OCULAR IMPLANT AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND USING SAME
First Claim
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1. An ocular implant for fluid communication with an anterior or posterior chamber of an eye, comprising:
- a body having a distal end and a proximal end, the body extending from at least one of an anterior and a posterior chamber to an outer surface of an eye;
a head defining an opening and positioned at the proximal end of the body for engagement against the outer surface of the eye;
a foot defining an opening and positioned at the distal end of the body for engagement within at least one of an anterior and posterior chamber;
a channel in the body communicating with respective openings in the head and the foot; and
a flow restrictor in the channel located at an intermediate position, disposed distally with respect to the head and proximally with respect to the foot; and
a flap, in a normally closed position, that opens in response to a minimal pressure, wherein the flap is disposed proximally with respect to the flow restrictor;
wherein the implant is inserted in a dehydrated state in which the implant in a substantially rigid form and the implant is hydrated after insertion, providing the implant in a substantially soft and pliable form.
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Abstract
An ocular implant device that is insertable into either the anterior or posterior chamber of the eye to drain aqueous humor and/or to introduce medications. The implant can include a substantially cylindrical body with a channel member that regulates the flow rate of aqueous humor from the anterior chamber or introduces medications into the posterior chamber, and simultaneously minimizes the ingress of microorganisms into the eye.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An ocular implant for fluid communication with an anterior or posterior chamber of an eye, comprising:
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a body having a distal end and a proximal end, the body extending from at least one of an anterior and a posterior chamber to an outer surface of an eye; a head defining an opening and positioned at the proximal end of the body for engagement against the outer surface of the eye; a foot defining an opening and positioned at the distal end of the body for engagement within at least one of an anterior and posterior chamber; a channel in the body communicating with respective openings in the head and the foot; and a flow restrictor in the channel located at an intermediate position, disposed distally with respect to the head and proximally with respect to the foot; and a flap, in a normally closed position, that opens in response to a minimal pressure, wherein the flap is disposed proximally with respect to the flow restrictor; wherein the implant is inserted in a dehydrated state in which the implant in a substantially rigid form and the implant is hydrated after insertion, providing the implant in a substantially soft and pliable form. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An ocular shunt comprising:
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a body having a distal end and a proximal end; a head comprising a flange positioned at the proximal end of the body and defining an head opening; a foot comprising a flange disposed at the distal end of the body and defining a foot opening; a channel in the body communicating with head opening and the foot opening; and a flow restrictor in the channel located at an intermediate position, disposed fully distally with respect to the head and fully proximally with respect to the foot; wherein the implant is constructed of an ocular hydrogel having a dehydrated state and a hydrated state, and wherein the hydrated state provides at least one of a body, head and foot dimension that is approximately 10 to approximately 50 percent larger than the dehydrated state, and wherein the flow restrictor is made of one of the group consisting of metal, titanium, ceramic and glass. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. An ocular shunt comprising:
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a body having a distal end and a proximal end; a head comprising a flange positioned at the proximal end of the body and defining an head opening; a foot comprising a flange disposed at the distal end of the body and defining a foot opening; a channel in the body communicating with head opening and the foot opening; and a plurality of the filters arranged in a predetermined order disposed in the channel and located at an intermediate position, disposed distally with respect to the head and proximally with respect to the foot; wherein the implant is constructed of an ocular hydrogel having a dehydrated state and a hydrated state, and wherein the hydrated state provides at least one of a body, head and foot dimension that is approximately 10 to approximately 50 percent larger than the dehydrated state; and a coating applied to at least one of the head, the foot, the body and the filter. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification