Ocular Implant Architectures

• US 20090082862A1
• Filed: 09/23/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Inventors: Schieber, Andrew T., Euteneuer, Charles L.
• Application Number:
  US12/236,254
• Publication Number:
  US 20090082862A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/6.110
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/14 Eye parts, e.g. lenses, corneal implants; Implanting instruments specially adapted therefor; Artificial eyes
• 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: A61M 5/00 Devices for bringing media into the body in a subcutaneous, intra-vascular or intramuscular way; Accessories therefor, e.g. filling or cleaning devices, arm-rests vaccination appliances for veterinary use A61D1/025 ; tube connectors, tube couplings, valves or branch units specially adapted for medical use A61M39/00; containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes A61J1/00; combinations of vial and syringe for mixing or transferring their contents A61J1/20; holders for containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/16

Abstract

An ocular implant having a first spine; a second spine; a first strut extending in an axial direction Z between the first spine and the second spine; a second strut extending in an axial direction Z between the first spine and the second spine; wherein an angular dimension θ of a first edge of each strut undulates as the strut extends in the axial direction Z between the first spine and the second spine; and wherein a radius r of an outer surface of each strut remains substantially constant as the strut extends the axial direction Z between the first spine and the second spine.

Claims

1. An ocular implant, comprising:

a first spine;

a second spine;

a first strut extending in an axial direction Z between the first spine and the second spine;

a second strut extending in an axial direction Z between the first spine and the second spine;

wherein an angular dimension θ

of a first edge of each strut undulates as the strut extends in the axial direction Z between the first spine and the second spine; and

wherein a radius r of an outer surface of each strut remains substantially constant as the strut extends the axial direction Z between the first spine and the second spine.

2. An ocular implant, comprising:

a first spine section;

a second spine section;

a first frame extending between the first spine section and the second spine section, the frame having a diameter of between 0.005 inches and 0.04 inches;

the ocular implant being adapted to be disposed within a canal of Schlemm in a human subject'"'"'s eye.

3. The ocular implant of claim 2, wherein the first spine section, the second spine section, and the first frame comprise portions of a single tubular wall.

4. The ocular implant of claim 2, wherein each spine section comprises only a single spine.

5. The ocular implant of claim 2, wherein each spine section has an arcuate shape in lateral cross section.

6. The ocular implant of claim 2, wherein:

the first spine has a first circumferential extent; and

the first frame has a second circumferential extent;

wherein the second circumferential extent is greater than the first circumferential extent.

7. The ocular implant of claim 2, wherein the first frame comprises a first strut and a second strut.

8. The ocular implant of claim 7, wherein the first frame comprises only two struts.

9. The ocular implant of claim 7, wherein each strut has an arcuate shape in lateral cross section.

10. The ocular implant of claim 7, wherein the first strut comprises a first edge.

11. The ocular implant of claim 10, wherein an angular dimension θ

of the first edge undulates as the strut extends in an axial direction Z between the first spine and the second spine.

12. The ocular implant of claim 10, wherein an angular dimension θ

of the first edge first increases, then decreases, as the strut extends in an axial direction Z between the first spine and the second spine.

13. The ocular implant of claim 10, wherein a radius r of the first edge remains substantially constant as the strut extends in axial dimension Z between the first spine and the second spine.

14. The ocular implant of claim 10, wherein the first edge partially defines a first opening in the ocular implant.

15. The ocular implant of claim 7, wherein the first strut has a thickness that is substantially constant in a radial direction.

16. The ocular implant of claim 7, wherein the first strut has a width extending in an arc along a circumferential direction.

17. The ocular implant of claim 7, wherein the first strut has a length extending in an axial direction that is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the ocular implant.

18. The ocular implant of claim 7, wherein the first spine section and the second spine section are axially aligned with one another.

19. The ocular implant of claim 7, wherein a shape of the second strut is a mirror image of a shape of the first strut.

20. The ocular implant of claim 7, further comprising a second frame extending between the second spine and a third spine.

21. The ocular implant of claim 7, wherein a second edge of the first strut and a second edge of the second strut defining a second opening.

22. The ocular implant of claim 7, wherein the first strut, the second strut, the first spine section, and the second spine section all define a cylindrical volume.

23. The ocular implant of claim 7, further comprising a first opening extending between the first edge of the first strut and the first edge of the second strut.

24. The implant of claim 2 further comprising a therapeutic agent deposited on the frame and spine sections.

25. The implant of claim 24 wherein the therapeutic agent comprises an anti-glaucoma drug.

26. The implant of claim 25 wherein the anti-glaucoma drug comprises a prostaglandin analog.

27. The implant of claim 26 wherein the prostaglandin analog comprises latanprost.

28. An ocular implant, comprising:

a first spine;

a second spine;

a first frame comprising a first strut and a second strut;

each strut extending in an axial direction Z between the first spine and the second spine;

a first opening of the ocular implant extending between a first edge of the first strut and a first edge of the second strut;

a second edge of the first strut and a second edge of the second strut defining a second opening;

wherein an angular dimension θ

of the first edge of each strut undulates as the strut extends in the axial direction Z between the first spine and the second spine; and

wherein a radius r of an outer surface of each strut remains substantially constant as the strut extends the axial direction Z between the first spine and the second spine.