Flow control device, introducer and method of implanting
First Claim
1. An implant in combination with a delivery device for implanting the implant, wherein the implant comprises a tube and an outwardly extending retention projection, wherein the delivery device comprises a tube having an outside surface and a central bore for accommodating the implant, and wherein the delivery device has an opening in the side of the tube allowing the retention projection to project beyond the outside surface of the tube of the delivery device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implant having a tube for permitting fluid flow has an outer flange at the outlet end and a retention projection near the inlet end. A delivery device for implanting the implant has a central bore for accommodating the implant during the implantation procedure. When the implant is loaded in the delivery device, the retention projection of the implant protrudes beyond the outside surface of the delivery device. After the delivery device and implant have penetrated the tissue through which drainage is desired, and the retention projection has fully penetrated through the tissue, the delivery device is withdrawn. The retention projection acts as a hook engaging the inside surface of the tissue, causing the implant to stay implanted in the tissue. An implant may also be provided with a mechanism for temporary occlusion, in whole or in part, of the flow passage. Thus, the tube passage may be filled, partially or wholly, with absorbable material and/or a plurality of withdrawable or advanceable flow controlling strands.
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Citations
36 Claims
- 1. An implant in combination with a delivery device for implanting the implant, wherein the implant comprises a tube and an outwardly extending retention projection, wherein the delivery device comprises a tube having an outside surface and a central bore for accommodating the implant, and wherein the delivery device has an opening in the side of the tube allowing the retention projection to project beyond the outside surface of the tube of the delivery device.
- 6. An implant in combination with a delivery device for implanting the implant, wherein the implant comprises a tube having an inlet end and an outlet end and an outwardly extending retention projection, wherein the delivery device comprises a tube having an outside surface, a central bore for accommodating the implant and an opening at one end for allowing the implant to exit the central bore, and wherein the implant is accommodated within the central bore with its inlet end closer to the opening than its outlet end so that the inlet end of the implant exits the central bore of the delivery device before the outlet end.
- 11. A delivery device for use in implanting an implant, wherein the delivery device comprises a tube having an outside surface and a central bore for accommodating the implant, and wherein the delivery device has an opening in the side of the tube allowing a retention projection of the implant to project beyond the outside surface of the tube of the delivery device.
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13. A method of implanting an implant, comprising the steps of:
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placing the implant in a central bore of a delivery device, said placing step including allowing a retention projection of the implant to project beyond an outer surface of a tube of the delivery device;
inserting the delivery device with the implant placed in the delivery device through tissue into which the implant is to be implanted; and
withdrawing the delivery device, leaving the implant implanted in the tissue.
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14. A method of implanting an implant, comprising the steps of:
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placing the implant in a central bore of a delivery device, said placing step including positioning the implant so that the implant is accommodated within the central bore with an inlet end of the implant closer to an opening in the delivery device than an outlet end of the implant;
inserting the delivery device with the implant placed in the delivery device through tissue into which the implant is to be implanted; and
withdrawing the delivery device, leaving the implant implanted in the tissue.
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15. A method of manufacturing a flow control device comprising the steps of:
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providing a mold having a cavity with a generally tubular shape;
positioning a wire within the mold such that the wire is suspended to extend along a longitudinal axis of the generally tubular shaped cavity;
putting a moldable material into the mold; and
allowing the moldable material to harden such that it hardens in the generally tubular shape of the mold, with a longitudinal tube passage formed in the hardened material on account of the wire positioned in the mold.
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16. An implant for regulating fluid flow comprising:
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a tube comprising an inlet end, an outlet end, and a tube passage extending between the inlet end and the outlet end for permitting fluid to flow through the tube passage; and
absorbable material located within the tube passage, wherein initially the absorbable material serves to partially or wholly obstruct flow through the tube passage and wherein the absorbable material erodes as it contacts fluid such that the obstruction of flow through the tube passage is reduced over time. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. An implant for regulating fluid flow comprising:
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a tube comprising an inlet end, an outlet end, and a tube passage extending between the inlet end and the outlet end for permitting fluid to flow through the tube passage; and
one or more flow controlling strands located within the tube passage, wherein initially the one or more flow controlling strands serve to partially or wholly obstruct flow through the tube passage and wherein at least one flow controlling strand may be displaced with respect to the tube passage to change the obstruction of flow through the tube passage. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An implant for regulating fluid flow comprising:
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a tube comprising an inlet end, an outlet end, and a tube passage extending between the inlet end and the outlet end for permitting fluid to flow through the tube passage; and
means for temporarily obstructing, in whole or in part, fluid flow through the tube passage. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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Specification