IMPLANT DELIVERY DEVICE AND METHODS THEREOF FOR TREATMENT OF OCULAR DISORDERS

• US 20090137983A1
• Filed: 02/05/2009
• Published: 05/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Glaukos Corporation
• Original Assignee: Glaukos Corporation
• Inventors: Gharib, Morteza (Mory), Bergheim, Olav B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,808,219 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/521
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00891 Glaucoma
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0067 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/007 Methods or devices for eye surgery
• 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: A61K 9/0051 Ocular inserts, ocular implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0612 Eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 27/002 Implant devices for drainage of body fluids from one part of the body to another intraocular A61F9/00781; middle ear A61F11/202
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 27/06 Antiglaucoma agents or miotics
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/905 Eye

Abstract

Implants and methods for treating ocular disorders are described. One method involves providing an elongated delivery device and an implant mounted at a distal end of the delivery device. An incision is formed in eye tissue and the implant is inserted the through the incision using the delivery device. The implant is implanted at a location communicating with a physiologic outflow pathway of an eye such that a distal end portion of the implant and a proximal end portion of the delivery device are relatively disposed in a non-linear orientation during implantation. In one method, the implant is non-linear after insertion.

Claims

1. A method of treating an ocular disorder, comprising:

providing an elongated delivery device and an implant mounted at a distal end of the delivery device;

forming an incision in eye tissue and inserting the implant through the incision using the delivery device; and

implanting the implant at a location communicating with a physiologic outflow pathway of an eye such that a distal end portion of the implant and a proximal end portion of the delivery device are relatively disposed in a non-linear orientation during implantation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises draining aqueous humor from an anterior chamber of the eye to the physiologic outflow pathway through the implant.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein forming an incision involves forming a corneal incision.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the method further comprises introducing the implant into an anterior chamber of the eye through the corneal incision.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the method further comprises advancing the implant through the anterior chamber to a site adjacent the implantation location.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating with a physiologic outflow pathway involves communicating with Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises anchoring the implant in the eye.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises conducting fluid from an anterior chamber of the eye to the physiologic outflow pathway through multiple openings of the implant.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises conducting fluid from at least one inlet opening of the implant to at least one outlet opening of the implant positioned in the physiological outflow pathway.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises eluting a therapeutic agent from the implant.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein eluting a therapeutic agent involves eluting a therapeutic agent that is a part of the implant.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein eluting a therapeutic agent involves exposing the therapeutic agent of the implant to aqueous humor.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein implanting the implant at a location involves implanting the implant at a location posterior to a cornea of the eye.

14. A method of treating an ocular disorder, comprising:

inserting an implant through an incision in a cornea of an eye; and

transporting the implant from the incision through an anterior chamber of the eye to a physiologic outflow pathway of the eye such that an inflow portion of the implant is positioned to receive fluid from the anterior chamber and an outflow portion of the implant is positioned in the physiologic outflow pathway;

wherein said implant is non-linear after insertion.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the implant is substantially L-shaped after insertion.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the implant is non-linear prior to insertion.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises eluting a therapeutic agent from the implant.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein eluting a therapeutic agent involves eluting a therapeutic agent that is a part of the implant.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein eluting a therapeutic agent involves exposing the therapeutic agent of the implant to aqueous humor.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the implant is positioned at a location posterior to the cornea of the eye.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein transporting the implant involves transporting the implant using an elongated delivery device.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the outflow portion of the implant is positioned in Schlemm'"'"'s canal.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises anchoring the implant in the eye.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises conducting fluid from the anterior chamber to the physiologic outflow pathway through multiple openings of the implant.

25. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises conducting fluid from at least one inlet opening of the inflow portion to at least one outlet opening of the outflow portion.