Glaucoma implant with bi-directional flow

• US 20040249333A1
• Filed: 07/12/2004
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Morteza Gharib, Olav B. Bergheim
• Original Assignee: Glayco Corporation
• Inventors: Gharib, Morteza (Mory), Bergheim, Olav B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,273,050 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/8
• 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

An glaucoma implant is disclosed, comprising a body having a first portion and a second portion, said implant configured to transport fluid from the anterior chamber of an eye to Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye, said body being substantially L-shaped when an end of the first portion is disposed in the anterior chamber and an end of the second portion is disposed in Schlemm'"'"'s canal, said implant having outflow openings disposed to deliver said fluid in opposite directions in Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

Claims

1. An implant comprising a body having a first portion and a second portion, said implant configured to transport fluid from the anterior chamber of an eye to Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye, said body being substantially L-shaped when an end of the first portion is disposed in the anterior chamber and an end of the second portion is disposed in Schlemm'"'"'s canal, said implant having outflow openings disposed to deliver said fluid in opposite directions in Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

2. The implant of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a tube.

3. The implant of claim 1, wherein the body has a lumen with an oval cross-section.

4. The implant of claim 1, wherein both of the outflow openings are in the body.

5. A method of treating glaucoma, comprising:

inserting an implant through an incision in the cornea of said eye;

transporting the implant from the incision through the anterior chamber of the eye to Schlemm'"'"'s canal such that an inflow portion of the implant is positioned to receive fluid from the anterior chamber and an outflow portion of the drainage implant is positioned in Schlemm'"'"'s canal;

wherein said implant is nonlinear after insertion.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the implant is substantially L-shaped after insertion.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the implant is nonlinear prior to insertion.