Aqueous drainage and flow regulating implant

• US 20050267397A1
• Filed: 05/17/2005
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ajay Bhalla
• Original Assignee: Ajay Bhalla
• Inventors: Bhalla, Ajay
• Granted Patent: US 7,357,778 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00781 Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment drainage implants in general A61M27/002

Abstract

For use in controlling the release of aqueous from anterior chamber of the eye, a surgically implantable flow regulating implant is provided which is assembled in parts from a molded elastomeric plate, a flow regulating member and drainage tube. The elastomeric plate contains a pocket, a circular passageway and slots. The flow regulating member includes tabs and a resilient membrane, said tabs are securely attached to the plate inside the slots to support the membrane. The membrane being generally arch-shaped completely covers the pocket forming a releasable seal between the said pocket and outer surface of the said plate.

Claims

1. an aqueous flow regulating and drainage implant formed in parts from a molded elastomeric plate, a flow regulating member and a drainage tube,

said plate having proximal and distal regions, said proximal region of the plate containing a pocket, a circular passageway and slots,

said circular passageway generally curved is embedded inside said plate thickness, said passageway originating from the proximal vertical edge of the said plate and terminating into said pocket.

said drainage tube with proximal and distal end, said tube secured inside said passageway.

The outer surface of the said tube coincident and bonded with the said passageway inside said plate, with distal end of said tube in communication with the pocket and proximal end in communication with the anterior chamber of the eye,

said flow regulating member including tabs and a resilient membrane, said tabs being securely attached to said plate inside said slots to support said membrane, said membrane being generally arch-shaped and resiliently biased to normally contact outer surface of said plate in such a way that said membrane completely covers the pocket forming a releasable seal between the said pocket and outer surface of the said plate, said seal opening when differential pressure (say 10 mm of hg) across the seal exceeds set threshold pressure and closing when differential pressure (say 10 mm of hg) falls below set threshold pressure, said seal stays closed at threshold differential pressure setting.

2. The implant of claim 1 wherein the said pocket includes four face walls, one of the said walls is blended with top surface of the said plate and ends at the bottom of the other opposite face wall such that the said blended face is inclined at an angle with said opposite face wall.

3. The pocket of claim 5 wherein the each said face wall has face edges no longer then 0.35 inches.

4. The implant of claim 1 wherein the said circular passageway has length not more then 0.6 inches.

5. The implant of claim 1 wherein the diameter of circular passageway is not more then 0.06 inches.

6. The implant of claim 1 wherein the membrane of said flow regulating member has curvature such that the bottom part of the membrane has curvature similar to the top part of the said plate.

7. The implant of claim 1 wherein the said flow regulating member is formed of Silicone material.

8. The implant of claim 1 wherein the said plate is formed of a Silicone material.

9. The implant of claim 1 wherein the said plate has variable thickness.

10. The implant of claim 1 wherein the said plate has uniform thickness.

11. The implant of claim 1, wherein the said pocket has depth not more then 0.08″