OCULAR PRESSURE REGULATION

• US 20080195027A1
• Filed: 04/22/2008
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Transcend Medical Incorporated (Alcon Incorporated)
• Inventors: Coroneo, Minas Theodore
• Granted Patent: US 7,815,592 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/148 Implantation instruments specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00781 Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment drainage implants in general A61M27/002

Abstract

This invention comprises a flexible ocular device for implantation into the eye formed of a biocompatible elastomeric material, foldable to a diameter of 1.5 mm or less, comprising a fluid drainage tube having at one end a foldable plate adapted to locate the device on the inner surface of the sclera in a suprachoroidal space formed by cyclodialysis, said drainage tube opening onto the disc at one end and opening to the anterior chamber when implanted into the eye at its other end, so as to provide aqueous pressure regulation. Also provided are methods for the treatment of glaucoma utilising the flexible ocular device, and an ocular pressure spike shunt.

Claims

1. A method of treating disease in an eye, comprising:

providing an opthalmic implant having an internal lumen through which aqueous humor can flow;

forming a suprachoroidal space between the choroid and the sclera of the eye;

forming a passageway between the anterior chamber of the eye and the suprachoroidal space;

introducing the opthalmic implant into the eye;

positioning the opthalmic implant in the passageway between the anterior chamber and the suprachoroidal space such that the internal lumen of the opthalmic implant provides fluid communication between the anterior chamber and the suprachoroidal space; and

causing at least a portion of the opthalmic implant to expand while the opthalmic implant is located in the eye.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the opthalmic implant expands after the opthalmic implant is positioned in the suprachoroidal space.

3. A method as in claim 1, comprising causing at least a portion of the opthalmic implant to expand as the opthalmic implant is introduced into the eye.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the internal lumen of the opthalmic implant forms a first opening in a first end of the opthalmic implant and a second opening in a second end of the opthalmic implant and further comprising causing aqueous humor to flow from the anterior chamber into the suprachoroidal space through the internal lumen.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein forming a passageway between the anterior chamber of the eye and the suprachoroidal space comprises performing a cyclodialysis.

6. A method as in claim 1, comprising forming a passageway between the anterior chamber of the eye and the suprachoroidal space and positioning the opthalmic implant in the passageway after the passageway is formed.

7. A method as in claim 1, wherein introducing the opthalmic implant into the eye comprises passing a distal end of the opthalmic implant through the cornea.

8. A method as in claim 1, further comprising performing a paracentesis with respect to the cornea and the anterior chamber of the eye.

9. A method as in claim 8, wherein the paracentesis is performed in the limbus.

10. A method as in claim 1, wherein causing at least a portion of the opthalmic implant to expand comprises causing the opthalmic implant to unfold.

11. A method as in claim 1, wherein the opthalmic implant expands to a shape that matches the curvature of the eye.

12. A method as in claim 11, wherein the opthalmic implant expands to a shape that matches the curvature of the eye in the suprachoroidal space.

13. A method as in claim 1, wherein the opthalmic implant comprises a fluid drainage tube.