Shunt device and method for treating glaucoma
First Claim
1. A method of controlling the flow of aqueous humor in a living eye having an anterior chamber, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and an episcleral venous system, the method comprising:
- introducing into the living eye an indwelling tubular body which leads from the anterior chamber into Schlemm'"'"'s canal to provide an aqueous humor directing channel out of the anterior chamber;
anchoring the tubular body to reduce expulsion thereof from Schlemm'"'"'s canal; and
draining aqueous humor through the tubular body to reduce intraocular pressure in the living eye.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of controlling the flow of aqueous humor in a living eye having an anterior chamber, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and an episcleral venous system, the method comprising:
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introducing into the living eye an indwelling tubular body which leads from the anterior chamber into Schlemm'"'"'s canal to provide an aqueous humor directing channel out of the anterior chamber;
anchoring the tubular body to reduce expulsion thereof from Schlemm'"'"'s canal; and
draining aqueous humor through the tubular body to reduce intraocular pressure in the living eye.
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2. A method of controlling the flow of aqueous humor in a living eye having an anterior chamber, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and an episcleral venous system, the method comprising:
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introducing into the living eye an indwelling tubular body which leads from the anterior chamber into Schlemm'"'"'s canal to provide an aqueous humor directing channel out of the anterior chamber;
anchoring the tubular body to reduce expulsion thereof from the anterior chamber; and
draining aqueous humor through the tubular body to reduce intraocular pressure in the living eye.
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3. A method of controlling the flow of aqueous humor in a living eye having an anterior chamber, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and an episcleral venous system, the method comprising:
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introducing into the living eye an indwelling tubular body which leads from the anterior chamber into Schlemm'"'"'s canal to provide an aqueous humor directing channel out of the anterior chamber;
stabilizing the tubular body in the eye with an anchor portion of the tubular body; and
draining aqueous humor through the tubular body to reduce intraocular pressure in the living eye.
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4. A method of controlling the flow of aqueous humor in a living eye having an anterior chamber, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and an episcleral venous system, the method comprising:
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introducing into the living eye an indwelling tubular body which leads from the anterior chamber into Schlemm'"'"'s canal to provide an aqueous humor directing channel out of the anterior chamber; and
draining aqueous humor through the tubular body to reduce intraocular pressure in the living eye, wherein the tubular body comprises a therapeutic agent.
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5. A method of controlling the flow of aqueous humor in a living eye having an anterior chamber, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and an episcleral venous system, the method comprising:
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introducing into the living eye an indwelling tubular body which leads from the anterior chamber into Schlemm'"'"'s canal to provide an aqueous humor directing channel out of the anterior chamber; and
draining aqueous humor through the tubular body to reduce intraocular pressure in the living eye, wherein the tubular body is dimensioned to allow non-linear fluid communication, and wherein the tubular body comprises a V-shape.
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6. A method of controlling the flow of aqueous humor in a living eye having an anterior chamber, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and an episcleral venous system, the method comprising:
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introducing a tubular body between Schlemm'"'"'s canal and the anterior chamber, wherein the tubular body provides a first aqueous humor directing channel from the anterior chamber toward Schlemm'"'"'s canal;
anchoring the tubular body; and
draining aqueous humor through the tubular body to reduce build-up of aqueous humor in the living eye. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A method of controlling the flow of aqueous humor in an eye having an anterior chamber, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and a venous system, the method comprising:
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delivering into the eye an implantable tubular body having an inlet section positioned in the anterior chamber and a distal section positioned in Schlemm'"'"'s canal to facilitate flow of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber into Schlemm'"'"'s canal;
stabilizing the tubular body to provide retention thereof within Schlemm'"'"'s canal; and
conducting aqueous humor through the tubular body to reduce intraocular pressure in the eye.
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10. A method of controlling the flow of aqueous humor in an eye having an anterior chamber, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and a venous system, the method comprising:
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delivering into the eye an implantable tubular body having an inlet in the anterior chamber and an outlet in Schlemm'"'"'s canal to facilitate flow of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber into Schlemm'"'"'s canal;
stabilizing the tubular body to provide retention thereof within an outflow pathway; and
conducting aqueous humor through the stabilized tubular body to reduce intraocular pressure in the eye.
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11. A method of controlling the flow of aqueous humor in an eye having an anterior chamber, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and a venous system, the method comprising:
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delivering into the eye an implantable tubular body having an inlet in the anterior chamber and an outlet in Schlemm'"'"'s canal to facilitate flow of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber;
stabilizing the tubular body in the eye with a retention portion of the tubular body; and
conducting aqueous humor through the tubular body to reduce intraocular pressure in the eye.
