UVEOSCLERAL DRAINAGE DEVICE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An ophthalmic shunt implantable in an eye, comprising:
- an elongate body having a forward end, a back end, and a tapered insertion head extending from the forward end of the elongate body, the insertion head defining a shearing edge constructed and arranged for cutting eye tissue engaged thereby, the forward end and the insertion head of said body further defining a shoulder surface; and
a conduit having a first end defined at the shearing edge of said insertion head and extending through said body from the forward end to the back end thereof, the first;
wherein the elongate body is configured to position at least a portion of the insertion head and the first end of the conduit through an incision formed by the shearing edge of the insertion head and into fluid communication with the anterior chamber of the eye and to seat at least a portion of the insertion head against the incision.
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Abstract
An ophthalmic shunt implantable in an eye has an elongate body and a conduit for conducting aqueous humor from an anterior chamber of the eye to the suprachoroidal space of the eye. The elongate body has a forward end, a spaced back end, and an insertion head that extends from the forward end. The insertion head defines a shearing edge suitable for cutting eye tissue engage thereby. The elongate body can define at least one slot that is configured for operative receipt of a surgical tool such as an obturator. In another aspect, at least a portion of the conduit can be configured for operative receipt of a surgical tool such as an obturator.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An ophthalmic shunt implantable in an eye, comprising:
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an elongate body having a forward end, a back end, and a tapered insertion head extending from the forward end of the elongate body, the insertion head defining a shearing edge constructed and arranged for cutting eye tissue engaged thereby, the forward end and the insertion head of said body further defining a shoulder surface; and a conduit having a first end defined at the shearing edge of said insertion head and extending through said body from the forward end to the back end thereof, the first; wherein the elongate body is configured to position at least a portion of the insertion head and the first end of the conduit through an incision formed by the shearing edge of the insertion head and into fluid communication with the anterior chamber of the eye and to seat at least a portion of the insertion head against the incision. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An ophthalmic shunt assembly, comprising:
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an elongate body having a forward end, a back end, and an insertion head extending from the forward end of the elongate body, the insertion head defining a shearing edge constructed and arranged for cutting eye tissue engaged thereby, the forward end and the insertion head of said body further defining a shoulder surface; a conduit having a first end defined at the shearing edge of said insertion head and extending through said body from the forward end to the back end thereof; and an obturator, wherein the conduit is configured to receive at least a portion of the obturator, and wherein the elongate body is configured to position at least a portion of the insertion head and the first end of the conduit through an incision formed by the shearing edge of the insertion head and into fluid communication with the anterior chamber of the eye and to seat at least a portion of the insertion head against the incision.
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- 12. The shunt assembly of claim 12, wherein the elongate body has a substantially fusiform cross-sectional shape.
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21. The shunt assembly of claim 21, wherein a posterior end of the conduit comprises at least one of a plurality of filaments, wires or hollow structures.
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23. A method for treating glaucoma in an eye, comprising:
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a. providing a biocompatible ophthalmic shunt, wherein the ophthalmic shunt comprises; i. an elongate body having a forward end, a back end, and a tapered insertion head extending from the forward end of the elongate body, the insertion head defining a shearing edge constructed and arranged for cutting eye tissue engaged thereby, the forward end and the insertion head of said body further defining a shoulder surface; and ii. a conduit having a first end defined at the shearing edge of said insertion head and extending through said body from the forward end to the back end thereof; wherein the elongate body is configured to position at least a portion of the insertion head and the first end of the conduit through an incision formed by the shearing edge of the insertion head and into fluid communication with the anterior chamber of the eye and to seat at least a portion of the insertion head against the incision to seal the incision; b. inserting at least a portion of the shearing edge of the insertion head of the shunt into and through an anterior chamber angle and into the anterior chamber of the eye, with the first end of the conduit into fluid communication with the anterior chamber of the eye; c. introducing the insertion head anteriorally to seat the shoulder surface of the implant adjacent an interior surface of a supraciliary space of the eye; d. disposing the back end of the elongate body of the shunt into a suprachoroidal space of the eye so that a second end of the conduit is in fluid communication with the suprachoroidal space; e. securing the shunt to the eye.
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- 24. The method of claim 24, further comprising, prior to the insertion of the insertion head into the anterior chamber making a first incision in and through the conjunctiva and the sclera at a position posterior to the limbus.
Specification