Device for treating glaucoma
First Claim
1. An implantable device for treatment of glaucoma of the eye, the implantable device comprising:
- an elongate duct for diverting aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the eye, said elongate duct having a central longitudinal axis with a proximal end and distal end opposite one another; and
at least one element spaced apart from the proximal end and the distal end of said elongate duct and extending radially outward beyond an outer surface of said elongate duct in at least two directions transverse to the central longitudinal axis of said elongate duct to respective outer edges, wherein each outer edge has a first portion having a tapered profile facing the distal end of said elongate duct, and has a second portion at a maximal radial offset with respect to the central longitudinal axis, the second portion of said outer edges defining a maximal cross-sectional dimension of the device, and wherein the first and second portions of each outer edge extend longitudinally relative to the central longitudinal axis of said elongate duct;
wherein said at least one element is configured to deform in a tissue passage leading into the anterior chamber of the eye as it is inserted into the tissue passage in response to forces applied by surrounding ocular tissue of the tissue passage, and wherein said outer edges of said at least one element are configured to contact and form a seal with ocular tissue that surrounds the at least one element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable device for treatment of glaucoma of the eye. In one aspect, the device includes an elongate duct for diverting aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the eye, the elongate duct having a central axis with a proximal end and distal end opposite one another. A least one element is spaced apart from the proximal end and the distal end of said elongate duct and extends radially outward beyond an outer surface of said elongate duct in at least two directions transverse to the central axis of said elongate duct, wherein the at least one element has a distal portion with a tapered profile facing the distal end of said elongate duct. The at least one element is configured to deform in a tissue passage leading into the anterior chamber of the eye as it is inserted into the tissue passage in response to forces applied by surrounding ocular tissue of the tissue passage. Other aspects are also described and claimed.
47 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An implantable device for treatment of glaucoma of the eye, the implantable device comprising:
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an elongate duct for diverting aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the eye, said elongate duct having a central longitudinal axis with a proximal end and distal end opposite one another; and at least one element spaced apart from the proximal end and the distal end of said elongate duct and extending radially outward beyond an outer surface of said elongate duct in at least two directions transverse to the central longitudinal axis of said elongate duct to respective outer edges, wherein each outer edge has a first portion having a tapered profile facing the distal end of said elongate duct, and has a second portion at a maximal radial offset with respect to the central longitudinal axis, the second portion of said outer edges defining a maximal cross-sectional dimension of the device, and wherein the first and second portions of each outer edge extend longitudinally relative to the central longitudinal axis of said elongate duct; wherein said at least one element is configured to deform in a tissue passage leading into the anterior chamber of the eye as it is inserted into the tissue passage in response to forces applied by surrounding ocular tissue of the tissue passage, and wherein said outer edges of said at least one element are configured to contact and form a seal with ocular tissue that surrounds the at least one element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An implantable device for treatment of glaucoma of the eye, the implantable device consisting of:
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an elongate duct for diverting aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the eye, said elongate duct having a central longitudinal axis with a proximal end and distal end opposite one another; and at least one element spaced apart from the proximal end and the distal end of said elongate duct and extending radially outward beyond an outer surface of said elongate duct in at least two directions transverse to the central longitudinal axis of said elongate duct to respective outer edges, wherein said at least one element has a distal portion with a tapered profile facing the distal end of said elongate duct, wherein said at least one element is configured to deform in a tissue passage leading into the anterior chamber of the eye as it is inserted into the tissue passage in response to forces applied by surrounding ocular tissue of the tissue passage, and wherein said outer edges of said at least one element are configured to contact and form a seal with ocular tissue that surrounds the at least one element, and wherein each outer edge has a first portion having a tapered profile facing the distal end of said elongate duct, and has a second portion at a maximal radial offset with respect to the central longitudinal axis, the second portion of said outer edges defining a maximal cross-sectional dimension of the device, and wherein the first and second portions of each outer edge extend longitudinally relative to the central longitudinal axis of said elongate duct. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification