Glaucoma implant kit

• US 20040210185A1
• Filed: 02/19/2004
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Glaukos Corporation
• Original Assignee: Glaukos Corporation
• Inventors: Gharib, Morteza, Tu, Hosheng, Haffner, David
• Application Number:
  US10/782,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20040210185A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00891 Glaucoma
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0067 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/007 Methods or devices for eye surgery
• 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: A61K 9/0051 Ocular inserts, ocular implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0612 Eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/002 Implant devices for drainage of body fluids from one part of the body to another intraocular A61F9/00781; middle ear A61F11/202
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 27/06 Antiglaucoma agents or miotics
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/905 Eye

Abstract

Surgical methods and related medical devices for treating glaucoma are disclosed. The method comprises trabecular bypass surgery, which involve bypassing diseased trabecular meshwork with the use of a seton implant. The seton implant is used to prevent a healing process known as filling in, which has a tendency to close surgically created openings in the trabecular meshwork. The surgical method and novel implant are addressed to the trabecular meshwork, which is a major site of resistance to outflow in glaucoma. In addition to bypassing the diseased trabecular meshwork at the level of the trabecular meshwork, existing outflow pathways are also used or restored. The seton implant is positioned through the trabecular meshwork so that an inlet end of the seton implant is exposed to the anterior chamber of the eye and an outlet end is positioned into fluid collection channels at about an exterior surface of the trabecular meshwork or up to the level of aqueous veins.

Claims

1. A glaucoma treatment kit, comprising:

an implant comprising;

an outflow portion sized and shaped to be received within Schlemm'"'"'s canal of an eye; and

an inflow portion in fluid communication with the outflow portion, the inflow portion configured to be disposed in the anterior chamber of the eye;

wherein a long axis of the inflow portion is disposed at an angle to a long axis of the outflow portion; and

an applicator configured to be introduced into the anterior chamber, the applicator comprising a tube, wherein the tube releasably holds at least part of the implant.

2. The glaucoma treatment kit of claim 1, wherein the tube releasably holds at least part of the inflow portion of the implant.

3. The glaucoma treatment kit of claim 1, wherein the implant is substantially L-shaped.