Ocular Implants with Asymmetric Flexibility

• US 20090082860A1
• Filed: 09/23/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ivantis Inc.
• Inventors: Schieber, Andrew T., Euteneuer, Charles L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,734,377 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/4.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/14 Eye parts, e.g. lenses, corneal implants; Implanting instruments specially adapted therefor; Artificial eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/15 Implant having one or more holes, e.g. for nutrient transport, for facilitating handling
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0008 Fixation appliances for connecting prostheses to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0067 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00781 Apparatus for modifying intraocular pressure, e.g. for glaucoma treatment drainage implants in general A61M27/002
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 27/02 Ophthalmic agents

Abstract

An ocular implant having a body extending along a generally curved longitudinal axis, the curved longitudinal axis defining a first plane, the body having a diameter of between 0.005 inches and 0.04 inches and being adapted to be disposed within a canal of Schlemm in a human subject'"'"'s eye; wherein the body has a first flexibility when bent along the first plane and a second flexibility different from the first flexibility when bent along a second plane that intersects the first plane and is not coincident with the first plane. Another aspect of the invention provides a method of treating a human eye, including the steps of: inserting an implant into Schlemm'"'"'s canal of a human eye, the implant having a first flexibility when bent along a first plane and a second flexibility different from the first flexibility when bent along a second plane that intersects the first plane and is not coincident with the first plane; and supporting tissue forming Schlemm'"'"'s canal with the implant.

Claims

1. An ocular implant, comprising:

a body extending along a generally curved longitudinal axis, the curved longitudinal axis defining a first plane, the body having a diameter of between 0.005 inches and 0.04 inches and being adapted to be disposed within a canal of Schlemm in a human subject'"'"'s eye;

wherein the body has a first flexibility when bent along the first plane and a second flexibility different from the first flexibility when bent along a second plane that intersects the first plane and is not coincident with the first plane.

2. The ocular implant of claim 1, wherein the second plane is orthogonal to the first plane.

3. The ocular implant of claim 1, wherein the body has circumferential material coverage in cross-sections perpendicular to the longitudinal axis that is less than 360 degrees over an entire length of the body.

4. The ocular implant of claim 1, wherein the body defines an elongate slot that opens radially outward when the body is unrestrained.

5. The ocular implant of claim 1, wherein the body has a shape that is symmetric about the first plane.

6. The ocular implant of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a plurality of pairs of tissue supporting frames and a spine attached to each adjacent pair of tissue supporting frames.

7. The ocular implant of claim 6, wherein each spine has a shape that is symmetric about the first plane.

8. The ocular implant of claim 6, wherein:

each spine comprises a first minor side, a first major side, a second minor side, and a second major side;

each spine having a thickness extending between at least one point on each major side and at least one point on the second major side;

each spine having a width extending between at least one point on each minor side and at least one point on the second minor side;

an aspect ratio of the width to the thickness being greater than about 2.

9. The ocular implant of claim 8, wherein the first major side comprises a concave surface.

10. The ocular implant of claim 9, wherein the second major side comprises a convex surface.

11. The ocular implant of claim 10, wherein the concave surface and the convex surface are concentric.

12. The ocular implant of claim 8, wherein the first major side and the second major side are opposite one another.

13. The ocular implant of claim 6, wherein the spines are longitudinally aligned with one another.

14. The ocular implant of claim 6, wherein each tissue supporting frame has a shape that is symmetric about the first plane.

15. The ocular implant of claim 6, wherein each tissue supporting frame comprises a first strut and a second strut.

16. The ocular implant of claim 15, wherein each tissue supporting frame comprises only two struts.

17. The ocular implant of claim 15, wherein each strut follows a circumferentially undulating path while extending longitudinally between a first spine and a second spine.

18. The ocular implant of claim 15, wherein:

each strut comprises a first minor side, a first major side, a second minor side, and a second major side;

each strut having a thickness extending between at least one point on the first major side and at least one point on the second major side;

each strut having a width extending between at least one point on the first minor side and at least one point on the second minor side;

an aspect ratio of the width to the thickness being greater than about 2.

19. The ocular implant of claim 18, wherein the first major side comprises a concave surface.

20. The ocular implant of claim 18, wherein the second major side comprises a convex surface.

21. The ocular implant of claim 18, wherein the concave surface and the convex surface are concentric.

22. The ocular implant of claim 18, wherein the first major side and the second major side are opposite one another.

23. The ocular implant of claim 1, wherein the body exhibits superelastic properties.

24. The ocular implant of claim 1, wherein the body comprises nickel and titanium.

25. The ocular implant of claim 24, wherein the weight percent of nickel is between about 29.5 and about 50.5 weight percent and the weight percent of titanium is between about 29.5 and about 50.5 weight percent, based upon the total weight percent of the alloy.

26. The ocular implant of claim 1 wherein the body extends through an arcuate range between about 60 degrees and about 180 degrees.

27. The ocular implant of claim 1 further comprising a therapeutic agent deposited on the body.

28. The ocular implant of claim 27 wherein the a therapeutic agent comprises an anti-glaucoma drug.

29. The ocular implant of claim 28, wherein the anti-glaucoma drug comprises a prostaglandin analog.

30. The ocular implant of claim 29, wherein the prostaglandin analog comprises latanprost.

31. A method of treating a human eye, comprising:

inserting an implant into Schlemm'"'"'s canal of a human eye, the implant having a first flexibility when bent along a first plane and a second flexibility different from the first flexibility when bent along a second plane that intersects the first plane and is not coincident with the first plane; and

supporting tissue forming Schlemm'"'"'s canal with the implant.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the implant comprises an elongate slot, the method further comprising orienting the elongate slot radially outward within Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the orienting step comprises permitting the implant to self-orient with the canal.

34. The method of claim 31 further comprising providing fluid communication between an anterior chamber and the canal through the implant.