Ocular implant delivery system and method
First Claim
1. A system for delivering an ocular implant into Schlemm'"'"'s canal through an incision associated with cataract surgery, the system comprising:
- a cannula defining a central axis and a passageway extending from a proximal end to a distal end along the central axis, the cannula having a distal opening extending through a side wall and the distal end of the cannula to form a trough, a curved distal portion, a curved intermediate portion, and a proximal portion;
an ocular implant disposed within the passageway of the cannula; and
a delivery tool having a distal interlocking portion engaging a complementary interlocking portion of the ocular implant; and
wherein the intermediate portion of the cannula has a first radius of curvature along the central axis and the distal portion has a second radius of curvature along the central axis, the first radius of curvature being greater than the second radius of curvature to allow for substantially tangential entry of the cannula into Schlemm'"'"'s canal through the incision.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for deploying an ocular implant into Schlemm'"'"'s canal of an eye. The method includes the steps of inserting a distal end of a cannula through a cornea of the eye and into an anterior chamber of the eye, the cannula having a distal opening extending from the distal end and through a side wall, a curved distal portion and a curved intermediate portion; placing the distal opening of the cannula into fluid communication with Schlemm'"'"'s canal; advancing the ocular implant distally through the cannula with a delivery tool engaged with the ocular implant, a proximal portion of the ocular implant engaging the delivery tool proximal to a distal portion of the delivery tool; and disengaging the ocular implant and the delivery tool when the proximal portion of the ocular implant reaches the cannula distal opening.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system for delivering an ocular implant into Schlemm'"'"'s canal through an incision associated with cataract surgery, the system comprising:
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a cannula defining a central axis and a passageway extending from a proximal end to a distal end along the central axis, the cannula having a distal opening extending through a side wall and the distal end of the cannula to form a trough, a curved distal portion, a curved intermediate portion, and a proximal portion; an ocular implant disposed within the passageway of the cannula; and a delivery tool having a distal interlocking portion engaging a complementary interlocking portion of the ocular implant; and wherein the intermediate portion of the cannula has a first radius of curvature along the central axis and the distal portion has a second radius of curvature along the central axis, the first radius of curvature being greater than the second radius of curvature to allow for substantially tangential entry of the cannula into Schlemm'"'"'s canal through the incision. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A cannula for delivering an ocular implant into Schlemm'"'"'s canal of an eye through an incision associated with cataract surgery, the cannula comprising:
a tubular member having a central axis and a side wall and extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the tubular member comprising; a passageway extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the tubular member along the central axis; a generally straight proximal portion extending distally from the proximal end to a first point; a curved intermediate portion extending distally from the first point to a second point proximal to the distal end; a curved distal portion extending distally from the second point to the distal end; and a distal opening extending through the side wall and the distal end of the cannula to form a trough; and wherein the intermediate portion of the cannula has a first radius of curvature along the central axis and the distal portion has a second radius of curvature along the central axis and the first radius of curvature is greater than the second radius of curvature to allow for substantially tangential entry of the cannula into Schlemm'"'"'s canal through the incision. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A method of deploying an ocular implant into Schlemm'"'"'s canal of an eye, comprising:
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inserting a distal end of a cannula through an incision optimized for cataract surgery in a cornea of the eye and into an anterior chamber of the eye, the cannula comprising a central axis and a passageway extending from a proximal end to a distal end along the central axis, the cannula further comprising a distal opening extending through a side wall and the distal end of the cannula to form a trough, a curved distal portion, a curved intermediate portion, and a proximal portion, wherein the curved intermediate portion of the cannula has a first radius of curvature along the central axis and the distal curved portion has a second radius of curvature along the central axis different than the first radius of curvature; placing the distal opening of the cannula into fluid communication with Schlemm'"'"'s canal; advancing an ocular implant distally through the cannula with a delivery tool engaged with the ocular implant, a proximal portion of the ocular implant engaging the delivery tool proximal to a distal portion of the delivery tool; and disengaging the ocular implant and the delivery tool when the proximal portion of the ocular implant reaches distal opening of the cannula. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of deploying an ocular implant into Schlemm'"'"'s canal of an eye, comprising:
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inserting a distal end of a cannula through an incision in the eye and into an anterior chamber of the eye, wherein a location of the incision is optimized for a cataract surgery, the cannula comprising a central axis and a passageway extending from a proximal end to a distal end along the central axis, the cannula further comprising a distal opening extending through a side wall and the distal end of the cannula to form a trough, a curved distal portion, a curved intermediate portion, and a proximal portion, wherein the curved intermediate portion of the cannula has a first radius of curvature along the central axis and the curved distal portion has a second radius of curvature along the central axis different than the first radius of curvature; placing the distal opening of the cannula into fluid communication with Schlemm'"'"'s canal such that the cannula enters Schlemm'"'"'s canal in a substantially tangential orientation; advancing an ocular implant distally through the cannula with a delivery tool engaged with the ocular implant, a proximal portion of the ocular implant engaging the delivery tool proximal to a distal portion of the delivery tool; and disengaging the ocular implant and the delivery tool when the proximal portion of the ocular implant reaches distal opening of the cannula. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification