.
• Inventors: Berlin, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wiest, Philip R
• Application Number:
  US16/525,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20190380873A1
• Time in Patent Office: 330 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00868 Ciliary muscles or trabecular meshwork
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00891 Glaucoma
• 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 9/00802 for photoablation

Abstract

An apparatus having an inserter device with a shaft disposed in an interior space and an intraocular implant adapted to self-retain to an inner wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal. The intraocular implant has a proximal portion sized and shaped to reside within an anterior chamber of the eye, the proximal portion having a proximal opening; a distal portion sized and shaped to reside within Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye, the distal portion having a distal opening, 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. The shaft of the inserter device is adapted to advance the intraocular implant out of the interior space and through an inner wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an ocular implant inserter configured to extend through an anterior chamber of an eye, the ocular implant inserter comprising;

a tool adapted to open an aperture in trabecular meshwork; and

an inserter tube comprising an interior space and a shaft slidably disposed in the interior space; and

an intraocular implant disposed in the interior space of the inserter tube, the intraocular implant comprising;

a proximal portion sized and shaped to reside within the anterior chamber, the proximal portion comprising a proximal opening;

a distal portion sized and shaped to reside within Schlemm'"'"'s canal, the distal portion comprising a distal opening; and

a passageway extending in a straight line from the proximal opening to the distal opening,

the shaft being adapted to advance a distal end of the intraocular implant out of the interior space and through the aperture into Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the distal portion of the intraocular implant further comprises a proximally-facing surface surrounding the distal opening.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the proximal portion of the intraocular implant further comprises a distally-facing surface configured to engage the trabecular meshwork within the anterior chamber.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the distally-facing surface surrounds the proximal opening.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the proximal portion of the intraocular implant further comprises a flange configured to engage the trabecular meshwork within the anterior chamber.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the intraocular implant comprises a tubular body.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the intraocular implant comprises a grommet.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the intraocular implant further comprises a middle portion having an outer cross-sectional dimension that is less than a cross-sectional dimension of the distal portion.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the cross-sectional dimension of the middle portion is less than a cross-sectional dimension of the proximal portion.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the intraocular implant abuts the shaft within the interior space.

11. A system comprising:

an ocular implant inserter configured to extend through an anterior chamber of an eye, the ocular implant inserter comprising;

a tool adapted to open an aperture in trabecular meshwork;

an inserter tube comprising an interior space; and

an intraocular implant disposed in the interior space of the inserter tube, the intraocular implant comprising;

a proximal portion sized and shaped to reside within the anterior chamber, the proximal portion comprising a proximal opening;

a distal portion sized and shaped to reside within Schlemm'"'"'s canal, the distal portion comprising a distal opening and a proximally-facing surface configured to engage an inner wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal on opposite sides of the aperture; and

a passageway extending from the proximal opening to the distal opening to conduct fluid from the anterior chamber to Schlemm'"'"'s canal,

the ocular implant inserter being adapted to deliver the intraocular implant out of the interior space and through an inner wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the passageway of the intraocular implant extends in a straight line from the proximal opening to the distal opening.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the proximally-facing surface surrounds the distal opening.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the proximal portion of the intraocular implant further comprises a distally-facing surface configured to engage the trabecular meshwork within the anterior chamber.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the distally facing surface surrounds the proximal opening.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein the proximal portion of the intraocular implant further comprises a flange configured to engage the trabecular meshwork within the anterior chamber.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein the intraocular implant further comprises a tubular body.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein the intraocular implant comprises a grommet.

19. The system of claim 11 wherein the intraocular implant further comprises a middle portion having an outer cross-sectional dimension that is less than a cross-sectional dimension of the distal portion.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the cross-sectional dimension of the middle portion is less than a cross-sectional dimension of the proximal portion.

21. The system of claim 11 wherein the ocular implant inserter further comprises a shaft disposed in the interior space and adapted to advance the intraocular implant out of the interior space and through the inner wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the intraocular implant abuts the shaft within the interior space.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the shaft is slidable within the interior space.