Device for treating glaucoma & method of manufacture
First Claim
1. A device for treating glaucoma comprising a one way valve that opens and closes in response to intraocular pressure within an eye of a patient suffering from glaucoma, said valve including a valve body having a first end through which flows aqueous humor from an eye of a patient suffering from glaucoma upon implantation of the device into the eye, and a second end opposed to the first end of the valve body to which one end of an inlet tube is attached, said inlet tube having a free end opposed to said one end of the inlet tube, said free end being adapted to be inserted into an intraocular chamber of a patient suffering from glaucoma to enable the aqueous humor to flow from the intraocular chamber when the pressure with the intraocular chamber is at a predetermined level, and a distribution plate made of a flexible, resilient material and having a first end, a second end opposed to the first end, a substantially concave substantially smooth underside surface, a substantially convex topside surface, said plate including a pocket molded therein near the first end of the plate in which the valve is seated with the first end of the valve facing inward towards the second end of the plate, said pocket including a top wall forming at least a portion of the convex topside surface of the plate, said top wall having a first opening therein near the first end of the plate that provides access to enable the valve to be inserted into the pocket by manipulation of the top wall, a recess at the first end of the plate adjacent the first opening into which a section of the first end of the inlet tube is seated upon insertion of the valve into the pocket, and a second opening inward of the first opening that allows aqueous humor flowing from the first end of the valve to flow through the second opening onto the topside surface.
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Abstract
A device implanted in an eye of a patient suffering from glaucoma includes a valve seated in a pocket of a plate. The pocket includes a flexible, resilient top wall forming at least a portion of a topside surface of the plate. A channel in communication with an outlet of the valve has a open top that allows aqueous humor flowing from the outlet of the valve to flow onto the topside surface of the plate.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A device for treating glaucoma comprising
a one way valve that opens and closes in response to intraocular pressure within an eye of a patient suffering from glaucoma, said valve including a valve body having a first end through which flows aqueous humor from an eye of a patient suffering from glaucoma upon implantation of the device into the eye, and a second end opposed to the first end of the valve body to which one end of an inlet tube is attached, said inlet tube having a free end opposed to said one end of the inlet tube, said free end being adapted to be inserted into an intraocular chamber of a patient suffering from glaucoma to enable the aqueous humor to flow from the intraocular chamber when the pressure with the intraocular chamber is at a predetermined level, and a distribution plate made of a flexible, resilient material and having a first end, a second end opposed to the first end, a substantially concave substantially smooth underside surface, a substantially convex topside surface, said plate including a pocket molded therein near the first end of the plate in which the valve is seated with the first end of the valve facing inward towards the second end of the plate, said pocket including a top wall forming at least a portion of the convex topside surface of the plate, said top wall having a first opening therein near the first end of the plate that provides access to enable the valve to be inserted into the pocket by manipulation of the top wall, a recess at the first end of the plate adjacent the first opening into which a section of the first end of the inlet tube is seated upon insertion of the valve into the pocket, and a second opening inward of the first opening that allows aqueous humor flowing from the first end of the valve to flow through the second opening onto the topside surface.
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14. A device for treating glaucoma comprising
a one way valve that opens and closes in response to intraocular pressure within an eye of a patient suffering from glaucoma, said valve including an inlet tube having a one end attached to the valve and a free end adapted to be inserted into an intraocular chamber the eye to allow aqueous humor from the intraocular chamber to flow into the free end and through the valve when the intraocular pressure exceeds a predetermined level, a plate including a pocket with a channel extending therefrom, said pocket and valve having substantially the same configurations so the valve fits snug within the pocket, said pocket including a flexible, resilient top wall forming at least a portion of a topside surface of the plate, said top wall having an opening therein that enables the valve to be inserted into the pocket, said channel having a open top that allows aqueous humor flowing from the valve to flow onto the topside surface of the plate.
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22. A device for treating glaucoma comprising
a one way valve including an inlet and outlet, a body including plate and within the body a pocket in which the valve is seated, a channel in the body in communication with the outlet of the valve, said pocket including a flexible, resilient top wall forming at least a portion of a topside surface of the plate, said top wall having an opening therein that enables the valve to be inserted into the pocket, said channel having an open top that allows aqueous humor flowing from the outlet of the valve to flow onto the topside surface of the plate, said opening in the top wall and the open top of the channel forming a unitary, elongated aperture in said topside surface.
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32. A method of manufacturing a medical device that includes a valve placed in a pocket in a body of the device, said valve having a predetermined overall configuration and said body having a predetermined overall configuration of greater volume than the valve, said method comprising
providing a first mold having a cavity therein having a configuration substantially the same as the overall configuration of the body, providing a second mold adapted to be inserted into the cavity in the first mold to thereby provide a space between the assembled first and second molds, said second mold including an upright element and a tongue attached thereto having a predetermined configuration substantially the same as the configuration of the valve, inserting the second mold into the cavity in the first mold with the upright element projecting outward from the cavity to facilitate removal of the second mold from the first mold after formation of the body, said removal of the second mold forming an opening providing access to an interior of the pocket to enable the valve to be placed within the pocket, injecting a molten plastic into the space between the assembled first and second molds with the tongue forming the pocket in the body and upright element forming the opening in the pocket, said molten plastic upon solidification being resilient, after solidification of the plastic, separating the first and second molds, and placing the valve in the pocket by inserting said valve through the opening.
Specification