Apparatus for delivery of ocular implants
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for implanting an ocular implant into the vitreous of a patient'"'"'s eye, comprising:
- an elongate housing having a longitudinal axis;
a cannula extending longitudinally from the housing, the cannula having a lumen extending therethrough and being configured to receive an ocular implant within the cannula lumen;
a plunger rod receivable within the cannula lumen and moveable from a first to second position; and
a linkage having a moveable end connected to the plunger rod, and a fixed end secured to the housing, the moveable end of the linkage being capable of movement from a first to a second position relative to the housing upon application to the linkage of a force normal to the housing axis, thereby moving the plunger rod from the first to the second position.
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Abstract
An apparatus and methods for delivering ocular implants or microimplants. The apparatus is ergonomically designed for ease of use, and a simple manual depression of an actuator produces proportional movement of a linkage causing the implant or microimplant to be ejected through a cannula disposed at the desired location in the eye. Small gauge cannulas are provided for self-sealing methods of delivery.
100 Citations
36 Claims
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1. An apparatus for implanting an ocular implant into the vitreous of a patient'"'"'s eye, comprising:
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an elongate housing having a longitudinal axis;
a cannula extending longitudinally from the housing, the cannula having a lumen extending therethrough and being configured to receive an ocular implant within the cannula lumen;
a plunger rod receivable within the cannula lumen and moveable from a first to second position; and
a linkage having a moveable end connected to the plunger rod, and a fixed end secured to the housing, the moveable end of the linkage being capable of movement from a first to a second position relative to the housing upon application to the linkage of a force normal to the housing axis, thereby moving the plunger rod from the first to the second position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 23)
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16. An apparatus for implanting an ocular implant into the vitreous of a patient'"'"'s eye, comprising:
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an elongate housing having a longitudinal axis;
a cannula extending longitudinally from the housing, the cannula having a lumen extending therethrough;
a plunger rod received within the cannula lumen and in engagement with the implant, the plunger rob being moveable from a first to second position; and
a linkage having a moveable end connected to the plunger rod, and a fixed end secured to the housing, an actuating lever having a first end pivotally mounted within the housing, and a second end in engagement with the linkage, a removable tab with a pin interposed to prevent movement of the moveable end of the linkage, and a cap for placement over a forward end of the housing, wherein, upon removable of the tab, movement of the second end of the actuating lever against the linkage in a direction normal to the housing axis causes translational movement of the moveable end of the linkage from a first to second position parallel to the housing axis, thereby moving the plunger rod from the first to the second position and ejecting the implant from the cannula. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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24. A method of delivering an ocular implant into the vitreous of a patient'"'"'s eye using an apparatus comprising a cannula having a proximal end, a distal sharp end, and a lumen extending therethrough, a microimplant received within the lumen, and a plunger rod received through the proximal end of the cannula, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) puncturing the outer layer of a patient'"'"'s eye with the cannula and inserting the cannula into the vitreous of a patient'"'"'s eye;
(b) moving the plunger rod from the proximal end of the cannula toward the distal end of the cannula, thereby ejecting the implant from the cannula; and
(c) removing the cannula and push rod from the patient'"'"'s eye. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. An apparatus for implanting an ocular implant at a location in a patient'"'"'s eye comprising:
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a cannula having a lumen extending therethrough configured to receive an ocular implant; and
a sleeve for retaining an implant received within the cannula lumen to minimize inadvertent release of the implant from the cannula. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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36. A method of intravitreal delivery of an ocular implant using an apparatus comprising a cannula having a proximal end, a distal sharp end, and a lumen extending therethrough, a microimplant received within the lumen, and a plunger rod received through the proximal end of the cannula, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) puncturing the outer layer of a patient'"'"'s eye with the cannula and inserting the cannula into the vitreous of a patient'"'"'s eye (b) moving the plunger rod from the proximal end of the cannula toward the distal end of the cannula, thereby ejecting the implant from the cannula into the vitreous; and
(c) removing the cannula and push rod from the patient'"'"'s eye.
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Specification