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12. A method of controlling the flow of aqueous humor in an eye having an anterior chamber, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and a venous system, the method comprising:
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delivering into the eye an implantable tubular body having an inlet in the anterior chamber and an outlet in Schlemm'"'"'s canal to facilitate flow of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber; and
conducting aqueous humor through the tubular body to reduce intraocular pressure in the eye, wherein the tubular body is coated with a therapeutic agent.
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13. A method of controlling the flow of aqueous humor in an eye having an anterior chamber, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and a venous system, the method comprising:
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delivering into the eye an implantable tubular body having an inlet in the anterior chamber and an outlet in Schlemm'"'"'s canal to facilitate flow of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber; and
conducting aqueous humor through the tubular body to reduce intraocular pressure in the eye, wherein the tubular body is dimensioned to allow non-linear fluid communication, and wherein the tubular body comprises an inlet section and a distal section, wherein the distal section extends at an angle between about 30 degrees to about 150 degrees with reference to the inlet section.
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14. A method of controlling the flow of aqueous humor in an eye having an anterior chamber, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and a venous system, the method comprising:
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delivering a tubular body between Schlemm'"'"'s canal and the anterior chamber, wherein the tubular body facilitates flow of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber toward Schlemm'"'"'s canal;
stabilizing the tubular body; and
conducting aqueous humor through the tubular body to reduce build-up of aqueous humor in the eye. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A method of controlling the flow of aqueous humor in an eye having an anterior chamber, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and a venous system, the method comprising:
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introducing into the eye an indwelling tubular body which leads from the anterior chamber into Schlemm'"'"'s canal to provide a lumen which conducts aqueous humor out of the anterior chamber;
conforming an inner wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal to the shape of the tubular body; and
conducting aqueous humor through the tubular body to reduce intraocular pressure in the eye, wherein the tubular body has an outer diameter of between approximately 0.03 mm and 0.5 mm.
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18. A method of controlling the flow of aqueous humor in an eye having an anterior chamber, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and a venous system, the method comprising:
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placing a substantially hollow device in the eye leading from Schlemm'"'"'s canal to the anterior chamber of the eye, wherein device provides a lumen which conducts aqueous humor within Schlemm'"'"'s canal to guide the flow of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber toward the venous system, wherein the outer diameter of the portion of the device placed within Schlemm'"'"'s canal is between about 0.03 mm and 0.5 mm;
conforming an inner wall of Schlemm'"'"'s canal to the outer diameter of the device of between approximately 0.03 mm and 0.5 mm; and
conducting aqueous humor alone the lumen to maintain pressure above which would cause hypotony in the eye.
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19. A method of controlling the flow of aqueous humor in an eye having an anterior chamber, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and a venous system, the method comprising:
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providing a tubular body in Schlemm'"'"'s canal comprising an elongated lumen which conducts aqueous humor, wherein the outer diameter of the tubular body in Schlemm'"'"'s canal is between about 0.03 mm and 0.5 mm, and the lumen guides the flow of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber toward the venous system; and
conducting aqueous humor along the elongated lumen at a flow rate that maintains pressure in the eye above which would cause hypotony, wherein the tubular body is coated with a therapeutic agent.
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20. A method of controlling the flow of aqueous humor in an eye having an anterior chamber, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and a venous system, the method comprising:
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providing a tubular body in Schlemm'"'"'s canal comprising an elongated lumen, wherein the outer diameter of the tubular body in Schlemm'"'"'s canal is between about 0.03 mm and 0.5 mm, and the lumen facilitates the flow of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber toward the venous system; and
conducting aqueous humor along the elongated lumen at a flow rate that maintains pressure in the eye above which would cause hypotony, wherein the tubular body further comprises an inlet section and a distal section, wherein the distal section extends at an angle between about 30 degrees to about 150 degrees with reference to the inlet section.
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21. A method of controlling the flow of aqueous humor in an eye having an anterior chamber, a Schlemm'"'"'s canal, and a venous system, the method comprising:
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providing a tubular body in Schlemm'"'"'s canal comprising an elongated lumen which conducts aqueous humor, wherein the outer diameter of the tubular body in Schlemm'"'"'s canal is between about 0.03 mm and 0.5 mm, and the lumen guides the flow of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber toward the venous system; and
conducting aqueous humor along the elongated lumen at a flow rate that maintains pressure in the eye above which would cause hypotony, wherein the tubular body further comprises first and second portions that meet at a junction, the first and second portions being oriented transverse to each other. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification