THERAPEUTIC 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;
wherein the tubular body is at least partially coated with a therapeutic agent; and
stabilizing the tubular body to reduce expulsion thereof from at least one of Schlemm'"'"'s canal or the anterior chamber; and
conducting 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.
207 Citations
15 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;
wherein the tubular body is at least partially coated with a therapeutic agent; and
stabilizing the tubular body to reduce expulsion thereof from at least one of Schlemm'"'"'s canal or the anterior chamber; and
conducting aqueous humor through the tubular body to reduce intraocular pressure in the living eye. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. 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;
wherein the tubular body is at least partially coated with a therapeutic agent; and
conducting aqueous humor through the tubular body to reduce intraocular pressure in the living eye.
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10. An ocular device comprising:
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a solid-walled tubular body for implantation into Schlemm'"'"'s canal of a living eye wherein at least a portion of the tubular device comprises a non-linear aqueous humor directing channel;
wherein said tubular body is configured and dimensioned such that implantation of said tubular body in living tissue of said canal directs dynamic flow of aqueous humor from an anterior chamber of said living eye and through said non-linear aqueous humor directing channel toward episcleral veins; and
wherein the device is at least partially coated with a therapeutic agent. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification