Shunt with enclosed pressure-relief valve

• US 20050240143A1
• Filed: 04/13/2005
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Eye and EAR Infirmary & Physician Staff Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Eye and EAR Infirmary & Physician Staff Incorporated
• Inventors: Dohlman, Claes H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,156,821 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00781 Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment drainage implants in general A61M27/002

Abstract

A shunt for relief of intra-ocular pressure includes a pressure-relief valve and a jacket enclosing the pressure relief valve. When implanted on the sclera of an eye, the jacket protects the valve from interference by a capsule formed on the shunt.

Claims

1. A shunt for relief of intra-ocular pressure, the shunt comprising:

a pressure-relief valve having an inlet and an outlet;

an intake duct in fluid communication with the inlet;

a jacket enclosing the valve, the jacket forming a chamber for accumulation of fluid from the outlet; and

a drainage duct disposed to direct fluid away from the chamber.

2. A shunt for relief of intra-ocular pressure, the shunt comprising:

a pressure-relief valve; and

a jacket enclosing the pressure relief valve, whereby, when implanted on the sclera of an eye, the jacket protects the valve from interference by a capsule formed on the shunt.

3. The shunt of claim 2, wherein the jacket comprises silicone rubber.

4. The shunt of claim 2, wherein the jacket comprises a material impermeable to water.

5. The shunt of claim 2, further comprising an intake duct in fluid communications with the pressure-relief valve.

6. The shunt of claim 2, further comprising a drainage duct in fluid communication with the valve.

7. The shunt of claim 6, wherein the drainage duct is configured for drainage into a fornix of a lower lid of an eye.

8. The shunt of claim 6, wherein the drainage duct is configured for drainage into a nasal sinus cavity.

9. The shunt of claim 6, wherein the jacket forms a chamber for accumulation of fluid from the pressure-relief valve, and wherein the drainage duct is in fluid communication with the chamber.

10. The shunt of claim 6, wherein the drainage duct is configured for drainage into a lacrimal sac.

11. The shunt of claim 6, wherein the drainage duct in configured for drainage into the ethmoid sinus.

12. The shunt of claim 6, wherein the drainage duct in configured for drainage into the maxillary sinus.

13. A method for relieving intra-ocular pressure, the method comprising:

enclosing a pressure-relief valve in a jacket;

placing the jacket on the sclera; and

leading fluid from inside the eye into a chamber defined by the jacket; and

draining accumulated fluid from inside the chamber through a duct leading away from the chamber.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein leading fluid from inside the eye comprises leading fluid from the anterior chamber of the eye.

14. (canceled)

16. The method of claim 14, wherein draining fluid away from the chamber comprises draining fluid into a fornix of a lower lid of an eye.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein draining fluid away from the chamber comprises draining fluid into a lacrimal sac.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein draining fluid away from the chamber comprises draining fluid into a nasal sinus cavity.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein draining fluid into a sinus cavity comprises draining fluid into a sinus cavity selected from the group consisting of a maxillary sinus cavity and an ethmoid sinus cavity.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein draining fluid away from the chamber comprises draining fluid into an epithelial cavity.