INSTRUMENTS AND METHODS FOR IMPLANTING CORNEAL IMPLANT VIA EXTRA-AND INTRA-CAMERAL ROUTES
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a transcorneal shunt with a head and a foot, each having a hole therein; and
an insertion tool to insert the transcorneal shunt into a corneal incision, the insertion tool comprising a stabilizer, and an engager protruding from the stabilizer and releasably engaging the shunt,wherein when the stabilizer contacts one of the head and foot and surrounds the corresponding hole, the engager is inserted, at least partially, into the corresponding hole, and at least a portion of an inserted length of the engager comprises an irregularity to enhance shunt engagement.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of implanting a transcorneal shunt into a cornea, the shunt having a head and a foot, each having a hole therein, the method including the operations of engaging an insertion tool with a foot hole of the shunt; making an entry incision in the cornea; inserting the shunt, while still engaged with the insertion tool, through the entry incision; making an implant incision in the cornea; inserting the head of the shunt through the implant incision to position and seat the shunt; and releasing the shunt from the insertion tool.
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Citations
56 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a transcorneal shunt with a head and a foot, each having a hole therein; and an insertion tool to insert the transcorneal shunt into a corneal incision, the insertion tool comprising a stabilizer, and an engager protruding from the stabilizer and releasably engaging the shunt, wherein when the stabilizer contacts one of the head and foot and surrounds the corresponding hole, the engager is inserted, at least partially, into the corresponding hole, and at least a portion of an inserted length of the engager comprises an irregularity to enhance shunt engagement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An apparatus, comprising:
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a hydrogel transcorneal shunt with a head and a foot, each having a hole therein; and an insertion tool to insert the transcorneal shunt into a corneal incision, the insertion tool comprising a stabilizer, and an engager protruding from the stabilizer and releasably engaging the shunt, wherein when the stabilizer contacts one of the head and foot and surrounds the corresponding hole, the engager is inserted, at least partially, into the corresponding hole, and the engager has at least a portion of an inserted portion thereof that is sized to be greater than a size, when the shunt is dehydrated, of the one of the head and foot holes the engager is inserted into, and less than the size, when the shunt is hydrated, of the one of the head and foot holes the engager is inserted into. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. An apparatus, comprising:
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a transcorneal shunt with a head and a foot, each having a hole therein; and an insertion tool to insert the transcorneal shunt into a corneal incision, the insertion tool comprising a stabilizer, and an engager protruding from the stabilizer and releasably engaging the shunt, the engager comprising a hollow tube, and a plunger movably disposed within the hollow tube, wherein when the stabilizer contacts one of the head and foot and surrounds the corresponding hole, the engager is inserted, at least partially, into the corresponding hole. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. An apparatus, comprising:
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a hydrogel transcorneal shunt with a head and a foot, each having a hole therein; and an insertion tool to insert the transcorneal shunt into a corneal incision, the insertion tool comprising a handle to aid in manipulating the insertion tool, a stabilizer, comprising hypodermic tubing extending from the handle, and an engager protruding from the stabilizer and releasably engaging the shunt, the engager having a diameter greater than a diameter, when the shunt is dehydrated, of the of the one of the head and foot holes the engager is inserted into, and less than the diameter, when the shunt is hydrated, of the one of the head and foot holes the engager is inserted into.
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32. An apparatus, comprising:
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a hydrogel transcorneal shunt with a head and a foot, each having a hole therein; and an insertion tool to insert the transcorneal shunt into a corneal incision, the insertion tool comprising a stabilizer, and an engager protruding from the stabilizer and releasably engaging the shunt, the engager automatically releasing the shunt subsequent the shunt'"'"'s insertion into the corneal incision.
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33. A method of implanting a hydrogel transcorneal shunt into a cornea, comprising:
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hydrating the shunt, the shunt having a head and a foot, each having a hole therein; inserting an engager of an insertion tool into one of the head and foot holes of the hydrated shunt; dehydrating the shunt subsequent to insertion of the engager; inserting the dehydrated shunt into a corneal incision; and re-hydrating the shunt to release the shunt from the insertion tool. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method of implanting a transcorneal shunt into a cornea, comprising:
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inserting an engager of an insertion tool into one of a head and a foot hole of the shunt, and contacting a stabilizer of the insertion tool, from which the engager protrudes, to the one of the head and foot corresponding to the one of the head and foot holes the engager is inserted into, the engager comprising a hollow tube and a plunger that is movably disposed within the hollow tube; inserting a portion of the shunt through a corneal incision to position and seat the shunt; and releasing the shunt from the engager, wherein releasing the shunt from the engager comprises one of extending the distal end of the plunger to a position outside of the hollow tube and retracting the plunger from the distal end of the hollow tube. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method of implanting a transcorneal shunt into a cornea, the shunt having a head and a foot, each having a hole therein, the method comprising:
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engaging an insertion tool with a foot hole of the shunt; making an entry incision in the cornea; inserting the shunt, while still engaged with the insertion tool, through the entry incision; making an implant incision in the cornea; inserting the head of the shunt through the implant incision to position and seat the shunt; and releasing the shunt from the insertion tool. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. An apparatus, comprising:
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a hydrogel transcorneal shunt with a head and a foot, each having a hole therein; and an insertion tool to insert the transcorneal shunt into a corneal incision, the insertion tool comprising a shaft portion, a stabilizing portion extending from the shaft portion, and an engaging portion extending from the stabilizing portion and releasably engaging the shunt, wherein the engaging portion has at least a portion of an inserted portion thereof that is sized to be greater than a size of the foot hole when the shunt is dehydrated, and less than the size of the foot hole when the shunt is hydrated. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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Specification