Storage apparatus for surgical implant device

• US 20040154946A1
• Filed: 11/06/2003
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Glaukos Corporation
• Original Assignee: Glaukos Corporation
• Inventors: Madden, Gregory, Gregory, William, Layer, James, Jacobs, Thomas, Solovay, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US10/702,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20040154946A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/438
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/00 Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00 specially adapted for toiletry or cosmetic equipment A45D29/20, A45D44/18; travelling sewing kits A45F3/48
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/02 Interior fittings; Means, e.g. inserts, for holding and packing articles
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/1691 Packages or dispensers for intraocular lenses for contact lenses A45C11/005
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00781 Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment drainage implants in general A61M27/002

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a storage apparatus for a surgical implant device that protects the integrity of a surgical implant device during transport, provides protection of the surgical implant device prior to the use of the device in surgery, and facilitates the handling of the surgical implant device by the operator.

Claims

1. An apparatus for storing a surgical implant device, wherein the apparatus comprises:

a. a base comprising at least one recessed surgical device retaining mount; and

b. a cover configured to releasably engage the base.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surgical implant device is a bi-directional shunt for diverting aqueous humor in the eye, and the apparatus comprises two surgical implant retaining mounts for securing the surgical implant device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the recessed surgical device retaining mount is continuous over the shape of the surgical implant device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base comprises at least one access area adjacent the recessed surgical device retaining mounts to aid in removal of the surgical implant device.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the two surgical implant device retaining mounts are recessed into the base at an angle of between about 10°

and 150°

from one another.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the two surgical implant device retaining mounts are recessed into the base at an angle of between about 30°

and 120°

from one another.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the two surgical implant device retaining mounts are recessed into the base at an angle of between about 45°

and 90°

from one another.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the two surgical implant device retaining mounts are between about 0.1 to 2.0 mm in diameter.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base contains at least one slot and the cover contains at least one tab for releasably engaging the cover to and from the base.

10. An apparatus for storing a surgical implant device, wherein the apparatus comprises:

a. an elongated barrel having a proximal end with a port, a narrower distal end with a port and a diameter transition portion therebetween;

b. an elongated plunger having a proximal end, a distal end for movable insertion within the narrower distal port of an outer barrel, and a shaft therebetween for insertion within the proximal port of the barrel, wherein the distal end of the plunger comprises at least one recessed surgical implant device retaining mount; and

c. a nosepiece configured to releasably engage the distal portion of the outer barrel.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a biasing means to maintain the surgical implant device retaining mounts on the distal end of the plunger protected within the distal end of the barrel when in a relaxed position, and to provide biased resistance to extending the surgical implant device retaining mounts distally beyond the distal port of the outer barrel.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the biasing means is a coil spring attached at one end to the shaft of the plunger and at another end to the diameter transition portion of the barrel.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 having two surgical implant device retaining mounts, wherein two of the surgical implant device retaining mounts are recessed into the distal end of the plunger at an angle of between about 10°

and 150°

from one another.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 having two surgical implant device retaining mounts, wherein two of the surgical implant device retaining mounts are recessed into the distal end of the plunger at an angle of between about 30°

and 120°

from one another.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 having two surgical implant device retaining mounts, wherein two of the surgical implant device retaining mounts are recessed into the distal end of the plunger at an angle of between about 45°

and 90°

from one another.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 having two surgical implant device retaining mounts, wherein two of the surgical implant device retaining mounts are between about 0.1 and 2.0 mm in diameter.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the shaft of the plunger is prevented from moving within the narrower distal end of the barrel by abutting the diameter transition portion.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a surgical implant device mounted in the distal end of the plunger.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the surgical implant device is fully enclosed within the barrel and nosepiece when in a storage position, and the surgical implant device is at least partially exposed through the distal port of the barrel by removing the nosepiece and moving the plunger distally when in a delivery position.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the surgical implant device is a bi-directional shunt for diverting aqueous humor in the eye.