Glaucoma implant with multiple openings

• US 20050209549A1
• Filed: 05/06/2005
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Morteza Gharib, Olav B. Bergheim
• Original Assignee: Morteza Gharib, Olav B. Bergheim
• Inventors: Gharib, Morteza (Mory), Bergheim, Olav B.
• Application Number:
  US11/123,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20050209549A1
• 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. An implant for treating glaucoma, the implant having a first end and a second end and comprising:

an inlet at the first end;

a first outlet opening at the second end, the first outlet being in fluid communication with the inlet opening along a flow path;

a second outlet in the implant, the second outlet being spaced apart from the first and second ends and being in fluid communication with the inlet and the first outlet;

wherein the implant is configured to be positioned in an eye such that the inlet is in the anterior chamber of the eye while the first outlet is in Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye; and

wherein a distance along the flow path from the inlet to the second outlet is less than a distance along the flow path from the inlet to the first outlet.

2. An implant for treating glaucoma, the implant having a first end and a second end and comprising:

an inlet at the first end;

a first outlet opening at the second end, the first outlet being in fluid communication with the inlet opening along a flow path;

a second outlet in the implant, the second outlet being spaced apart from the first and second ends and being in fluid communication with the inlet and the first outlet;

wherein the implant is configured to be positioned in an eye such that the inlet is in the anterior chamber of the eye while the first outlet is in Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye; and

wherein a distance along the flow path from the first outlet to the second outlet is less than a distance along the flow path from the inlet to the first outlet.

3. A method of treating glaucoma, comprising:

inserting an implant through an incision in an eye into the anterior chamber of the eye;

transporting the implant from the incision through the anterior chamber of the eye to Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye;

positioning the implant such that an inflow portion of the implant is positioned to bypass the trabecular meshwork of the eye and receive fluid from the anterior chamber, and an outflow portion of the implant is positioned in Schlemm'"'"'s canal;

wherein, when the implant is positioned, a side opening of the implant, located between an inlet in the inflow portion and an outlet in the outflow portion, is positioned in Schlemm'"'"'s canal.