GLAUCOMA IMPLANT WITH DOUBLE ANCHOR MECHANISM

• US 20080015488A1
• Filed: 09/25/2007
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Glaukos Corporation
• Original Assignee: Glaukos Corporation
• Inventors: Smedley, Gregory, Tu, Hosheng, Haffner, David, Niksch, Barbara
• Granted Patent: US 8,337,445 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/16 Intraocular lenses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00781 Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment drainage implants in general A61M27/002
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0048 Eye, e.g. artificial tears

Abstract

The invention relates generally medical devices and methods for the treatment of glaucoma in an animal eye and, more particularly, to medical devices and methods for treating tissue of the trabecular meshwork and/or Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye to restore or rejuvenate a portion or all of the normal physiological function of directing aqueous outflow for maintaining a normal intraocular pressure in the eye.

Claims

1. A method of treating an ocular disorder, comprising:

providing an implant comprising an inlet portion having a first anchor and an outlet portion having a second anchor;

implanting the implant in tissue of an eye such the implant conducts fluid from an anterior chamber of the eye to a physiological outflow pathway of the eye, said implanting comprising;

positioning the first anchor adjacent eye tissue within the anterior chamber;

positioning the second anchor within the physiological outflow pathway; and

deploying the second anchor such that the second anchor secures the implant within the physiological outflow pathway.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning the first anchor comprises positioning at least one flexible wing of the first anchor adjacent the eye tissue.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning the first anchor comprises positioning a flexible rim of the first anchor adjacent the eye tissue.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning the second anchor comprises positioning at least one expandable rib of the second anchor within the physiological outflow pathway.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein deploying the second anchor comprises actuating a toggle mechanism that causes the second anchor to expand within the physiological outflow pathway.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein actuating a toggle mechanism comprises turning a pin that extends into the implant to deploy a rib of the second anchor in the physiological outflow pathway.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein turning a pin that extends into the implant comprises positioning at least one opening of a hollow portion of the pin such that the at least one opening is in fluid communication with the physiological outflow pathway to allow flow of fluid from the anterior chamber to the physiological outflow pathway.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein deploying the second anchor comprises actuating a pop-rivet mechanism that causes the second anchor to expand within the physiological outflow pathway.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein actuating the pop-rivet mechanism comprises pulling a rod that extends into said implant to deploy a rib of the second anchor in the physiological outflow pathway.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the physiological outflow pathway comprises Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the eye tissue comprises trabecular meshwork.

12. An implant for treating an ocular disorder, comprising:

an inlet portion comprising a first anchor configured to be positioned adjacent eye tissue within an anterior chamber of an eye;

an outlet portion comprising a second anchor configured to be positioned within a physiological outflow pathway of the eye;

the implant, when implanted in the eye, being configured to conduct fluid from the anterior chamber to the physiological outflow pathway;

wherein the second anchor is deployable and is configured to secure the implant within the physiological outflow pathway.

13. The implant of claim 12, wherein the first anchor comprises at least one flexible wing.

14. The implant of claim 12, wherein the first anchor comprises a flexible rim.

15. The implant of claim 12, wherein the second anchor comprises at least one expandable rib.

16. The implant of claim 12, wherein the implant further comprises a deployment mechanism that causes the second anchor to expand within the physiological outflow pathway.

17. The implant of claim 16, wherein the deployment mechanism comprises a toggle mechanism.

18. The implant of claim 16, wherein the deployment mechanism comprises a pop-rivet mechanism.

19. The implant of claim 16, wherein the deployment mechanism comprises a moveable member that extends into the implant.

20. The implant of claim 19, wherein the member comprises a toggle bolt.

21. The implant of claim 19, wherein the member comprises a pullable rod.

22. The implant of claim 19, wherein the member comprises a hollow portion with at least one opening positioned at the outlet portion and in fluid communication with the anterior chamber.

23. The implant of claim 22, wherein the at least one opening comprises a side opening in fluid communication with the physiological outflow pathway to allow flow of fluid from the anterior chamber to the physiological outflow pathway.

24. The implant of claim 12, wherein the physiological outflow pathway comprises Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

25. The implant of claim 24, wherein the eye tissue comprises trabecular meshwork.

26. The implant of claim 12, wherein the second anchor is configured to move from a first configuration to a second configuration during deployment.