Ophthalmic Implant for Treating Glaucoma
First Claim
1. An ophthalmic implant for treating or alleviating the symptoms of glaucoma, the implant having:
- (a) a plate shaped to fit the surface of an eye when implanted, (b) an inner ridge located on the upper surface of the plate, where a region encompassed by the inner ridge defines a primary drainage region into which fluid from the anterior chamber or posterior chamber of the eye can be drained when in use, (c) optionally an outer ridge located on the upper surface of the plate, provided that the height of the inner ridge relative to the surface of the plate is greater than the height of the outer ridge relative to the surface of the plate, (d) a secondary drainage region outside the inner ridge into which fluid from the primary drainage region can be received when in use, where the secondary drainage region is defined by the inner ridge and either the edge of the plate or the outer ridge, and (e) a hole in the inner ridge having a size enabling a drainage tube for draining the fluid from the anterior chamber or posterior chamber of the eye to the primary drainage region to be connected to the hole so that fluid can be transferred through the tube and into the primary drainage region.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An ophthalmic implant for treating or alleviating the symptoms of glaucoma having a plate shaped to fit the surface of an eye. The plate has an inner ridge that defines a primary drainage region. Intraocular pressure is reduced by the transfer of aqueous fluid from the interior of the eyeball through a tube to the primary drainage region. To minimize post-operative hypotony, a secondary drainage region is provided on the plate outside the primary drainage region and defined either by the outer edge of the plate or an outer ridge having a lower profile than the inner ridge. When the pressure of fluid in the primary drainage region builds, fluid spills into the secondary drainage region. Fluid that is transferred to the plate is absorbed in surrounding tissues.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An ophthalmic implant for treating or alleviating the symptoms of glaucoma, the implant having:
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(a) a plate shaped to fit the surface of an eye when implanted, (b) an inner ridge located on the upper surface of the plate, where a region encompassed by the inner ridge defines a primary drainage region into which fluid from the anterior chamber or posterior chamber of the eye can be drained when in use, (c) optionally an outer ridge located on the upper surface of the plate, provided that the height of the inner ridge relative to the surface of the plate is greater than the height of the outer ridge relative to the surface of the plate, (d) a secondary drainage region outside the inner ridge into which fluid from the primary drainage region can be received when in use, where the secondary drainage region is defined by the inner ridge and either the edge of the plate or the outer ridge, and (e) a hole in the inner ridge having a size enabling a drainage tube for draining the fluid from the anterior chamber or posterior chamber of the eye to the primary drainage region to be connected to the hole so that fluid can be transferred through the tube and into the primary drainage region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification