GLAUCOMA IMPLANT WITH VALVE
First Claim
1. An ocular implant for reducing intraocular pressure, comprising:
- a proximal portion configured to be disposed within an anterior chamber of an eye;
a distal portion configured to be disposed within a physiologic outflow pathway of the eye;
at least one fluid pathway extending between the proximal and distal portions so as to drain aqueous humor from the anterior chamber to the physiologic outflow pathway; and
a valve disposed in at least one of the proximal and distal portions to control the flow of aqueous humor through the implant.
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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.
255 Citations
11 Claims
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1. An ocular implant for reducing intraocular pressure, comprising:
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a proximal portion configured to be disposed within an anterior chamber of an eye;
a distal portion configured to be disposed within a physiologic outflow pathway of the eye;
at least one fluid pathway extending between the proximal and distal portions so as to drain aqueous humor from the anterior chamber to the physiologic outflow pathway; and
a valve disposed in at least one of the proximal and distal portions to control the flow of aqueous humor through the implant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for reducing intraocular pressure, comprising:
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placing an implant in eye tissue so as to drain aqueous humor from an anterior chamber of an eye to a physiologic outflow pathway in the eye; and
controlling the flow of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber using a valve disposed within the implant. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for lowering intraocular pressure in an eye, comprising:
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introducing a drainage implant into an anterior chamber of the eye;
advancing the implant from the anterior chamber into surrounding tissue such that the implant drains aqueous humor from the anterior chamber to another location in the eye to reduce intraocular pressure; and
using a valve in the implant to control flow through the implant. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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Specification