Devices and techniques for treating glaucoma

• US 20040186534A1
• Filed: 01/27/2004
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SOLX, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SOLX, Inc.
• Inventors: Shadduck, John H.
• Granted Patent: US 6,989,007 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/88
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/263 the conversion of laser energy into mechanical shockwaves taking place in a liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00868 Ciliary muscles or trabecular meshwork
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00891 Glaucoma
• 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: A61F 9/008 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00821 for coagulation

Abstract

A system for non-invasive treatment of a patient'"'"'s trabecular meshwork to treat primary open-angle glaucoma. The system and technique applies energy directly to media within clogged spaces in a patient'"'"'s trabecular meshwork to increase aqueous outflow facility by (i) localization of microimplantable bodies carrying a selected exogenous chromophore, such as particles with a gold surface, in deeper regions of the trabecular meshwork, and (ii) irradiation of the microimplantables with a selected coherent wavelength having a power level and pulse duration that is strongly absorbed by the surfaces of the microimplantables.

Claims

1. A method for treating trabecular meshwork regions of a human eye, comprising the steps of:

(a) localizing a volume of particles carrying a selected chromophore within spaces of the meshwork;

(b) irradiating the particles with a beam of photonic energy having a wavelength, power, and pulse duration that is absorbed by the selected chromophore; and

(c) wherein the chromophore comprises gold within a surface layer of said particles thereby applying energy to the irradiated region of the meshwork.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the irradiating step causes a thermal effect within the irradiated region of the meshwork.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the irradiating step causes a cavitation effect within the irradiated region of the meshwork.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said cavitation delivers mechanical energy to media within the meshwork.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the particles have an average diameter of less than about 500 nm.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the particles have an average diameter less than about 200 nm.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the irradiating step utilizes a wavelength domain ranging from about 380 nm to 820 nm.

8. A system for delivering energy to trabecular meshwork regions of a human eye, comprising:

a volume of particles having an average cross-section of less than about 500 nm;

a coherent light source providing a selected wavelength in a range between about 380 nm and 820 nm; and

wherein the particles have a gold surface.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the particles have an average diameter of less that about 500 nm.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the particles have an average diameter of less that about 100 nm.

12. The system of claim 12 wherein the particles comprise a gold shell.

11. The system of claim 12 wherein the particles comprise a gold particle.

13. A method for applying energy to a patient'"'"'s trabecular meshwork, comprising the steps of:

(a) non-invasively irradiating the meshwork region with coherent light pulses having a wavelength between 380 nm and 820 nm;

(b) wherein the power level, pulse duration and pulse interval are selected to cause microimplantables with a gold surface to absorb energy and thereby apply energy to surrounding body media.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said irradiating step causes thermal effects in said media.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said irradiating step causes acoustic effects in said media.