Shunt device and method for treating glaucoma
First Claim
1. A method for reducing side effects of glaucoma surgery, comprising;
- providing a surgically implantable device adapted to provide fluid flow, wherein the device is coated with a therapeutic agent;
transporting aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the eye to an internal anatomical structure of the eye by implantation of the surgical device; and
establishing a flow rate of the aqueous humor that reduces intraocular pressure without hypotony.
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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.
167 Citations
68 Claims
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1. A method for reducing side effects of glaucoma surgery, comprising;
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providing a surgically implantable device adapted to provide fluid flow, wherein the device is coated with a therapeutic agent;
transporting aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the eye to an internal anatomical structure of the eye by implantation of the surgical device; and
establishing a flow rate of the aqueous humor that reduces intraocular pressure without hypotony.
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2. A method for reducing side effects of glaucoma surgery, comprising;
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providing a surgically implantable device adapted to provide fluid flow, wherein the device comprises a therapeutic agent;
transporting aqueous humor from the anterior chamber of the eye to an internal anatomical structure of the eye by implantation of the surgical device; and
establishing a flow rate of the aqueous humor that reduces intraocular pressure without hypotony. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of treating glaucoma in a patient in need thereof comprising:
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delivering into an eye of a patient an implantable channel forming 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;
conducting aqueous humor through the channel forming body to reduce intraocular pressure in the eye; and
providing at least one medication to the eye of the patient. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A method of treating glaucoma in a patient in need thereof comprising:
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delivering into an eye of a patient an implantable surgical implant 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;
conducting aqueous humor along the surgical implant to reduce intraocular pressure in the eye; and
providing at least one medication to the eye of the patient. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
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Specification