Glaucoma stent and methods thereof for glaucoma treatment

• US 20020188308A1
• Filed: 04/08/2002
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Glaukos Corporation
• Original Assignee: Glaukos Corporation
• Inventors: Niksch, Barbara A., Smedley, Gregory T., Tu, Hosheng, Haffner, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,135,009 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/167
• 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 27/00 Drainage appliance for wounds or the like , i.e. wound drains, implanted drains negative pressure wound therapy devices A61M1/90; implements for holding wound open A61B17/02 ; middle ear drainage A61F11/202

Abstract

The invention relates generally to medical devices and methods for reducing the intraocular pressure in an animal eye and, more particularly, to stent type devices for permitting aqueous outflow from the eye'"'"'s anterior chamber and associated methods thereof for the treatment of glaucoma. Some aspects provide a self-trephining glaucoma stent and methods thereof which advantageously allow for a “one-step” procedure in which the incision and placement of the stent are accomplished by a single device and operation. This desirably allows for a faster, safer, and less expensive surgical procedure.

Claims

1. A stent for reducing intraocular pressure by providing outflow of aqueous humor from an anterior chamber of an eye, comprising:

an elongated tubular member having an inlet end and an outlet end;

the tubular member configured to extend through a trabecular meshwork of the eye such that the inlet end resides in the anterior chamber and the outlet end resides in a Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye;

an inner lumen within the tubular member, the lumen having an inlet port and an outlet port for providing a flow pathway through the tubular member; and

a cutting member connected to the tubular member, the cutting member configured to make an incision in the trabecular meshwork for receiving at least a portion of said tubular member.

2. A cutting glaucoma stent for reducing intraocular pressure in an eye, comprising:

a seat for stabilizing said stent within the eye;

a shank connected to said seat and adapted to extend through a trabecular meshwork of the eye; and

a lumen extending through said seat and shank and having at least one inlet port and at least one outlet port; and

an outflow member extending from one end of said shank and comprising a cutting tip at a distal end of said outflow member for making an incision in the trabecular meshwork for receiving said shank;

wherein the stent is configured to be placed in the eye such that the outflow member resides in a Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye, the shank extends through the trabecular meshwork of the eye, and the seat resides in an anterior chamber of the eye.

3. A method of implanting a trabecular stent device in an eye, said device having a snorkel connected to a blade, comprising the steps of:

advancing said blade at least partially through a trabecular meshwork of the eye to cut the trabecular meshwork and form an incision therein; and

inserting at least a portion of said snorkel in the incision to implant said device in the eye.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the snorkel comprises:

a seat for stabilizing said snorkel within the eye;

a shank connected to said seat and adapted to extend through a trabecular meshwork of the eye; and

a lumen extending through said seat and shank and having at least one inlet port and at least one outlet port; and

an outflow member extending from one end of said shank and connected to said blade;

wherein the snorkel is configured to be placed in the eye such that the outflow member resides in a Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye, the shank extends through the trabecular meshwork of the eye, and the seat resides in an anterior chamber of the eye.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein an operator performs the advancing step, and then, without removing the device from the eye, the operator performs the inserting step.