OCULAR IMPLANT WITH ANCHOR AND METHODS THEREOF

• US 20090138081A1
• 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, Bergheim, Olav B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,801,648 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/6.110
• 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 disclosed. One implant has an inlet portion configured to extend through a portion of a tissue of an eye and an outlet portion configured to extend into and along a physiologic outflow pathway of the eye. The implant provides a flow path between an anterior chamber of the eye and the physiologic outflow pathway. One implant includes a body having adjacent regions of differing cross-sectional dimensions configured to anchor the implant and/or stabilize at least a portion of the flow path through the implant. One method involves inserting a fiber optic in an eye, locating a distal end of the fiber optic at a physiologic outflow pathway through which aqueous humor drains from an anterior chamber of the eye, and delivering a material comprising a therapeutic agent along the fiber optic and into the physiologic outflow pathway.

Claims

1. An ocular implant, comprising:

a body having a first end and a second end and a fluid flow path defined between at least one inlet and one outlet, said body including at least two regions each having a cross-sectional size smaller than adjacent regions on the implant, said at least two regions being disposed between at least some of the inlets and outlets, said body configured to conduct fluid from an anterior chamber of an eye to a physiologic outflow pathway of the eye.

2. The implant of claim 1, wherein at least one of the outlets is intermediate the first and second ends of the body.

3. The implant of claim 1, wherein the implant comprises a therapeutic drug.

4. The implant of claim 3, wherein the body includes a first portion and a second portion that is appended from the first portion, and wherein the first portion includes a lumen and the second portion carries the therapeutic drug.

5. The implant of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the body is coated with the therapeutic drug.

6. The implant of claim 3, wherein the body comprises a biocompatible material with the therapeutic drug coated thereon.

7. The implant of claim 3, wherein the implant comprises a polymer.

8. The implant of claim 1, wherein the adjacent regions comprise ridges protruding radially outwardly from the outer surface of the body.

9. The implant of claim 1, wherein the at least two regions comprise circumferential regions.

10. A method of treating an ocular condition, comprising:

implanting an implant defining a fluid flow path between at least one inlet and at least one outlet, such that the implant exerts traction against an inner surface of a physiologic outflow pathway of an eye;

stabilizing the implant within the physiologic outflow pathway upon implantation; and

conducting fluid through the implant from an anterior chamber of an eye to the physiologic outflow pathway.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein one of the at least one outlets is located intermediate first and second ends of the implant.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising eluting a therapeutic drug from the implant.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein implanting the implant comprises implanting a body with a first portion and a second portion that is appended from the first portion, and wherein the first portion includes a lumen and the second portion carries the therapeutic drug.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the therapeutic drug is eluted from a biocompatible body coated thereon with the therapeutic drug.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the physiologic outflow pathway comprises Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the physiologic outflow pathway comprises aqueous collector channels of the eye.

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

inserting an implant having a longitudinal axis, the implant comprising a circumferential protrusion, the protrusion comprising a surface extending generally radially outwardly relative to the longitudinal axis into an anterior chamber of an eye; and

positioning the implant to convey aqueous humor from the anterior chamber to a physiologic outflow pathway of the eye, the positioning comprising positioning the circumferential protrusion within the physiologic outflow pathway.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the implant comprises a second circumferential protrusion and positioning the implant further comprises positioning the second circumferential protrusion within the physiologic outflow pathway.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the physiologic outflow pathway comprises Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the physiologic outflow pathway comprises aqueous collector channels of the eye.

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

inserting a fiber optic in an eye;

locating a distal end of the fiber optic at a physiologic outflow pathway through which aqueous humor drains from an anterior chamber of the eye; and

delivering a material comprising a therapeutic agent along the fiber optic and into the physiologic outflow pathway.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the physiologic outflow pathway comprises Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the physiologic outflow pathway comprises aqueous collector channels of the eye.

24. An ocular implant, comprising an elongate body, the elongate body comprising:

a proximal end sized and shaped to be positioned within an anterior chamber of an eye, the proximal end having a first maximum cross-sectional distance;

a distal end sized and shaped to be positioned within a physiologic outflow pathway of the eye, the distal end having a second maximum cross-sectional distance;

an intermediate body portion extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the intermediate body portion having a third maximum cross-sectional distance and being sized and shaped to extend through eye tissue when the proximal end is positioned within the anterior chamber and the distal end is positioned within the physiologic outflow pathway and;

a fluid flow path having an inlet and an outlet, the fluid flow path extending through the intermediate body portion from the proximal end to the distal end and configured to allow fluid flow through the implant from the anterior chamber to the physiologic outflow pathway upon implantation;

wherein the first maximum cross-sectional distance is greater than the third maximum cross-sectional distance and the second maximum cross-sectional distance is greater than the third maximum cross-sectional distance.

25. The ocular implant of claim 24, wherein the physiologic outflow pathway comprises Schlemm'"'"'s canal of the eye.

26. The ocular implant of claim 24, wherein the physiologic outflow pathway comprises aqueous collector channels of the eye.

27. The ocular implant of claim 24, wherein the first maximum cross-sectional distance and the second maximum cross sectional distance are substantially the same.